gratitude and calendars

Am I the only one, or do you also feel like once Halloween's over, it's just break-neck speed until the end of the year?  I find this feeling both exhilarating and horrifying:  I love year's end, with its gift-giving and feast-eating and merry-making; on the other hand, there's just way too much I want to accomplish before the end of the year!  I'm not ready!

Ultimately, though, really, the good outweighs the bad:  the temperature has finally dropped here in Houston, family visits are imminent, and overall, I'm really so grateful for my life -- both the good and the trying, combined.   For these last couple of months (and every day otherwise, really), I just need to remember it's all about taking it in step-by-step.

Breath-by-mindful-breath.

* * * * * * *

In other news, I wanted to tell you that I finished designing the Chookooloonks 2010 calendar -- I finally got on the ball earlier this year, and I'm really pleased with how they look. They come in a CD jewel case that folds backwards to form an easel (so they don't take up too much real estate in your workspace), and each calendar page features one of my favourite images from this past year. 

I hope you enjoy them.  You can see all the images here, and if you're so inclined, purchase them here.  Also, I'm happy to ship internationally.  Of course.

And as always, thanks so much for all your support -- not just the calendars, but coming here daily to read the blog, and cheer me with your comments.  I don't say it enough, but the truth is they make my day more often than you know.

Song:  Thank you by Alanis Morrissette.  I've featured this song once before much earlier this year, but in the spirit of mindfulness and going through our days moment-by-moment, it just seems fitting to feature it again today.