It’s almost Halloween! When this celebration falls on a weekday, the week seems just a little bit easier. For one day, we can let go of the strict timetable of the week, and enjoy the communal celebrations, and do things differently. Even with it being a work day. 

I am looking forward to that, and a dinner the night before (tonight) with a couple of my artist friends. Simple things like that are making this week look easy and interesting for me. And I am thankful for that. I have other areas to push in- work, exercise, but also fun stuff to look forward to. Just the right balance! 

This makes me wonder if every week (ok, maybe that would be too much), or every other week, had something fun mixed in so everyday life seems a little bit easier to digest, that would be good.

One of the things my husband and I do is going to our Wednesday morning breakfast. Looking forward to it in the middle of the week gives us a break from the same old in the long stretch of the week.

Next week already looks busy with preparing and attending a new art show for me. And another dinner with friends. 

But besides these two busy weeks, I am mostly home during the week. I don’t foresee much happening the rest of November during the week. But I do like the quiet evenings at home too- to watch TV with my family, and read a good book.

Life is a balance of busy, quiet, hard and easy. Too much of any of those elements won’t be fun for too long. Yes, we need things to anchor our life- good habits that take us in the direction we want to be headed most days. But besides that, there needs to be spicy things to break up the monotone, or something else to give us an out once in a while. 

I will be keeping this thought in the center of my mind, and make more opportunities to hang out with friends, or do something fun with my family (catch a movie at the theatre?) once every so often. I don’t want to become the boring lady always at home, or wear myself out by being out every other evening. But there is a good balance to be had, and we need to be mindful about it. 

My bookclub gives me a regular outing and meeting with friends to look forward to every month. My family and I try to do something fun (either on our own or with friends) over the weekend. And I have dates with both my husband and son separately each week.

One thing that I seem to be falling in the pattern of each weekend is having a culinary adventure- of making something different in the kitchen. Lately I have made hummus (easy I know, but I hadn’t made it in years so it felt special), baked pumpkin loafs, baked an apple cake, made butternut squash risotto etc. This weekend, I have a mind to make Sikil Pak- the pumpkin seed dip from the Mayan culture. I have had this a few times, and really liked it. So I would like to make it and see how I do.

And books are my ever-present adventure in life- they are always changing topics and genres. I read widely, and a lot (I think). They provide me with a lot of joy. As I get to the end of a book, I have this very delicious feeling of having a choice of possibilities for my next book. And they (mostly) don’t disappoint since I am ok to chuck a book if I am not enjoying it.

All this variety in life, does add spice. It makes us grow in our brains, and as better humans. The background of simple living makes this contrast of some interesting things seems to make my life amazing. But can I be more intentional about it? Yes, I can, and that is the plan going forward.