Seize the Day!

This week went by so quickly! I was really busy @ work with lots of appointments since registration is in a few weeks. In my classes this week, we talked about parenting and parenting styles, the ethics and laws of record keeping and the Gestalt approach. In my theories class we did an exercise with fruit to experience the Gestalt approach. I chose a kiwi, and had to describe the kiwi and then become the kiwi and explain how the kiwi was like a person. I know it may sound different, but it was really quite effective. We also learned how to carpe diem and live in the present. The beauty of the Gestalt approach is that even tho it deals with living in the present moment and having full awareness, it acknowledges past experiencs and has clients deal with the past as though it were presently happening (in a safe, therapeutic environment, of course). I actually tried a bit of that approach on myself this week, and it does seem to be beneficial. I've always want to take life one day at a time and stay in the present, but it's hard for me when most of the things I want to do won't be in the present moment for several more (future) years. But it's not really living when you are focused on the future. A statement in another class was that the past was filled with guilt and regrets and the future was filled with anxiety, so living in the present is a kind of safety net. Besides the fact that you can't do anything to change anything about the past (besides deal with it) and the future may never come. So carpe diem has become a goal of mine that I am actually going to work at attaining.

I have lots of reading to do this weekend because mid-terms are next week (which is something in the future I really need to think about). I am going to a wedding next weekend so I need to get as much studying as possible completed this week. So today and tomorrow I will read the remaining chapters and begin making study sheets that I can look at in between appointments at work. That will be my way of living in the present.
I'm so happy that it is October! The weather has been fabulous. Yesterday I had to put my heavy comforter on my bed to stay warm. That was a real treat b/c I have waited months to be able to take that comforter out of the dry cleaning plastic. I love the smells that go along with autumn. I bought some little pumpkins to go out on the porch and some for the kitchen table. I also bought a little scarecrow and she is sitting out front with a mini pumpkin of her own. With all the nature that is surrounding me, it reminds me of Thoreau going out in the woods to live deliberately. I need to live deliberately. I saw the groundhog again yesterday and several blue jays, but I have not seen the deer in a few days. I noticed the other night that you can really see lots of stars here since it is away from city lights. I may bring the telescope back with me next weekend and start doing some star gazing. I don't have the star watches to go to anymore, so I can just take my book and notes from my undergrad astronomy class and watch on my own. I really love astronomy...and obviously the moon! ;)
And, of course, it's my birthday month! This birthday will be the first that I have not been with family or significant others so it will be sort of strange and probably not feel very birthday-ish. A side-effect of growing older, I guess.
My *nephew* had his Tiger Cub induction this past week so I am going to go make something to snail mail to him. I also bought something to make for my co-worker, whose birthday is 2 days before mine. So I guess I will go do that and read those chapters to gain more knowledge of counseling!