Guest Blog by Regina D’Alesio
Ahh … fall: the time when children head back to school while adults head back to the grind at work. For me, this is the worst time of the year. I love the summer. I love the sun, the warm weather, the beach, and the sense of freedom that comes with the season. So, when fall comes, it signifies the beginning of the end.
If you’re like me, fall is the time you slip into “hibernation mode.” You sleep a little longer, you eat an extra slice of cake now that bikini season is over, and you curl up in front of the television rather than face the frosty air. Before you know it, the holidays are here which brings family visits, shopping, and countless parties, activities and gatherings in preparation for the end of the year. With all the excitement, it’s easy to get caught up in the endless “to do” list and lose sight of all the things you hoped to achieve for yourself.
But what if you resisted the hibernation? What if you viewed this time as a BEGINNING, not an ending? With three months left in the year, what if you created a list of goals to achieve before the end of the year? WHY NOT?
It’s a lesson I learned at Jenny Fenig’s Retreat for Goddesses. In the quiet, reflective space of the Berkshires, I realized how much I was holding myself back in life – in the simplest of ways: skipping the manicure; making a grilled cheese for dinner instead of going out to a nice restaurant; leaving the dress on the rack because the price tag was more than I wanted to spend; missing yoga class again because “life” got in the way. I realized I was letting all the things I “have” to do get in the way of the things I “want” to do.
When is the last time you reflected on your life and what you want?
As the autumn wind blows away the last remnants of summer, why not make this a FRESH START? Channel your inner child and buy yourself a new notebook and some colored pens. Make a list of all the things you’ve been waiting to do, but haven’t gotten “around to it.” I don’t mean the laundry list of chores you should do. I mean the list of things that you WANT to do: the new hobby you want to learn, the book you want to write, the weekend getaway you’ve always wanted to plan…
Think about all the things you’d like to accomplish before the end of the year and write them down. Make this your TO DO list and stop waiting for permission to cross them off! Stop looking for an “excuse” to wear that new dress that’s hanging in your closet with the tags still on. Stop waiting to go to the new restaurant that just opened. Stop waiting to see that movie or get your nails done or sign up for the class you’ve been meaning to take.
Don’t wait until January 1st to make your resolutions – make them happen NOW!
During the retreat, Jenny asked us to make vision boards – a collage of words, and images that resonate with you – that reflect your dreams, hopes, achievements or goals.
Vision board magic.
My board is filled with fun, adventurous activities I’ve always wanted to try – surfing, hiking, traveling, hoop dancing. When I finished the board, I thought – this will be the perfect project to start in 2012. When I returned home I realized, what am I waiting for? WHY NOT do this right away? THE TIME IS NOW! And so, my adventure begins …
That’s why I’m so psyched to join the Gutsy Goddess Society at the RENEGADE level. Because I’m ready to live my dreams NOW … not “when I get around to them.” The time is now. Wanna join the adventure with me and other cool chicks? It’s gonna be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
What have you been “waiting” to do this year? What adventures does the rest of 2011 hold for you?
Share your comments below, okay? The gutsiest answer wins Jenny’s copy of the best-selling book “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. Because we all need some help in our lives …
** Guest blogger Regina D’Alesio is a stellar member of the Gutsy Goddess Society’s Board of Directors. Connect with Regina on Facebook and on Twitter at @reginadalesio. **
Retreat for Goddesses photos courtesy of Lisa Vollmer Photography.