Banned Books Week 2021

Books magical gateways

Into the past, present, future

Pathways to new possibilities

Pathways to new What if?s

Pathways to new ways of seeing

But some do not want us to

Walk these many pathways

They fear looking at the world

With honest eyes, with truth

They fear what they don't understand

They struggle with identity

Racial Identity, Cultural Identity

Identities around Gender, Sexuality, Love

The complexities of intersectionality

The pain too many experience living

All too often books are banned

Because some fear looking critically

At life with all its brightness and grayness

And take that fear to mean

That no one should be exploring this issues

But this banned book week

Is a reminder like every year

That books will always be there

Showing the world as it is and might be

So go forth a read a banned book this week.

This week their are a wide range of events for banned book week. If you want to join check out your local library, or simply do a google search for events happening near you. If you want to celebrate by reading banned books here is a list of American Library Association’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020

• George by Alex Gino: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community”

• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds: Banned and challenged because of author’s public statements, and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people

• All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely: Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now”

• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity

• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author

• Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin: Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience

• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students

• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison: Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message

And if none of those catch your eye here is a list of Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019 you can check out:

1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
2. Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
4. Looking for Alaska by John Green
5. George by Alex Gino
6. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
7. Drama by Raina Telgemeier
8. Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
9. Internet Girls (series) by Lauren Myracle
10. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
11. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
12. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
13. I Am Jazz by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel
14. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
15. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
16. Bone (series) by Jeff Smith
17. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
18. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
19. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss
20. Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg
21. Alice McKinley (series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
22. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris
23. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
24. Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz
25. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
26. A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
27. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
28. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
29. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
30. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
31. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
32. It's a Book by Lane Smith
33. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
34. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
35. What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
36. A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer
37. Bad Kitty (series) by Nick Bruel
38. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
39. Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
40. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
41. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey
42. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman
43. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
44. A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
45. Beloved by Toni Morrison
46. Goosebumps (series) by R.L. Stine
47. In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco
48. Lush by Natasha Friend
49. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
50. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
51. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
52. The Holy Bible
53. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
54. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
55. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
56. Gossip Girl (series) by Cecily von Ziegesar
57. House of Night (series) by P.C. Cast
58. My Mom's Having A Baby by Dori Hillestad Butler
59. Neonomicon by Alan Moore
60. The Dirty Cowboy by Amy Timberlake
61. The Giver by Lois Lowry
62. Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
63. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
64. Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
65. Dreaming In Cuban by Cristina Garcia
66. Fade by Lisa McMann
67. The Family Book by Todd Parr
68. Feed by M.T. Anderson
69. Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
70. Habibi by Craig Thompson
71. House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
72. Jacob's New Dress by Sarah Hoffman
73. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
74. Monster by Walter Dean Myers
75. Nasreen’s Secret School by Jeanette Winter
76. Saga by Brian K. Vaughan
77. Stuck in the Middle by Ariel Schrag
78. The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal
79. 1984 by George Orwell
80. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
81. Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
82. Awakening by Kate Chopin
83. Burned by Ellen Hopkins
84. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
85. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
86. Glass by Ellen Hopkins
87. Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesle´a Newman
88. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
89. Madeline and the Gypsies by Ludwig Bemelmans
90. My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis
91. Prince and Knight by Daniel Haack
92. Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology by Amy Sonnie
93. Skippyjon Jones (series) by Judith Schachner
94. So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins
95. The Color of Earth (series) by Tong-hwa Kim
96. The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter
97. The Walking Dead (series) by Robert Kirkman
98. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
99. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S Brannen
100. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

Good News Friday

Today I am participating in "Better" | A STORY 2021 Intensive which is exploring the power of stories to shape the future, our future, and the future of our wider communities. There is a lot of interesting content around the power of stories and how to use this power effectively. 

But since I am at the virtual conference all day this blog post will be a bit shorter. One resource that was shared this morning was www.goodgoodgood.co which shares real good news, not just feel good news. 

