Fall Dreams

 The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past,
worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to
live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

- Buddha

September is busy. There's a reason it still feels like we're "back to school", even for those of us who aren't official students. When we flip the calendar from fancy free August to perpetually scheduled September, suddenly our free time is at a premium. For me, this month has been a blur of busy work days followed by whirlwind weekend trips. The introvert in me is calling out for some unscheduled time with a cup of tea and a stack of magazines. 

When charting out my week in my planner last night, I realized that while the to-do lists are long, they don't include many personal goals aside from "make student loan payment" and "schedule dentist appointment". While tackling some of those life administrative items can certainly have a positive effect on our lives, what about creating a list for those goals and dreams, small or large as they may be? 

One of my personal goals in starting this blog last month was to have a place to keep track of my weekly and/or monthly goals. I wanted somewhere to scrawl them besides absentmindedly in my planner or in an e-mail to a friend. Here are a few of my fall dreams, lofty or tiny as they may be. 

• Roast a chicken - I am not a chef by any means. Most of the meals that I prepare for myself are extremely easy and can be done in a small amount of time. But, I've always wanted to roast a chicken. Ever since I saw Sarah's video post over at Pink of Perfection (one of my favorite blogs of all time - if it's not in your Google Reader, stop now + add it), I knew this was something I wanted to do. What is better than a fall Sunday evening with a chicken and vegetables roasting in the oven?   
• Spend more time reading - Those who know me well may wonder how that's possible, but recently I haven't made as much time for reading as I would like. Much more fulfilling than mindlessly sitting in front of the television or computer, I want to use my free time curling up with a book. There is a lovely tea shop not too far from my apartment, and I want to try to make it there some evening this week to drink a mug of tea and read. My current book is State of Wonder by Anne Patchett, which I've just started. I've got my book club meeting this Thursday night, so that will also help make reading a priority. 
• Restart my yoga practice - I've never been a big exercise person. For me, it almost has to be disguised as something else, or have great mental benefits as well. I've found yoga to be a great fit over the years. But, with the closing of the extremely convenient yoga studio near my apartment & work, the past year and a half I've fallen away from my yoga practice. I've been avoiding returning not only because I need to find a new studio, but also because I fear I'd be starting anew with my practice. I recently read Nina's wonderful blog post on yoga, which inspired me to begin again, as yoga is a personal practice and not about anyone but me. I look forward to it's mental, spiritual, and physical benefits. 
• Plan a weekend getaway - Earlier this summer, my boyfriend and I discussed how we so rarely take a weekend trip where we're not attending an event or visiting other people. Because summer was so hectic, we decided to plan something for the fall (which, since it's my favorite season, definitely appealed to me). We'd like to go somewhere relatively close to DC, but a cabin or cottage in a more remote area where we can unplug and just enjoy time together. Any recommendations? 

These are some of my larger dreams & goals, but I also plan to share with you some of my smaller goals for just these next few weeks.

What are some of your fall dreams? 

 
{Image via Pinterest}