Welcome to the end of September!  For many of us, September feels like the beginning of a new year (with return to school, routines and ramped up schedules) more than January 1 ever does.

In this time of Covid, previous September routines have been complicated with concerns about case numbers and the latest safety precautions.  And, I find that I briefly forget about this new type of September when I look outside.  The trees changing colour, with the wind blowing the ‘early turners’ across the road.  I grab my favourite  sweater when leaving the house in the morning–one that hasn’t been worn since May.   Neighbourhood kids are laughing as they wait for the school bus.  When we are dealing with difficult things in life, it’s the small moments that help to get through them.

Here’s some interesting ideas for September.  I hope that you find them to be as helpful and interesting as I did.

Boundaries–We all Need Them

Understanding and setting boundaries can be two of the most confusing and difficult skills that we learn as humans.  What they are, how we set them and enforce them; changes based on circumstance, relationship and personality.  If we have grown up in a family where boundaries were absent, this practice becomes even more challenging.

This article in The Guardian speaks to the power of saying no, as a way to build strong boundaries.  I especially appreciate that the author talks about the obstacles to setting boundaries in a variety of settings–including at work.

If you would like more information about boundaries, you can check out my February 2018 blog post.

A Conversation No Parent Wants to Have

A cancer diagnosis is terrifying enough…and then there are the follow-up actions that are needed–such as how or if we tell our children.  This Atlantic article by Caitlin Flanagan is a continuation of her article that was included in the Interesting Ideas for August 2021 post.  Both articles, written from the position of 20 years after her diagnosis, provide key information to people (and their loved ones) going through cancer now.  Her thoughts are timeless.

More About Walking

And finally, in the Interesting Ideas post for July 2021, I included this Guardian article that told the poignant story of one woman’s 150-mile walking journey along the Thames River from London to Oxford to visit her brother’s grave and the realizations that she had along the way.

Now, here’s an Atlantic article about a family’s hike of the  Camino de Santiago in Spain.  The author talks about the history of this pilgrimage, it’s place in popular culture and what he learned during the 100 mile trek.   As a bonus, the author makes reference to Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.  I love this book!

If you would like to read another account of hiking the Camino, I recommend Jane Christmas’ book What the Psychic Told the Pilgrim.

Enjoy…take care…and stay safe!

Labour Day (in Canada) is fast approaching–with hopefully the end to any more heatwaves!  As we come to the official end of Summer 2021, here are some articles that I found to be worth a read…Enjoy!

The Difficult Questions About Vaccine Status

Every stage of the pandemic has asked that we change and/or learn new skills.  In the beginning, some of us had to become more tech-savvy (remember early struggles with Zoom and Instacart?).  Through trial and error, we’ve negotiated how, or even if, to send our kids to school.  Relationships have been altered–some for better and some for worse.  We’ve had to cope with it all.

Now as more of us are vaccinated, we are being asked to navigate the new world of “vaccine status”.  This Washington Post article provides etiquette and sensible advice about many current situations that many of us will encounter as time goes on.

Unfortunately, Some Things Didn’t Go Away

Covid-19 has taken up so much of our mind space since it began.  At the same time, it didn’t chase away other difficult things.  The pandemic overlaid all of our experiences–including Cancer.

Caitlin Flanagan, a staff writer at The Atlantic, looks back on her experience with breast cancer and the “helpful?” advice that she was given along the way.  I appreciate how her article shines a light on some of the cultural misconceptions we share about battling cancer and how they can affect cancer patients.

A “Sheepish” Tribute

There are many ways to honour our loved ones who have died.  This Australian sheep farmer did so in a very unique way.  Please check out this heartwarming story and video from the BBC.

Time for March’s edition of Interesting Ideas. Depending on where you live, you are at some place in the ‘third wave’.  Whether you are watching it approach, starting the ride or balancing on the peak; like most of us you’re probably tired of ‘surfing’.

Here are three interesting ideas that can help.

The Fear of Failure

As we’ve spent more time online over the past year, it’s clear that so much of what we do is seen by so many.  With the increased visibility, our fear of failure (and the resulting judgement) can increase to the point that we become afraid to try anything new.  This Atlantic article encourages us to ‘go ahead and fail’ along with ways to build the courage to do so.

“I have to see people in-person again?!!!”

At some point in the future, we’ll be able to socialize with large groups of people.  However, for many of us, this is a source of anxiety–and not just for individuals who experienced social anxiety before the pandemic.  This article in The Guardian lets you know that you’re not alone, and provides coping strategies to ease yourself back into the outside world.

Animal Comfort

While pet ownership has increased over the past year, dog walking or cat litter cleaning isn’t for everyone.  An alternative?  According to this Washington Post article, you can hug a cow!  Even if you don’t read the article, the pictures are adorable!

Until next time…take care and stay safe.