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Hello beautiful,

Happy almost Rosh Hashana to my Jewish beloveds, Autumn Equinox and season's transition to all.

The people have spoken, and at least until the end of the year I am reducing to an approximately-monthly "digest" format email newsletter. Previously I've sent weekly love notes, but as teaching load increases this semester, I've decided to reshuffle priorities so that I'm able to show up with energy and presence (and hopefully prevent burnout and illness). Will be doing my best to keep sharing videos and articles regularly.

Thanks so much for your input if you told me how you feel, and if you've yet to weigh in, still open for feedback of course.

Rounding out September with further back-to-school fun, and preparations continue for the Advanced Dance Program start in October. I plan to check in next by email at the end of the month, but please don't hesitate to reach out anytime I might be of service!

In this week's article I recap last month in projects, life and events, such as the continuation of my “Swashbuckling Summer” and “Splits this Season” series, kicking off a “Flights of Fancy” series and enjoying late-summer harvest.

For me, it turned to be a pretty whirlwind season. Although we didn’t take any longer trips out-of-town, there were good warm times outdoors and outside the city as well as productive work on creative projects and a decent amount of teaching smaller summer holidays classes:

​Read the Artful August – 2025 Month 8 Reflection article here​

My other creations, recommendations, and questions for you are:

Listening:

• ​Savoring September playlist on YouTube with early autumnal tunes to move to continues to delight

Reading:

• ​Autumn Equinox Magic – Rituals to Romance the Transition from Summer to Fall from 2023 is all about acknowledging the changes from season-to-season to celebrate life and can provide a menu of ideas from which to start your seasonal bucket list brainstorm
• My September 2024 article Building Momentum by Seizing the Back-to-School Mood: Ambiance, Supplies & Action​​ from last year is helping me make this school year's plans and personal curriculum
• Finished reading ​One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, and was just the last summer reading fling I needed
• Started Evocation: Book I in The Summoner's Circle by S.T. Gibson again, I do find the characters likeable and am interested to see where the relationship dynamics and story go, the magic is fitting for my fall reading flavor, but still having a hard time with the writing style personally, just gonna try to stick it out this time
• This list of the Best Books of Fall apprised me of new releases, especially interested in Elizabeth Gilbert's latest autobiography

Viewing:

• ​August Flip & Reflection - Creative Journal BuJo Plan & Memories video on YouTube is the companion to the new article, where I page through the month's entries in my seasonal book
• This teaser makes me want to see "Tchaikovsky: a Love Letter a disobedient ballet" ​

Practicing:

• Leaning on my resources to keep me going when stressed and frustrated, such as I speak about in the new You Need a Smile File, Creative video on YouTube How do you counteract the natural survival reflex of negativity bias and inevitable criticism that meets a life of creativity? Enter the "Smile File" of praise, thanks, and acknowledgment from others. One of a slew of tools to refresh, inspire, and motivate when we feel down or burnt out. Take a peek into my own collected notes of thanks and gather your own evidence of acknowledgement and love.
• Michael in the Margins is Planning a Personal Curriculum about Poetic Technique and I am here for all of these types videos about pursuing our own curiosity and growth
• I did do a little supply restock this fall, but videos like Skip the fall shopping: a low to no-cost guide to a cozy fall from Bren remind me that there are plenty of ways to embrace the season without overspending

Practicing Together LIVE / Adult Movement Classes this week:

• Online Yogalicious Gentle Yoga. 7-8:00pm CEST Tuesdays (7-8:00am HI) provides a delicious mindful movement feast which balances strength, balance and coordination for mind, body, and spirit and is adaptable to all levels and conditions (English)
• Online Balletlicious Gentle Adaptive Ballet Barre+, 7:30-8:30am CEST Fridays (Thursday p.m. HI) consists of mostly supported barre exercises with a little dancey centre work, building a strong, body-friendly, and graceful foundation for dance at home or anywhere in the world (English)

Inquiring:

• What nice things have folks said to you in the past and what is your favorite acknowledgement?
• How do you keep words of praise and encouragement?
• How do you hope to be spoken of in the future?
• What challenges are you currently struggling to overcome?
• What are you creating?

Gladly share your response to the questions above or provide other updates by replying to this email.

Thank you for reading, for being, and for dancing with me, in spirit or in fact. Take care of yourself, pay attention, and keep moving mindfully!

Love, Blythe

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

P.S.- If you signed up for my email newsletter in order to try a free class or coaching session, just reply and let me know what you're looking for, happy to help!

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