While I'm much more concerned with quality as opposed to quantity, sometimes it's just fun to look back and reflect on what you've done in a specific window of time. Taking a look at what you've done often might be telling . . . here's to hoping that we engage in joyous activities regularly, and perhaps we can learn something from reflecting on how we've spent some of our time, and make changes if need be accordingly. The overall hope here is to celebrate the smaller joys in life, enjoying a measure of gratitude for the everyday and commonplace, as well as the rare and extraordinary.
October 2016 by the numbers:
- Eight old friends happy to fit in a long-overdue visit over lunch in Etobicoke.
- Two energetic cheerleaders happy to support Daddy during his bike race.
- Countless pumpkins at Herrle's Farm and pumpkin patch during our annual autumn visit.
- Six of us who have our photo taken on this bench at Herrle's each year.
- Six of my family members whom I'm ever-so-grateful for, were happy to celebrate Thanksgiving a week early so that I could be part of it!
- So very much to be grateful for on our bountiful table!
- One haircut for a cutie who looks pretty sweet both before and after :)
- Several hours spent riverside writing and soaking up the summer-like fall day.
- Two swimming pals had much fun during a park playdate.
- Two excited friends reveling in the spontaneity of a last-minute decision to go to the opening of K-W's Oktoberfest celebration, where we were randomly selected to appear on stage and participate in a trivia contest. Plus we got to see JT!
- One within-arms'-reach sighting of our fabulous Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. And yes, while being a wonderful role model of a leader who embraces equality for humanity as a whole, he's also not that hard to look at :)
- Nine cards written to my loves so that none of us would miss each other quite so much while I was away in Maine.
- Seven days spent in silence and mindfulness at a yoga and meditation retreat in Maine at the peak of its Autumn splendour.
- Eight of my very favourite people in the whole, wide world! I was sorry to have missed this Thanksgiving get-together, but my heart fills with happiness to see that they all came together. And I'm oh-so thankful that I get to see and/or visit with them all on a regular basis.
- Eight races in the pool in Oakville; eight ribbons to show for it!
- Dinner for two, as H and I enjoyed a great evening out of Viet Thai food, and then snuggled in for a movie night together afterwards. We've begun our list of movies set in New York City as we build the anticipation for our trip to the Big Apple together in December!
- One more lost tooth for E - her fourth lost! Lovin' her growing toothless grin!
- One whole new, beautiful smile for H - braces!
- Fifty years of Mike, a great friend and neighbour, celebrated!
- Several hours of sharing the crisp fresh air and beautiful outdoors.
- One Sunday afternoon shared with my amazing girlie, H, chatting, snacking, colouring, and reading, of course!
- Two happy gals heading out on a field trip to Huron Natural Area! One ridiculously excited Mom who could FINALLY volunteer to go on a class field trip with one of her children!!!
- First loaf of panetone of the season!! I was so excited to see it in the store, and even more thrilled to savour it with a cup of tea (of course, I did pick out every single last piece of candied fruit!).
- One special morning of hanging out with my Mighty Mite.
- 86 years of the Harmony Lunch celebrated when Mom and I went for a final lunch, two days before they closed their doors forever.
- Three excited girls found this surprise on our porch, from our incredibly thoughtful friends!
- Oodles of get-togethers over tea, wine, and luncheons with dear friends which I have an unprecedented amount of time for and for which I'm indescribably grateful!
- Final rays of summer-like sun that shone on us for so much of this beautiful month.
- My two little swimmers are somewhere in the mix of this amazing ROW Swim Team, kicking the season off with spirit and fun at the team-building Black & White Meet.
- Two tasty beverages enjoyed during a lovely date night out.
- Seven steps! We revived an old family card game, my Mom, H and I playing and certainly bringing back many memories of my Grandpa.
- Two pumpkins carved to perfection!
- Two surprise visitors brought us happy smiles and a nice afternoon of catching up.
- One delicious batch of peanut butter cookies baked with Gramma - yummy!
- Five diners enjoying great company and a delicious Italian meal out.
- Hundreds of pumpkin seeds harvested from our pumpkins and roasted to perfection. Mmmmm!
- Two sweet Hallowe'en trick-or-treaters: a cozy kitty and Mal from the movie, "The Descendants" (this Mom scored HUGE when I took a gamble and came home with this costume!).
- Eleven trick-or-treating spookables ready for some Hallowe'en fun!
- One super-cute kitty who chose to nest on the Hallowe'en loot :)
- Ten days until I leave for San Francisco and the surrounding area with my Mom!! I'm both super-excited about having this time to share with her while we explore this pocket of California together, and I'm nervous and worried about leaving behind my family for another week . . . and so it all comes back to balance, doesn't it?!