So to set you up for a good weekend here are a few good news stories:

• The Population of Endangered Mountain Gorillas Has Grown by 71% In a Decade
• This Innovative Fridge Will Make the COVID-19 Vaccine Accessible to All
• North Carolina Just Opened Their First Peer-Run Respite Center as an Alternative to Hospitalization for People in Mental Health Distress
• This Social Worker Is Using Sports and Streetwear to Reach People
• Meet the World's First Carbon-Neutral Soccer Club
• These 3 Energy Storage Technologies Can Help Solve the Challenge of Moving to 100% Renewable Electricity
• Pollution to Products? Recycled Carbon Emissions Are Coming to Consumer Shelves
• Hair Stylists Are Using Hair Clippings to Clean Up Oil Spills
• Paving a Path for Justice: 7 Runners Making a Difference to Follow on Instagram

Happy Autumn Equinox, Happy Mabon

The Autumn Equinox is finally here. For some reason this year I have been yearning for fall for a while as my roommates can attest. (Maybe because it was a hot summer and getting all sweaty when I went for my daily walk was not cool?) 

According to a few sources this is a perfect time to let go of things that no longer serve us. 

As the sisters enchanted state:

Mabon is named for the Welsh God, Mabon. Mabon falls on the Autumn Equinox, marking the beginning of the dark months. Mabon also marks a time of rest. The harvest is now over, and with the coming dark months, there is less work to be done.

Instead, preparation for the cold is now at the forefront. This is a time to complete projects and let go of things that are no longer serving you so that you may feel at peace during the chilly winter months.

I am taking this time to take a physical, mental, and spiritual inventory of what I have, and what I should use up or discard before the new year. Since I am starting now when the end of Dec rolls around and I am running around doing a whole list of activities I will already be ready.  Plus I can do some trial runs and see what resolutions might work for next year. 

This inventorying includes practical things like tossing ripped clothing, using up old bath and body products, and sorting items that can go into my gift drawer. This also includes some aspirational things like considering where I want to go in 2022 vocationally, health wise, etc. and spending the fall figuring out what pre-steps I need to do first. 

For example:

• I want to do more freelance work so working on a portfolio of my previous projects. 
• I want to do more art projects so doing an inventory of what art supplies I have.
• I want to open some space in my life so thinking about what I need to leave behind

In addition the fall is a long enough season where I can calmly and unhurried look through categories and determine if items are serving me, can serve me, or have become a "should" that simply stresses me out. "I "should" keep it for x, y, or z reason instead of it actually being useful or bringing joy." I also find if I give myself enough time I can recognize items that once served me, but no longer do and would do better being shared with others. 

I wish everyone a Happy Autumn Equinox, and Happy Mabon. May this be a season where you get everything lined up so come winter you can spend more time curled up all cozy, with a hot beverage, enjoying a book or listening to music. 

A Virtual Tour: The Lake

Yesterday I went for a walk to the lake and took some photos. 

Here is a short video documenting my adventure.

Enjoy a mini break from what ever you are doing or stressing about right now.

May you have a great weekend.

Grab and Go: Chicago Mini Canvas Art

Today I did a Grab and Go Art project from the Harold Washington Library Center. There are other Grab and Go projects at other branches of the Chicago Public Library:

Home is where the heart is! Did you know Chicago has 77 communities? Express your love for your neighborhood in this month’s Chicago Mini Canvas Grab & Go Kit. 

Looking for a fun creative outlet? Come pick up a fun arts and crafts grab and go kit to take home courtesy of the Maker Lab and the Arts & Music Department! This grab and go kit is available at the 8th floor reference desk during library hours until September 30th or while supplies last.

Note: While when you are looking up events it looks like you can only grab a kit on Tuesdays in reality you can grab one any day. It has to be imputed oddly into their event system because the system is not set up for a daily/month long activities. 

You can go to the 8th floor reference desk when ever you are downtown

Because this year's One Book, One Chicago selection is Bedrock Faith by Eric Charles May, this fall's art projects are around the theme of Chicago and Chicago Neighborhoods.

Sept: Grab and Go: Chicago Mini Canvas Art

Oct: Grab and Go: Rustic Chicago Flag Wall Hanging

Nov: Grab and Go: Easy Rainbow Cards

Dec: Grab and Go: Embroidery Hoop State Art

The kit comes in a neat little package. 

This month we got a canvas, a paintbrush, paint, mod podge, a Chicago cutout and instructions

Which is a lot of goodies for free: I found I had paint, mod podge, and the paintbrush left over.

