Hello November...

Today is one of those "Blog at Starbucks" kind of days. Oh, who am I kidding...everyday has potential to be one of those days, doesn't it? Some days I am drawn here more easily than other days, mainly because of time and convenience restraints. Today, however, I have few restraints and plenty of time. So here I am, perched at a table in "my" Starbucks (I call it mine because it is the closest one to where I live, giving me the right to call it mine), watching people come and go, and sipping on their new "Thanksgiving Blend" coffee. I fell for it, because that's what I do best. I always say I am a marketer's dream because I fall for most products that are "new" or claim to be. I fall for the pretty packaging and sometimes even base my purchasing decision on this. I guess, if nothing else, it helps me understand the science behind marketing. This is, after all, what I am completing my degree in so it only makes sense that I embrace my tendency to fall for things that catch my eye. Anyway, one thing I am a sucker for is seasonal and holiday products, such as this Thanksgiving blend coffee I am slurping on (which is de-lish by the way). Maybe it's the fact that these things only come around once a year, or maybe it's my love for this particular season that makes me fall for these products. Regardless, I fell for it. 

So, is it just me, or did October fail to exist this year? I usually loath the passing of time, especially so quickly. However, I was okay with the limited presence of the month of October. The past 6 months seemed to all hold a title and a meaning for me. September, hands down, gets the award for the best month of the six. Not only did it bring me my birthday, but it allowed me to get an abundance of family time. I also remember this month as being my period of restoration, which in turn re-energized me to a level I never thought possible. Heading back even further, May was a month of self-realization. Although I loved the small-town life and household I had helped create, I was quickly starting to feel as though I needed more out of life. And realizing that I only have this one life to live, I acted upon this feeling. Everything happened quickly during the month of June. Since saying "yes" to a future outside of what I was used to, I was thrown into a mess of planning for this future. We'll call June my self-prioritizing month, as everything needed to be done on time and at a certain time in order for me to end up where I wanted to be when I wanted to be there. Deep breath. July, as you all know, was the month I left my small-town life and headed for the big city. Naturally, this month gets the title of my self-questioning month. I'm sure most people would question themselves and their surroundings after being immersed into an unknown world alone. Now, I look back at this month and giggle; if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have questioned myself for a second. Anyway, moving on to August. By this time I was settled into my new home, and it actually started to feel like home. I was well into my first semester back in school and things were great. We will call August my self-appreciation month. Never in my life had I felt this level of appreciation for what I had done for myself. Here I was, in Chicago. And I got here on my own, by myself. I distinctly remember saying "wow" a lot during this month. We already touched on September; this was my self-restoration month. This month gave me time to take a deep breath. Much like I am doing now, except on a grander scale. Following September was October, and as I mentioned, this month is hard to find a title for. Each day passed and I kept plugging along, fully committed to my life here in Chicago. This month held no particular meaning for me, although I did enjoy all of the "fall" aspects that came with it. We will call it my self-commitment month, for lack of a better name. 

Now, here we are in November. I love change of any kind, but the changing of months is one of my favorite kinds of change. It allows me to turn a page and expose a new chapter in my life. It allows me to challenge myself to new and exciting things, and it brings me one step closer to my goal. Although that goal is unknown, I am certain that I'm on the right track. And I am extremely anxious to see what title November ends up with.