It's a reflective time of year. I like looking back and thinking ahead. My "word" for 2014 must have been travel. I was in St. Louis four times for ICD Board meetings, Boston twice, four organizing conferences in Phoenix, Nashville, Calgary, and Japan, the Jersey Shore twice, the upper Hudson Valley, and Las Vegas to work with a client.

Life didn't stop just because I traveled. There was still a business to run, clients to organize, family "stuff" and an association to manage. There were firsts, stretches outside my comfort zone, fun and joy-filled times.

And you know what? It's been exhilarating. It's also been exhausting! As I glide into the New Year and look back on the wonderful travels, experiences, and growth, I know that going forward I need some time to catch my breath. My calendar is already feeling full. Even so, my goal is to protect the white spaces remaining. They'll give me think time, relaxing time, and do nothing time in between the juggling act. I'm aiming for a new balance.

Wishing you an organized New Year filled with joy, love, good health, success and as much breathing room as you need!

Summer is one of the seasons when I accomplish projects and schedule visits more easily than during other times of the year. Is it that way for you? This summer the days have flown. It felt like there wasn't enough time available to even schedule things, let alone accomplish them.

This summer has been more of a transition period for me. Some of my plans got moved to make room for others. My paper newsletter, a planned quarterly production, was one of them. I wanted it to go out in July, but instead opted for an August release, rather than not at all.

I've been exercising my flexibility muscles, adjusting to different time demands, and reevaluating my daily and weekly balance. While transitions for me are generally tumultuous, I've welcomed this opportunity to revisit my priorities, push beyond my comfort zone, and let go of ideas and shoulds that are no longer useful. I guess my "big project" this summer has been organizing and adjusting to the transition.

What has your summer been about? What will you focus on in the upcoming weeks?

What’s not to love about this time of year? Spring brings positive changes with less extreme temperatures, more sunshine, and lusciously colored landscapes. The visual cues of spring inspire and reenergize me. I look behind to assess where I’ve been. I look ahead to imagine where I want to go. I breathe deeply to appreciate where I am right now.  What draws your focus?

One of the recent habit changes I made was spring-induced. I added the simple daily repeat “Take walk” to my electronic to do list.  This has resulted in many benefits including daily outdoors exercise, photo-taking opportunities, increased water drinking, reduced chocolate eating, more pondering time, and enhanced sense of well-being. The crossing-it-off-my-list factor has provided enough motivation and accountability to solidify my new walking habit. 

As spring unfolds, what changes are you ready to embrace?

This is a reflective time of year for me as I look backwards and forwards. I make time to reveiw last year's goals, assess how things went, think about what I'll continue, what I'll stop, and what I'll want more or less of.

After I assess, I future think. How will I design the next twelve months in a productive, rich, and rewarding way? There'll be things I can't anticipate, such as life's surprises. So when I plan, I'll also include white or blank space in my schedule to give me room to navigate the unexpected. The space will also allow me to catch my breath, reflect, and pause.

While I haven't yet determined my specific goals, I know that certain themes will emerge. My focus will include strengthening all relationships, continuing personal and professional development, developing leadership skills, building community, and integrating better nutrition and exercise. The balance will be between helping others and myself.

The snow falls, making a fresh, white surface, which covers the ground. The scene before me suggests a landscape of hope and possibilities to design as I imagine. Wishing you a beautiful, clean slate to create your amazing New Year!

While I haven't  yet made my fall/winter clothing switch, I have put the comforter back on our bed (to my husband's disappointment) and also added a throw blanket. He's not looking forward to the cold winter that will follow fall. The changes even though gradual, are evident. I'm noticing daily the leaves turning colors, wake-up time becoming darker, and evenings feeling cooler. I apprecaite these visible cues. They encourage me to acknowledge that change is an integral part of our lives. This new season is here.

The obvious change in the landscape, which is punctuated by yellows, oranges, and reds, makes me wonder, "Linda where are you with change?" How are your 2013 goals progressing? Are you on track? Do you want to rethink, reevaluate, or alter any of them? Are you stuck? What would move you forward? Do you want to shift your focus? Do you want to let go of anything? What's possible?

The changing environment encourages inquiry. It's a natural time of year to pause, ask, regroup, and move forward. What questions are included in your landscape?

Summer is a wonderful season. Days are longer. Layers of clothing are lighter. Daily pace is slower. Balancing work with play is better integrated. There are more breaks for family and vacation time. There is more time to explore and do things on a whim. I love the combination of having a plan and then letting go of the plan (if only for a day.) It's liberating. Especially since I tend to be more goal-oriented, I appreciate when instead, I just let the time unfold, unplanned.

The rests are essential. Without them, the lists, projects, and want to dos can overwhelm me. Instead, by building in "not do" time, it allows me to restore my energy. During the breaks, I clear my mind and suspend my to do lists. They get a temporary vacation too. This releases me so that I can be present and less distracted by what I'm not getting done. Not doing is a choice too.

After my "not doing" pause, I'm ready, focused, and motivated to accomplish what's next. As your summer progresses, I encourage you to find the balance between action and play that feels right for you.