I will be able to do a few bonus projects of my own 

This was a very simple art project anyone could do 

Assuming you can hold a paintbrush and brush a canvas

 

 

I have to say thank you to the Chicago Public Library for offering Grab and Go Art projects. If you are in Chicago explore other Grab and Go options available. If you live somewhere else check out your own local library, because why they may not have the same type of projects most libraries have something going on that you can explore and be creative.

Art, Art, Art ...

This past weekend was filled with a different creative festival each day. 

• Friday was The River North Design District 2021 Fall Gallery Walk
• Saturday was the Printer Lit Literary Festival
• Sunday was Lakeview East Art Festival.

The River North Design District 2021 Fall Gallery Walk: 

It was fun to go with a friend, my "Captain Cold" and see art. It was also neat that there was food to nibble on at many of the locations which brought me back to the before times when that was a lot more common. I really enjoyed this particular piece of art.

 

I really enjoyed the views of Chicago from this stop. Felt like a secret hideaway.

This was an Art work I made at one of the stops. As I posted online at one point I was actually waiting for paint to dry so I could take my art work home without getting it all over me as I took public transit. In addition to the above I ended up with a good stack of design/art catalogues which will provide inspiration for various creative projects moving forward.

Printer Lit Literary Festival:

As I wandered around the fest I ended up stopping by a booth where I could get my name written in Arabic (for free) which was fun. Also while standing in line I heard the guy talking about the whole there not being a P, instead it being a B in Arabic which always reminds me of The Band's Visit. 

I also found The Legend of Tomorrow's magic pointy stick (aka as The Spear of Destiny) from season 2. (And that is my story and I am sticking to it) It was hard not to giggle when I saw it since the author at the booth was using it in a more sacred manner than as a magic pointy stick.

Lakeview East Art Festival:

I ended up seeing some cool art, getting this signed poster for free, and listening to some fun music.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Trigger Warning: Discussion of the topic of suicide and suicidal ideation 

World Suicide Prevention Day:

World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides.

Suicide Attempts, Suicide, Suicidal Ideation

(Written In Honor Of World Suicide Prevention Day 2021)

By Dreaming Ace

Suicide Attempts, Suicide, Suicidal Ideation

Something that connects 

Us all, Us all, Us all

Actors and Musicians and Comics

Writers and Journalists and Royalty

Vets and Farmers and Religious Leaders

Sports players and Food Critics and Business owners

Acquaintances, Friends, and Family members

We all know or know of

Someone who has fought 

Someone who has struggled

Someone who was overwhelmed

Someone who thought about suicide

Sometimes it is attempts in youth

Sometimes it is caused by mental illness

Sometimes it is caused by despair

Sometimes it is not being able to see past the darkness

Sometimes it is feeling all alone 

We all know or know of

Someone who has fought 

Someone who has struggled

Someone who was overwhelmed

Someone who thought about suicide

Reach out to those you see suffering

Ask how they really truly are and LISTEN

Don't turn away out of fear of doing it wrong

Being present, Listening, Helping find outside support

Often this is all that is needed to save a life

Suicide Attempts, Suicide, Suicidal Ideation

Something that connects 

Us all, Us all, Us all

Why Is Today Important?

Suicide is a global public health crisis impacting us all. We all know a friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor, or stranger who has struggled with Suicide, Suicide Attempts, or Suicidal Ideation. 

For example I know:

A childhood friend of mine in the Army who has lost multiple coworkers to suicide

A member of my church family who in the past has struggled with Active Suicidal Ideation

Several Facebook acquaintances who have had struggles with Active Suicidal Ideation

Wentworth Miller who has spoken about two suicide attempts one as a youth, and one as a college student

Individuals (and characters in fanfiction) who have experienced both acute and chronic low level passive suicidal ideation (Where it is less about having a plan and more about just waiting*/wishing for death to show up)

*This song is not about this topic at all but yet expresses some of what it can feel like.  

It is important that we understand this crisis, know how to identify when someone could need help, and know what to do if someone does need help. 

It is also vital that we normalize having such thoughts and build a community that someone in crisis can reach out to knowing they won't be judged and will get the resources and help that they need.

