Ramblings as I enjoy a cup of coffee in downtown Sonoma

As I sit down at Peet’s Coffee here in downtown Sonoma, I can’t help but smile thinking about how lucky I am and how much I love right where I am sitting, just what I am doing, RIGHT NOW. The big kids are at their last regular soccer game of the season. Tim arrived back from 3 days in San Diego last night, just in time to get to bed at a decent hour and get up to take them to their early soccer game today (to my satisfaction). And I got to take Sierra to ballet class. She just loves it and gets so excited whenever I tell her we can go — Saturday mornings are not typically my preference to run out to take the kid’s somewhere, but since soccer already has us running off many Saturdays, I decided, why not… and then, with this new Peet’s Coffee right across the street, I have realized, what more perfect time to reflect on my week and enjoy a cup of coffee and some alone time, than during Saturday morning dance class.

So here I am. It is just a beautiful day here in Sonoma. October is here. The leaves are turning and some of the vistas driving in and out of town with burgundy and maize infused hillsides as the vineyard leaves turn are just incredible. This is a time of year when I make the drive to and from Napa or near our house in north Sonoma and am just in awe that this kind of beauty exists right out my backdoor. Just some scenery to enjoy while running between errands or to and from my parents house. So lovely!

And, October in and of itself is such a nice time. Still some sunshine to enjoy, but the onset of cooler nights and some bouts of stormy weather remind us that it will soon be winter… and all the wonderful family moments and close quarters that are shared during the coming months. The kids are already excitedly talking about snow and skiing, and I’m already looking forward to pajama-mornings with nothing to do during some of the holidays and lengthy periods that the kids are off of school, when Tim & I too are able to steal away some time from work as we all as a society slow down for a short respite.

The future looks bright… already we are discussing our travel plans for next summer which indeed will be centered around a long stay in Nosara, Costa Rica — the town we fell in love with last summer and were ready to return to as of the day we left.

I have never been one to want to return to the same exotic place year after year… I enjoy discovering new places and also worry about having certain expectations or trying to re-create memories that are not the same a second time. But Nosara is special, and the fit with our family and what we enjoy is too unique to pass up. I’ve also learned from the past, and when I’ve tried to make a similar experience by going somewhere new that resembles somewhere from the past, it’s almost worse. I am starting to believe that there truly are unique and special places that are worth returning to and that new experience and memories can be made despite the place itself not being new. Well, we will find out, won’t we?

I am looking forward to building and investing in my friendships and relationships… something that I have been too distracted to do as well as I should.

I also want to acknowledge, for my readers, that that does not mean there aren’t low moments or difficult trials of parenthood that are part of my daily life. Indeed, there are…. yesterday, Sierra didn’t want to go to school and I found myself letting her bring every blanket she could find in the house to appease her and coerce her into the car. And, we have been dealing with a lot of fighting in the car… in fact, I should start writing about my parenting challenges as they happen so that you all can chime in about how to solve them. Perhaps sharing where I am stuck will help me get unstuck sooner!

I am busy with many creative projects. I couldn’t very easily list them all at any given time. But, unlike in the past, I have kept positive momentum and enthusiasm and BELIEF unlike before. I have allowed myself to focus on these creative projects ahead of the work I do that actually makes me money, and I think this is key. Also key is my commitment to the long run, and not being overly focused on early success. As I spend more time in my creative world, I continue to come up with more and more creative ideas and projects. One thing new to my ideas and projects, however, is a unified theme they have around things that I am passionate about. I used to think I had so many interests and possible directions to take, it was impossible to unite all of these passions into one direction. And, in some ways, maybe that is true. But in listing out and thinking about things I care about most, I have become aware of a unifying theme. Maybe I haven’t completely been able to put that into a concise statement, and maybe I should. But, I’ve also enjoyed allowing the theme to grow and be shaped and partly I feel like my writing and my blog, are helping me do this. Surely, the things I care about most will also pop up as topics I choose to blog about. What I want to see in myself and in the world continue to show up in things I’ve been reading, and making a mental note about, more than ever before as well.

If I had to choose one word that sums up what I care about, it is to INSPIRE. While this message can resonate with anyone, I most specifically want to inspire girls, young women, and hardworking mothers (regardless of whether they involve themselves in paid work). As corny as it may sound, I want to follow the words, apparently misattributed to Mahatma Ghandi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” And by doing so, I hope that I can help others find their passions, find happiness in living a balanced life, reduce obsession with empty goals or pursuits, and attain new levels of power that brings more love, peace, community and giving into the world.

Two new interests that I am looking forward to considering more: writing children’s books with an inspirational young character, and creating a scrapbook workshop. I may even pull this second idea off sooner than later… if I could just get a little more guts.

I am thoroughly excited about where I am at on all fronts, and loving each day.