Oh, the Hurdles of Fall

Hello blog readers - Happy fall! Even though I totally planned for fall this year.  I recorded a pep talk velfie (video selfie).  And, I know fall is historically my hardest season of the entire year, the hurdles of fall still found me!  After a coaching season with one of my college's new coaches*, I created this graphic to show fall's hurdles in a new, fresh, more delightful way.

Yes, fall brings professional and personal hurdles for me AND it also brings joy, optimism, and growth.

So, on my self-designed hurdle now includes....

Grass = growth
Music = joy
You got this = optimism
Pretty decorations on my hurdle = because why not?

If life is going to force me to jump hurdles this fall (or try to go around them - which by the way, hardly works for me), then why not make those hurdles lovely and cheerful?

What hurdles are you facing right now?  What's supporting you as you face them?

Curious,
Jen

* Y'all, coaching at my college is growing!  See what we are up to here.  We now have over 120 coaches on campus and are training K-12 educators and community members, too. 

Life Updated: Early Fall Edition

I'm usually not a fan of fall - too much change and craziness coming off of a mellow summer - but this fall I'm feeling it in a really good way.  Here's what's been happening in my neck of the woods....

• Since I finally chose a word for 2015 - FUN! - I've been working new fun experiences into my life like spending more time outdoors (1-2 hours is my daily goal) and saying yes to fun experiences for my family like Climb Zone (pictured above).
• Apparently I'm sharing FUN with Miss O.  She said aerial class is the most FUN activity ever! I am raising a future Cirque du Soleil star.
• On the FUN wagon, Jedi keeps me grounded and in the moment.  How will that dog ever know how much I adore him?  He is life-changing to me and my family in the best possibly way.  
• I had the BEST time at Tarrant County Community College (in TX) and Calvert School (in MD) delivering two different keynote addresses and workshops.  If you want to know what beautiful, preK-12 school grounds look like, Calvert could be a magazine spread.  The school buildings and grounds are that gorgeous.  Plus, couple that with awesome teachers and leaders and voila, you have the formula for school success.
• On a deeper note - ha! - do you have a fall uniform?  I think I have mine. This flannel and these pants.  Not together.  Kudos to Costco!
• Could someone please stop time?  Lil O is now Miss O and growing up at warp speeds.
• Since I appear to be growing up too (read: aging), I'm going to start taking better care of my skin.  I've heard so many wonderful things about R + F (they make Proactiv) that I bit the bullet and just purchased the Redefine starter kit from here.  Thanks, Shannon, for steering me in the right direction!  
• See that middle artwork up above in the photo collage?  The "She dreamed she could and she did?"  I have some fun career news to share with you soon.  Very, very soon :)

Happy Fall, friends, and tell me....what's happening in your neck of the woods?

xo,

Jen

Life Updated: Signs of Fall

Fall for me is when.....

• I will eat just about anything with the word pumpkin proceeding it.  Pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin bread, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin soup, pumpkin yogurt....
• I feel torn and excited about personal and professional projects.
• Our family purchases their ski passes.  
• I think about making holiday presents. Or should we just buy this year?
• My Saturday class runs for four weeks (and ends today).  My Saturday students have been lovely.
• I curse the fallen leaves on our lawn (even though our lawn is teeny, tiny).
• I love the fallen leaves and their beautiful colors.
• Lil O wants every book imaginable at her school's book fair.  She's narrows her list to four.
• I start brainstorming ideas for our holiday door wreath.  
• Our family goes on hikes - this year with Puppy Jedi in tow.

How is your fall?

Jen