#20 - Keeping The Pattern Going
Kara Monroe
Keeping the Pattern Going
I’m not sure what to write about this week but the commitment is to publish - it’s not to love what you publish.
Time feels like it’s moving simultaneously twice as fast as it should be and a little slower than it should be.
Part of that is just what has been going on in my life.
I’ve flown across the country twice since I last wrote to you. I’ve taken three COVID tests - all of which were thankfully negative. I have learned first hand that, yes - people do still get head colds in the age of COVID.
While I’m still feeling a little stuffy I’m mostly better which is good because I’m in Portland, Oregon for less than 48 hours to facilitate a planning session for a client.
I’m excited about this project. It’s in my area of expertise and it’s the first client I “landed” that wasn’t already an existing relationship - at least not directly.
But, I’m also struggling to get my financials in order for taxes. This is a new rhythm - and just like I have been for months I have been struggling with getting into a new rhythm. I’ve passed the six month mark of leaving my former employer (as of June 14) so it’s time to put the past in the past and move forward with more intention.
I’m going to spend a few minutes tonight in time zone induced extension of the day jotting down a possible daily routine and I’m going to try it out once I’m settled back at home on Wednesday. I’ve never needed to write down my daily routine before because I just fit it in naturally around all of the other meetings and things that had to get done. Now that there is more freedom and flexibility in my days I’m hoping the simple act of making some habits concrete - in written form - will help me to try them out. We shall see.
How do you build new habits? How do you deconstruct bad habits? What works for you and what doesn’t work? Hit reply - let me know.
What I published this week
Nothing, Nada, Zilch! Between travel and sickness I jotted down a lot of ideas but nothing got published except this newsletter.
What I'm reading this week
I finished Abby Jimenez’s “The Friend Zone”. This was such a good little novel. The story is both incredibly sweet and extremely challenging. I laughed and I cried. Since I’m in Portland, I made a trip to Powell’s Books and picked up the next book in this series “The Happy Ever After Playlist”
I started reading American Royals (Book 1) by Katharine McGee. I attended a writing workshop at Earlham College a few years back. One of my favorite sessions was on world building. My oversimplified summary of the session is you create a world by asking a “What If” question. This series is based on “What if George and Martha Washington were King and Queen of the US instead of President and First Lady”?. Fun world question to ponder and I’m looking forward to getting farther into the book.
The book “Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes” has come up a few times on the Bible Binge podcast so I decided to tackle it. Interesting thus far although I’m only about a third of the way done with it.
While in Montana, we learned about Hugh Monroe - a white man who lived among the Blackfoot Native American tribes. His story is told in a book called “Rising Wolf: The White Blackfoot”. I’ve cracked it but haven’t gotten back to it.
Ways You Can Support Me
I’m excited to share that I’ll be serving as a mentor in R.J. Nestor’s AP Productivity Course: Cohort 5. The sign up link isn’t open yet but you can take a look at R.J.‘s courses and read about Cohort 4. If you’re interested in joining, let me know and I can send you a link for 15% off.
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Get Upside: Cash back on gas & food!
I shared the Upside app once before. It allows you to get a few pennies back on fuel and food at participating locations. I’ve been using it about 3 months now and have earned about $17. Between this and the Gas Buddy app, I’m doing my best to save at the pump.
Diversion
The Cincinnati Zoo has a new-ish cheetah cub named Rozi. She’s absolutely adorable and she’s met her puppy buddy Daisy who is one month her senior. I’m fascinated by the partnership zoos use between domestic dogs and cheetah cubs to help the cheetahs gain confidence.
This should take you to Rozi’s introduction post on Instagram
A photo of Rozi and Daisy
And just in case those links don’t work, I’ll close off this week’s edition with a sassy photo of my own Kona who turned 18 months old this week.
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Kara Monroe, 11640 Winding Wood Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46235