You’ve been organizing, cleaning, feathering – your nest is lovely, cozy and warm.
But it’s not just for show. Time to make a mess with people you enjoy!
Have friends over for coffee, dinner or a football game – any gathering, big or small, is just right, and more than welcome.
A clean, organized home is lovely but a home filled with family, friends, and joy is gorgeous.
Share your beauty!!!
((All images courtesy of Google images.))
((Read this spread bottom to top, left to right.))
**We interrupt our regular daily broadcast with this special message!!**
The Autumn we love is all about transitions. Put away tank tops and sandals, and get ready for all things pumpkin spice! Pack away Summer and prepare for the Holidays!
Please do not think you are expected to abruptly switch gears from grasshopper to ant; you have been preparing steadily, maintaining order, getting the work done as needed, making things happen. Though you would like to have spent Summer on a beach, there was work to do and you made sure it was done well. The Fall Transition should be smooth, no trouble at all. Oh, if only. Alas, this Transition lacks subtlety – it is more of an all out Transformation.
BAM!!! The New School Year hits the ground running!!! Who is in charge of snacks? Have you volunteered for lunchroom duty? Are there enough chaperons for the Homecoming Dance? How did you end up PTA Treasurer? Why is the Dean of Students calling?
ZAP!!! WORK HEATS UP!!! The promotion finally came through – and your workload has nearly doubled. Where are the reports? Why were you late to the meeting? Have you met with your staff? Co-workers are looking at you a little differently – weren’t we friends at lunch just last week?
POW!!! Life at home is tense!!! Husband works late, kids have crazy amounts of homework, mother in law wants to move in while “the home” deals with the asbestos problem. Has anyone been to the grocery store? Is there a plan for dinner? Is the laundry sorted? How can we be out of hot water at 6pm?
RULE ONE: DON’T PANIC!!!!!!
RULE TWO: PLAN THE WORK, WORK THE PLAN
I know what you are thinking: A Mercury Retrograde? Again? Already? How am I going to get anything accomplished??? (Please see Rule One re Panic.)
The triple-whammy in the title is not actually negative if you know what to do:
WORKING THE PLAN
To work the plan, you must first create the plan – take heart! It is easier than it sounds.
First step: Get rid of absolutely everything that does not serve you. Review your home, car and office with a critical eye. Get rid of all the stuff in your way. Old magazines you have not read (and let’s be honest, you will never read), donate them to an art studio for papier-mache and collages. Beauty and hair products you do not use? Pass them on to friends or throw them away. There are at least six items in your kitchen that have never been used; drop them off at a resale shop or church rummage sale. You do not need it. Let it go!!
Second step: Get organized. Put things away, organize your desk, put all the emergency stuff in your car trunk in a crate. If needed, make labels and color coordinate – whatever works for you! The more organized you are the more at ease you will feel and the fewer anxiety battles you will have to fight with yourself when you need something.
Third step: Set priorities to include self-care. You have much to do – decide your order of operations, include small comforts such a tea break, occasional pedicure or hot bath, and a set bed time – so create a schedule and stick to it.
Fourth step: See it for what it is. Be patient, see things as they are, and deal with them accordingly – no drama, no rose-colored glasses. You do not need to create extra anxiety or disappointment for yourself.
Final and most important step: Enjoy yourself. The Fall Season is full of beauty and fun – falling leaves, carnivals, cider, caramel apples, pumpkins, costumes – do not allow the hectic schedules and pressing responsibilities to ruin this lovely time of year. Be sure to enjoy it with the people you love – otherwise, what’s the point?
((All images courtesy of Google Images.))
It is finally September. We are looking forward to the new school year, to the new season, happily preparing for the 
upcoming holidays. Same old, same old.
BRACE YOURSELF!! Actual changes are on the way. Big. Profound. Complete.
Don’t be afraid. Change is only as frightening is you allow it to be.
You may not have realized your battles throughout the year have been leading you to this point of change but here you are.
And you’ve got this!
Knock ’em dead!! 😉
((All images courtesy of Google Images.))
TODAY IS THE DAY!!!! 
Another chance to stand your ground, win or lose.
AND YOU ARE READY!!!!!
Victory may not be assured but it will certainly be decisive – no ambiguity here!
Think ahead! Be gracious in victory or defeat, and be prepared to stand your ground another day.
((All images courtesy of Google Images.))
The unofficial official end of summer has arrived; Labor Day Weekend is over, all the kids are back in school, and 
the back-to-school-prep is completed. There is nothing left to do on this front – time to head into Fall.
Take a good look around; the summer was full of skirmishes to greater or lesser degrees. Did you win? Did you lose?
ARE YOU SURE??
NEWSFLASH: Winning and losing are often more similar than different. Why? Because you can’t have one without the other.
What did you sacrifice? Was it worth it?
Here’s the bad news: the battles will keep coming.
Here’s the good news: you will have more chances to win and lose.
GOOD LUCK!!
((All images courtesy of Google Images.))
WELCOME TO THE END OF SUMMER!!
WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING OF AUTUMN!!!!
Did you enjoy the beach? Are you ready for school?
It is time to put your home (and by extension, your life) in order – clean, comfy, organized and warm – for a new season. Preparations must get underway: put away the swimsuits, bring out the sweaters; take in the summer yard toys, make sure the fire pit has plenty of wood; you’ve been here before, you know what to do.
The year still holds a great deal of promise – be ready!!!!
((All images courtesy of Google Images.))
The world is your oyster! But you only get the pearl if you choose to crack it open. It is time to make your choice. 
Not choosing is also a choice but it would not be your own – and you want to make your own choice.
UPSIDE: New choice means new path, new adventure. YAY!!
DOWNSIDE: New choice means not choosing all the other options. Sigh….
But you must start somewhere. Pick something and give it your best effort.
You cannot win if you do not play.
GERONIMO!!!
((All images courtesy of Google Images.))
There really is no stopping you now – you are on it!!
Naysayers will pop up; ignore them!
Doubt may creep in; dismiss it!!
Fear can try its damnedest; vanquish it!!!
You have what it takes – strength, power, will – so go for it!!!!!
Next stop: FRUITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!
((All images courtesy of Google Images.))
Please do not be fooled! This is harder than it looks – but then, everything always is.
No matter how you slice it, life is hard work. Sometimes, you just need a break. So take a break.
It is okay to need a rest – we are human, after all – just be sure to set a limit. It is only a break if you get back to it.
Breaks are good.
Then, get back to work!
((All images courtesy of Google Images.))
The Urban Taroist 