Hello lovely sweet peas
A week ago when I was imagining what I’d write today, I pictured myself getting all cosy in a blanket welcoming in the autumn with open arms. After the washout that was the summer holidays I’d made my peace with the fact we had minimal sun and heat and was ready for the autumnal delights that have permeated my instagram feed since mid August.
As it so happens, the summer decided to hang around for a little longer and I find myself writing this on my kitchen table where it’s arguably the coolest part of the house. The through-draft from the back garden and the slightly more open space makes writing a lot more comfortable than in my office or my shed.
Now we’re in September and school has begun I find myself with a new lease of life and I’m ready for my new adventure in teaching with my new class and half of a new team. As I’m sure many teachers and parents do, September seems more like New Years than New Years does in January. It feels like a good time for resolve.
It’s perhaps a more manageable and realistic time of year to set yourself some kind of goal knowing you only have about 17 weeks until the world pauses for Christmas. That’s almost 4 months to try a new skill, join a new club, have a go at a health challenge - whatever tickles your fancy. It’s long enough to get your teeth into, yet short enough to see the end.
For this year I’ve had this phrase following me around the last few weeks that I want to put into practice:
Do less, well.
As a multipassionate I have hundreds of interests, skills and hobbies and passions and I can often overwhelm myself with too much to do that I end up not really doing anything. I see a fun challenge online or a new craft project or a new book and I want it all, now, simultaneously.
Of course with too many things, I can end up stopping all of it. I decide I need to clear out everything and quit all the clubs and the projects I’ve signed up to. Then of course the inevitable feelings of loneliness, boredom and emptiness return and I’m on to the next shiny project - only by that point I’ve sold or given away half the materials so have to start again.
So instead of saying “I’m just not going to start anything new” or “I’m not going to do anything outside of work”
I’m going to do less, well.
How that will look I’m still not 100% sure - it’s nice to think I can just clear my calendar and build up again from zero. But with 3 weddings coming up (including my own!), a new term of school, an improv course I’ve already booked and our Christmas video to film (more on that another day I promise!) I already have commitments to honour.
Coco Chanel famously offered the fashion advice “before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.”
I like the idea of using that as the way for me to do less, well.
Before I get out of bed I can remove at least one thing off my to do list. There are always things that need to be done. But not everything needs to be done urgently, every day.
My priorities will be the things I’ve already got booked in. I’m not saying no to other ideas or projects that might come up in the next few months - but I’m going to think critically and carefully before I try to arrange or start something new.
I’d love to know if you have any “resolutions” to see you through the rest of this year. Do you have a project you want to finish? Or perhaps a way of living or being you want to cultivate? Do let me know in reply or the comments to this letter!
Wishing you a fabulous September, I hope it’s suitably hot and autumnal in equal measure.
Love B x
Great post again. Bruce Lee said that life was about what you could take away not what you can add. It reminded me of this when I was reading your piece.