ELEVATING Happiness in October 2025

Well, hello November. I am always looking forward to this month ever since starting NaBloPo in 2017. It is such a fun way to enjoy an otherwise bla month. But before I make plans for November its time to have a little check-in and see how elevating happiness in October looked like.

How I incorporated my word ELEVATE in October

I elevated my soul by

• learning I will become an aunt again. More so I am beyond happy that it happens for my sister. I had almost feared its not in the books for her.
• joining all the cool bloggers for a Elisabeth walking club.
• getting hit on in a nice way. As the husband put it “you still got it”.

I elevated my creativity by

• pre-writing a few blog posts.
• decorating my bike with reflective stickers.

I elevated my hobbies by

• reading. What else. No cool scary dark books as I abandoned Rebecca.

I elevated my physical appearance and fitness by

• doing yoga eleven times average of 30 min each. 
• only one Zumba class. Was sick one. Other two weeks were vacation and therefore not held.
• doing strength training four times average of 42 min each.
• closing my apple rings three times.
• riding my bike more, a total of 37km.
• walking over 10.000 steps/day on 5 days, total of 143.3km and an average of 6,642 daily steps (94.9% of goal).

I elevated my health by

• going to the gyn. She was amazing, acknowledge my suspicion I am already in pre-perimenopause, listened and even ordered an hormone blood test, gave me some pills to test.
• a spontaneous decision to finally get the migraine piercing. And while at it doing one for sleep as well.
• made an appointment for Covid & Flue shots.

I elevated my relationships by

• visiting a family member in the hospital – nothing too serious but rather refractory so she needed to be under surveillance
• half a date day with the hubby ordering in waffles and milkshakes.
• a nice dinner at a hacienda style restaurant with the husband when we picked up the car.
• meeting a former colleague and book friend for dinner when on a business trip in Hamburg.
• a zoom book club meeting to talk about our recent reads.
• hosting my god child for two nights and having one fun dinner together.
• some nice, inspiring business calls / co-working sessions that inspired me.
• leaving 70 blog comments.

I elevated my home by

• half cleaned the terrace and storm proofed it. I did not tend to my garden. I know.
• deep cleaned the dishwasher.
• decalcified the water kettle.
• drain cleaned the shower.
• changed AND wash towels every week (its the small wins you guys).

I elevated my style by

• painting my nails. No fun fall nails though.
• wearing a new outfit combo.

Look at this. Doesn’t it look like a Monet painting?
When I saw this on my bike ride I had to stop for proper admiration.

A lot of the things I had in mind for October didn’t happen. I was so busy with work, often times exhausted and tired. Other people canceled on me or things shifted. Like there are no spots left on the Christmas volunteering as of today. I wouldn’t call it a fail but it makes me a bit sad that mostly fun, creative and soul nourishing things fell to the way side. Let’s hope November will be a bit better in these areas.

My November will be crazy busy with work. It’s four weeks before one client is going on a three month sabbatical and so much needs to be done beforehand. I have all the Christmas content to produce (way behind schedule) for my stationary and gift shop client and I will not carry over all the video editing for my hospital client into next year – wishful thinking at this point. And then add NaBloPo and the precursors of Christmas preparations. So as a reminder to myself – less is better this season. If you do something make it count but don’t be overambitious. That said here are my plans for November.

ELEVATING November

• I will elevate my soul by
  …having a weekend at the country home by myself. I will make it a reading-yoga retreat one.
  …consciously getting outside for fresh air and to air my brain.
  …yin yoga on weekends at least.
• I will elevate my creativity by
  …writing blog posts.
  …stop to take 3 photos that I find creatively beautiful.
  …Christmas Cards – putting it here but I fear it won’t happen. At least browse ideas.
• I will elevate my hobbies by
  … reading a fairy tale.
• I will elevate my physical appearance and fitness by
  …keeping my exercise schedule that includes strength training, Zumba, endurance, yoga for 6 days a week.
  …do two long walks (10km+) back to back.
• I will elevate my health by
  …getting a Covid and Flue shot.
  …having another test run by the sleep clinic.
  …sticking to my vitamin and magnesium intake. Start vitamin D as well.
  …going to the sauna working on the immune resistance.
• I will elevate my relationships by
  …date day with the husband in a nearby town.
  …meet my craft friend – probably only for dinner and no craft session.
  …meeting my best friend – hopefully as we have to move dates.
  …spending Sunday of the Dead with my mom at the country home.
  …attending the church group that is always fun and inspiring.
  …attending my friends annual Baked Apple Party.
• I will elevate my home by
  …tidying up the storage room. (roll over goal that needs to happen)
• I will elevate my style by
  …taking a weekend afternoon trying on stored away clothes seeing what fits and while at it go through and trim the closet Mari Kondo Style. (roll over goal)
• I will elevate my behavior by
  …attending my democracy clubs annual gathering and spending time with my mom.
• I will be elevating others by
  …supporting my husband in his ongoing struggle to save his company.

And these are my still overambitious goals for November. I need to add in some more creative things. I just don’t dare writing it down. So many things have been cool over goals that it starts to be embarrassing.

What elevated your soul in October? What would you like to elevate in your life? What is a constant roll-over goal for you? Is there a thing you look forward to in November?