Mission 2022 August

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In 2022, I’m combining lessons from the heart with some –cough cough – goals. But I don’t like the word goals, so it’s a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined. So how was July?

July’s Tarot Card

I did a tarot spread for the full year and July’s card was Gentle Gardner which admonished me to believe in limitless possibility, and reminded me that forgiveness is my most powerful restorative tool.

Speaking quite literally, I did some gentle gardening by pruning and plucking in July. And speaking even more literally, see Big Secret Goal #2 reveal below; there was nothing gentle about that gardening though. It was more digging and pulling and more digging.

I suppose I gentle gardened by giving away a few more things on the Buy Nothing app. That’s a hyper local app where you can offer “gifts” for people in your area. Someone claims the “gift” and they usually come to your house to retrieve the item/items. It’s a nice way to share abundance and meet people.

Limitless possibility appears every time I sit down to write. I think I don’t have anything more to add. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and ask the main character to tell me what happened next. It’s amazing how just that little pause before writing keeps me going.

P.S. August’s card is Unexpected Visitors – it’s all about expecting the unexpected and synchronicities that that can bring. I wonder what’s going to happen in August?

Write 250 Words A Day, 5 Days A Week

This goal is definitely being met thanks to Big Secret Goal #1 – I’m writing a novel. The deadlines imposed by the course at The Write Practice are just enough to keep me moving forward.

Revamp WordStorm Casserole Poetry Book

Not happening. Big Secret Goal #1 is the priority.

Itty bitty visitor to the bright lily after a rain.

Post Twice A Month On This Website

Did this in July! There was the July Mission Update and Artsy Weekend In Grand Rapids.

DeGoogle, deApple, deMicrosoft – embrace Linux!

Why? Because Google, Apple, and Microsoft all track your every move online and that’s wrong.

No much change with this in July. I’m still using my Linux machine most of the time for personal use: checking personal email, watching YouTube videos, checking social media.

Have Fun

After all the activity in June, there was no way I could have so much fun in July. I caught up with some out-of-state friends in a Zoom session, had a couple of massages, and oh yeah – had my hair died teal, deep blue, and purple. I love the jewel tones mixed with my natural grey and darker hair.

Big Secret Goal #1: Finish the first draft of a novel

Moving right along with this. In July I hit 50,000+ words, which puts me more than two-thirds of the way towards meeting my goal of 70,000 words. As I’m getting this blog post ready on August 7 I’m sitting firmly above 57,000 and set to cross the 60,000 word mark sometime this week. Hurrah!

Big Secret Goal #2: Backyard Landscaping!

Finally I can reveal this goal! I definitely had to hire pros because several areas in my backyard resembled a Midwestern jungle of weeds, unwanted trees, and other miscellaneous green stuff that had decided to live in my yard. As I said above, there’s nothing gentle about the process of essentially demolishing to begin building again.

This is the first of several phases that will happen over a number of years, too, and I’m delighted to have it underway. All the work the pros did in removing and then relocating existing plants has me enthusiastic for the next phases. More information and lots of pictures later this month!

What I’m Reading

On GoodReads, I have a 2022 Reading Challenge goal of at least 50 books. Since the last update I’ve only read one book!

I’ve been so concentrated on writing that the only book I’ve managed to get through this month has been How To Tell A Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling From The Moth.
I suspect August will be relatively book-read-less too because writing a book and working full time is taking up a lot of mental space.
I do have The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal on deck; it’s the third in the Lady Astronaut series and man, I read those so fast and loved them that I may not be able to hold myself back. The other book I’m looking forward to is The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie; I loved her Ancillary Justice series and this is a brand new series for her. There’s also a new book coming from psychologist Sharon Blackie – Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life; it’s out in October and I already have it on pre-order. Her book If Women Rose Rooted explored Celtic mythology and the Heroine’s journey as a way to find authenticity; good stuff if you’re interested in personal development and spirituality.