And now it is August.
The summer starts to wind down in earnest after Tisha b’Av. I can’t believe we are at that threshold already.
I haven’t written about Tisha b’Av (or much) this summer, but I will link two posts from previous summers: ambiguous loss and container for sadness.
This week I did chapter 9 of The Artist’s Way. Because of that week I skipped in June, I realize that now the chapter numbers are lined up with the week numbers of summer, which is kind of interesting. Maybe I’ll move onto another program in the fall, or maybe…not. Lol.
I think the process had been really helpful to me. The idea is creative recovery, and my goal going into it was authenticity recovery. I’ve had a number of breakthroughs, made some moves and decisions. It’s really cool how the process really does get movement going.
Artist Date: I went to the Met to the Sargent and Paris exhibit. Loved this!
Project Citizenship: I got fingerprinted this week and had my FBI criminal background check results five minutes later. Very cool. Today I will mail them to the State Department to get apostilled. My mother went to get a copy of my birth certificate and there was an error in my father’s information so my mother filed a correction and will pick it up next week. Then it has to be taken to the county clerk’s office to be certified, then sent to the Secretary of State of New York State to be apostilled. It also turns out that I don’t need my parents’ or grandparents’ marriage licenses, which is a relief.
I really enjoyed this episode of The Happiness Lab. Two amazing quotes from Dr. Sue Varma, who is interviewed: “Is this a problem to solve or a truth to accept?” and “Write your purpose in pen and your path in pencil.” Woah.
I’m increasingly enchanted by the idea of taking “a mini-batical,” i.e. three or so months off of everything. I don’t know that it’s happening, but I love that term— it popped into my head one night.
Gretchen Rubin talked about going on a themed retreat, which is another fun idea to think about. Maybe I’d watch my way through a bunch of classic family musicals with a friend, interspersed with an assortment of comfort food. In other words, a comfort-themed retreat. What themed retreat do you want to go on?
Currently flipping through Bucket List Family Travel and getting inspired.
And that’s it for now.
Have a good Shabbos, and wishing all of us a happy Tisha b’Av.
(Photo credit: Francesco Ungaro/Pexels)
