IMAGINATIVE LIVING

“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

At the beginning of each calendar year, I spend an hour or two writing my 1, 5, and 10 year visions. The key to do this is to write it in present tense, as if today is taking place in 2015, 2019 and 2024. It can be about anything that's taking place in my life at that time (i.e., relationships, family, job, hobbies, health, achievements, etc.). I started doing this in 2010 after attending a workshop that was led by the CEO of the company where I still work. She explained that this is something she does every year and how fascinating it is to return to them years later and discover their accuracy.

This past weekend I sat down to review all of the visions I had written over the past 4 years, as well as the 1, 5, and 10 year goals my SO and I started to write together in 2012. He didn't take them seriously at first, but has since become a fan of this simple visioning act; so much so that we now discuss our goals and dreams on a quarterly and sometimes monthly basis. The goals differ from the visions, because they are lists of specific actions we want to take to achieve our visions. 

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This simple and easy activity has done wonders for our communication and growth as a couple. This format creates a fun and safe space for us to discuss some serious topics (i.e., lifestyle preferences, finances, marriage, kids, etc.). It has also enabled us to be vulnerable and imaginative by opening up about our innermost hopes and dreams. In this way, we are able to voice and acknowledge our individual desires, and then discuss them in the context of our life together. As a result, we get to:

• know ourselves and each other better;
• imagine and plan what we need to do to make our dreams come true; and lastly,
• hold ourselves and each other accountable on an ongoing basis.

I'm currently compiling all of our visions and goals into one notebook, so that we can more easily review what we've written over the years, and reflect upon our progress thus far.

Happy imaginative and actionable living!

~Modern Akhmatova

THE SWEETEST PART OF MY HEART

You are wondrous
I see you in the origins of snow-capped mountains, river valleys, and wild flowers.

You are the sweetest part of my heart.

My being opens up in the presence of your understated beauty, honest joy and silent wisdom.

~Modern Akhmatova

AS THE SUN SETS

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SO and I drove last night to run some errands around neighboring towns. We stopped at MOM's market to drop off our compost and buy a few things. When we walked out of the store on our way to the car I noticed the sky above us and told him to look. 

It was just after sunset, so there was still a misting of light behind and in between the stretched swaths of clouds. They were the color of soft yet deep blues, accented by a gorgeous magenta throughout the expanse, as far as the eye could see. SO suggested that we take a moment to take it all in. We put the rest of our groceries in the car and then embraced while looking at the sky in silence. 

What a great way to welcome the upcoming fall season and bid farewell to an eventful summer!

The highlight of the last few months was of course our siblings' wedding in Cape Hatteras, NC and the week we spent there in the same house with the rest of our family. I wrote about this experience in an earlier post, though it was really more about SO's and my stance on weddings in general rather than the overall experience of the week-long vacation at the beach.

A scene from the loveliest wedding <3 

As I said, the whole family stayed in the same, gigantic house for the entire week. This was a first for our family and something I had always dreamed of. My brother and his wife made all of this possible with their desire to have all of us in one place for their special day and then to spend some quality time together in the same place where they got married. I am grateful to them for their generous spirits and loving embrace of everyone in the family.

When I look back on this summer I will always think of their beautiful wedding and the gift of togetherness that they gave to all of their most intimate loved ones.

Happy summer reflections!

~Modern Akhmatova