Good Morning and welcome to the Autumn edition of what you think on grows.  Just some cosmetic changes for the new season.  Here in the Northern Hemisphere, Autumn doesn't officially begin until September 23rd but in my heart, I know it's here.  I can feel it lurking behind the warmth of the sunshine.  You know what I mean, that tinge of coolness in the air.  Suddenly my white skirts and shoes and jeans are feeling a little out of place.  I'll probably wear them one more time this week while the temps are high.  After that, they just feel funny.

I don't care if other people wear white things all year long.  I'm not a fashion cop.  I just have strongly ingrained ideas of which clothes are seasonal.  It's kind of like wearing a ski sweater in April even if it's cold.  Just doesn't feel quite right.

I have been trying to live up to the Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz) this year.  They are

Be impeccable with your word
Don't take anything personally
Don't make assumptions
Always do your best

Nothing profound here, just simple thoughts and suggestions for making life better. Me?  I'm doing fair.  I try hard to 'be impeccable with my word'.  I take it to mean that I am careful of what I say and how I say it.  I tell the truth as I know it to be.

I am trying hard to 'not take anything personally'.  This is hard.  Everything feels personal some days and reminding myself that the person who is following me down the street yelling obcenities that would make a sailor blush is not yelling at me but at someone he sees/hears who lives inside his own head is tough to remember some days.

'Don't make assumptions' is a little easier.  I live and work in a PC world and we strive to learn about people before we assume anything.  (yes, it's easier said than done sometimes but we try)

'Always do your best'.  Hardest one of all.  So many days it's just easier to do enough to get by and nothing extra.  (we won't even discuss today.  After a bout of insomnia last night, today will be a tough one).  I do try to give my clients the best I have.  I think they deserve that.  I'm not perfect (not even close) but I try. 

The book that these come from is an interesting read.  I enjoyed it and I think it will be the center of our group discussion this afternoon.  These concepts work on so many levels and I think my group could profit from them, too.

I finished the first of the Hearts Abound sock.  I love it.  It has a short row toe and heel and I've noticed that short row heels (on toe up socks) fit so differently.  I think the flap styled heels fit my particular foot better.  The short row socks seem to bunch up on the top of my foot, right at the ankle.  I noticed it in another pair of toe up socks I made and thought it was just that pattern but it may be that toe up socks just don't fit my foot as well as cuff down.  More socks and research are needed for this.

It's Wednesday morning and it's time to get to work.  I have to plan out my group and get ready for my biweekly supervision and start on September's treatment plans.  No clinic, just group.  Group is infinitely easier and less stressful.  I haven't checked the phone messages yet so there's no telling what awaits.  I just want to get through the day without falling asleep and hitting my head as I fall off the chair!  A totally achievable goal but on 3 hours of sleep, it might be asking a lot. 

Oh well, all I can do is "my best".