October celebrations

ByChristie Hawkes October 27, 2026October 27, 2026

“Never hanker for others to make your life beautiful, orchestrate your life and celebrate in your own aliveness. That’s HEAVEN, that’s Godliness!”
~Ramana Pemmaraju

I chose CELEBRATE as my 2026 Word of the Year (WOTY). One way I’m putting that word into practice is to take note of the many things I have to celebrate…large and small…during the month and to share the highlights with you on the final Tuesday of each month.

Visiting with family

We spent some time in the Salt Lake Valley this month visiting with various family members. I didn’t take photos of everyone, but here is a small sampling.

Toddler girl holding up peace sign. — Photo credit: Larry Hawkes

Girls dinner

During that trip to Salt Lake, I had dinner with two of my sisters, where I enjoyed this delicious ramen.

Ramen noodles with pork belly and boiled egg.

My Camino de Santiago tattoo

Oh…and I may have gotten a tattoo to commemorate my Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. I’m very happy with the way it turned out. Thanks Kennedy!

Halloween nail art

And to further decorate myself, I got two different sets of Halloween nail art this month. Thanks Chelsee!

Little surprises

I was beyond delighted to discover this heart-shaped straw when I decided to treat myself to a soda.

Mother Nature

We had so much rain this month. Besides the much-needed moisture, it also meant some beautiful clouds…

…a unique view out my window, this ridge was literally glowing against the dark background…

Landscape with ridge glowing in front of cloudy sky.

…and, of course, rainbows.

Double rainbow. — Photo credit: Becky Webster

Jigsaw puzzles

All that rain meant there was plenty of indoor time to complete this fun jigsaw puzzle.

Sister time

One of my sisters and her husband came to visit us, and the clouds parted. Cindy and I took advantage of the sunny weather to tackle the Dragon Tail Stairs at Tech Ridge...

Woman in front of The Stairs at Tech Ridge.

…and we saw Grease at the incredible Tuacahn Amphitheater.

Beautiful trails and a beautiful dog

Buddy Dog was pretty excited for a chance to sneak in a walk between rainstorms. I am beyond grateful for the beautiful trails surrounding our home.

Brindle-coated dog sitting in front of red rock landscape.

Cooler mornings

With cooler mornings come the hot air balloons I often see on my way to the gym.

Good health

And finally, I am celebrating good health, including a normal mammogram. What better time than Breast Cancer Awareness Month to get my annual screening?

Your turn

What’s the weather like where you are?
What’s your go-to activity for a rainy day?
What are you celebrating…big or small…this month?

Christie Hawkes

Christie is a certified wellness coach, author, and retired professional communicator who blogs about life transitions, wellness, mindfulness, and anything else that answers the question "So what? Now what?"
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