Suicides can be prevented

Definitions and Statistics:

Definitions:

Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior.

A suicide attempt is a non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide attempt might not result in injury.

Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.

Suicide is a Leading Cause of Death in the United States:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports, in 2019:

Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 47,500 people.

Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 44.

There were nearly two and a half times as many suicides (47,511) in the United States as there were homicides (19,141). 

40 seconds

By Dreaming Ace

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Every 40 seconds

Someone around the world

Dies by Suicide

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Every 40 seconds

Someone's life is cut short

Never to be heard from again

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Every 40 seconds

So since the start of this poem

Someone ceased to be

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Identifying and Helping Someone in Crisis: 

Wentworth Miller has also expressed ways to reach out and have these difficult conversations with someone you are worried about even when you don't know where to start as well as talking about when these conversations are useful and when they are not.

Resources If You Are In Crisis:

(In the US):

If in immediate crisis call 911

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). (Note this number will be changing in July 2022 when it will become 988)

The Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, followed by Pressing 1. or texting 838255.

IMAlive Crisis Chatline (www.imalive.org) is a non-profit, worldwide 24/7, anonymous chatline to help anyone in crisis via instant messaging.

The Crisis Text Line (The only 24/7, nationwide crisis-intervention text-message hotline.) Text HOME to 741-741.

The TrevorLifeline can be reached at 1-866-488-7386.

TrevorChat can be found at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/

TrevorText can be reached by texting START to 678-678

Trans Lifeline can be reached at 1-877-565-8860.

This is a list of global crisis numbers. Most countries have some system set up to help those who are in crisis.

If You Are Struggling:

Gmorning. 

YOU ARE SO LOVED AND WE LIKE HAVING YOU AROUND. 

*ties one end of this sentence to your heart, the other end to everyone who loves you, even the ones you haven't heard from for awhile* 

*checks knots* 

THERE. STAY PUT, YOU

Gnight. 

YOU ARE SO LOVED AND WE LIKE HAVING YOU AROUND. 

*ties one end of this sentence to your heart, the other end to everyone who loves you in this life, even if clouds obscure your view* 

*checks knots* 

THERE. STAY PUT, YOU. TUG IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.

Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi

You're Gonna Be Okay by Brian & Jenn Johnson

Logic - 1-800-273-8255 ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid

Songs about Suicide and Suicide prevention

 

Apples To Fasting To Shmita: Days of Awe

 

Shanah tovah u'metukah (Or in English "a good and sweet year") 

This week started with Rosh Hashanah a Jewish celebration. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection, reflection and making resolutions. It culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement.

The Days of Awe are basically the time when God figures out everyone's report cards. Some are easy for god to determine, like for the righteous and the really wicked, for some there is more wiggle room. For those in the wiggle room group, we have 10 days to talk to God our professor about what we know we have done well, and where we have individually or communally fell short this past year. 

Basically 10 days of office hours where we reflect with God, repent, and try to be more righteous. These office hours can impact if the God's grades inscribed in the book of life end up sealed in the book or edited before being summited as final grades to the university. (Note this is my own interpretation of the story of the Days of Awe if you want a different one ask a Rabbi) 

If you are interested is worship there are a wide range of services that are available for all the Days of Awe on YouTube which you can access whenever you want. (And it really is fine if you are a few days late, pretty sure the universe or god or what ever you want to call it understands that time is wibbly wobbly :) ) 

And for those of us who like the idea of being non-traditional try Rabbi Alex Kress's Hip Hop/Rap inspired RAP-ENTANCE: SIDE A: Rosh HaShanah or RAP-ENTANCE: SIDE B: Yom Kippur which include hip hop music and some reflection questions around some of the key themes of this period on the Jewish calendar. 

While this is always an extended period of time for introspection this year takes on an extra level because this year is Shmita, the “year of release,” In the Shmita year, debts are to be forgiven, agricultural lands to lie fallow, private land holdings to become open to the commons, and staples such as food storage and perennial harvests to be freely redistributed and accessible to all. 

Many are taking this upcoming Shmita year as a time to focus on the earth and the impact of global climate change on both a individual and community wide level. Others are focusing on the rest part of the year and figuring out ways to incorporate regular rest into their schedules. There is no one right way to celebrate Shmita is is more just setting aside time to be present and aware.

May you have a sweet new year and be inscribed in the book of life.

Honoring All Of Our Labor

Labor Day is a holiday which can bring up a lot of emotions especially for anyone who:

• Is underemployed or are unemployed
• Finds themselves giving their labor to something not meaningful
• Finds themselves giving their labor to an toxic workplace/manger
• Finds themselves working for someone is not putting their health and safety first (such as refusing to require vaccinations or masks.) 
• Finds that the labor they give is not credited because it is non-traditional

This poem I wrote back 2014 gets at some of the complexity of labor and labor day for so many of us. And while my situation has changed since 2014 the main themes have remained the same:

A Labor Day Poem: What gets me up in the morning

By Dreaming Ace

I never thought of Labor day

As an emotion filled Holiday

But for us who are without work

Sometimes all we feel are the sling and arrows

Of discouragement and disappointment

I often struggle in the articulating what I am passionate about

But I realize despite this my life is indeed filled with passion

I am Passionate about the Fundamentals

The Fundamentals of Life

Love and Story and Beauty and Joy

In all their many forms

And you asked what gets me up in the morning

There are so many answers

An ever changing Kaleidoscope

And I thank the heavens for that truth

I get up in the morning for People

For Friends who stand quietly by my side

For Historical Figures and Famous Individuals whom I shall never meet in person

For Characters who I will always know better then myself and will always know me in return

I get up in the morning for Places

For HC, and Chicago, and the TARDIS

These will always be my sister, mother, child

Always be my friends forever

I get up in the morning for Things

For Music, and Books, and Films

For Dancing and Walking and Dreaming

For all the Millions of Magical Moments which Touch my Soul

So while I can not tell you

In this moment of time

My Work, My Vocation, My Job

And while there will always be moments

I forget the bright stars shining within me

Day by Day I will place one foot in front of the other

On and On and On until forever

And give life and time

The space it needs to inspire

So this labor day take a moment to think about all those who have brought us this holiday, and a moment to consider how you are using your own labor. I hope you have a restful and meaningful Labor Day. 

(And in honor of the holiday I won't write a blog post on Monday, but I'll be back on Wednesday)

Restyling For Fall

Happy September 1st. 

It finally is feeling a bit cooler outside (I'm sorry but when my phone says that it feels like it is over 100 out it is simply too hot LOL) and I have been thinking about how I can restyle my spaces, my life, and my point of view for the new season. 

Restyling Spaces:

For me this is probably the quickest and easiest restyling. This season it has been switching out coverings so that my room is now in shades of orange, red, yellow, and brown which feels fall friendly. 

Really the only issue was the "give a mouse a cookie" problem. As I was restyling I realized I should do some cleaning, which led to a semi-deep cleaning, which took more time than I would have liked, but that is life :)

I would also like to note my thanks to my roommate who had an old comforter from collage that I ended up inheriting that is all in oranges and which really helps create a showpiece orange sofa for fall.

Restyling Life/Point Of View: 

For me this type of restyling was based on the daily to-do list I already follow. It was more about looking at my list and thinking about what the purpose of each category was and how I could modify my goals within each category to be more in align with these purposes. 

For example, I find when I have a daily task such as doing 3 self care practices each day, they end up becoming "should based" as in I am doing them less because I really want to, and more because they are a quick item to check off my list. 

I am trying to focus on quality vs. quantity. (I tried to add more variety last month by upping my daily self care items to three a day from two a day but that ended up just meaning I was doing the same three tasks each day not actually getting a wider variety of activities)

For example the below picture is a sample of what one of my self care focuses will be each day and which of my five values I will focus on as part of my daily "BBJ" (Bold, Belonging, Joy) or "Other" categories. 

So today one of my self care tasks will have to do with using visual art for self care, and as part of BBJ or Other I will do one thing that feeds my curiosity. (The content in parenthesizes is just to remind myself what I meant by each classification, it is not an exhaustive list at all)

While your list might look completely different from mine it makes sense to give yourself some structure* so that when this season is done you feel like you have accomplished something around some of your goals. 

* Of course also be flexible, for me my list is less a what I have to do and more just a reminder to do different things each day.