I have started listing a series of aims for each month to enrich my life. These are not in lieu of a traditional to-do list, but they are simply things that will bring me joy and add additional meaning to my month. This is how my April list wound up. There are successes and failures, but I had a great month in spite of everything. I am keeping the same basic list for May, but may alter a couple of things that I will decide on later.
1. Either go to or rent a movie to watch by myself
1. Either go to or rent a movie to watch by myself
Did not happen even one week, much less weekly!
2. Listen to a new album (thanks Spotify)
Week 1: New York Lounge Jazz Manhattan Jazz Club, Speed of Darkness Flogging Molly
Week 2: Back to Back: B-Sides Amy Winehouse
Week 3: Lust for Life Lana Del Rey
Week 4: Out of town
3. Read a book
Week1: Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado
Week2: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Week 3: New Boy by Tracy Chevalier
Week 4: Gone Daddy Gone by Cheryl Bradshaw
4. FaceTime with Pip
Week 1: Done
Week 2: Done
Week 3: Done
Week 4: Real time with Pip!
5. Talk to each son and/or DIL
Week 1: Done
Week 2: Done
Week 3: Done
Week 4: Done in real life
6. Create something
Week 1: Fail
Week 2: Did a painting for the guest bath
Week 3: Fail
Week 4: Out of town, only created memories
7. Rearrange a room (Can be full furniture re-arranging or just changing a few things)
Week1: Gussied up the powder room a little. (very little, but still changed a few things)
Week 2: Fail
Week 3: Changed things around in Pip's room
Week 4: Nope
8. Get rid of one item each day
Got rid of over 30 items
9. Meet up with a friend/friends for fellowship (at least coffee but not excluding a meal)
Week 1: Fail
Week 2: Met with Pam in Nashville. I loved seeing her
Week 3: Fail
Week 4: Met DIL's Mom for coffee, meals and shows in NYC
10. Have a home cooked ethnic meals
Week 1: Yes I am counting the Chicken enchilada as ethnic
Week 2: Egg roll bowl
Week 3:
Week 4: Out of town, but ate ethnic meals while gone
11. Use the "good" stuff (china, crystal, silverware)
Week 1:Fail
Week 2:Fail
Week 3: Done
Week 4: Out of town
12. Burn candles daily
Week 1:Some days
Week 2: Fail
Week 3: Some days
Week 4: Out of town
13. Spa Day (really means spa hour for some self indulgent "treatment")
Week 1: Foot soak
Week 2: Fail
Week 3: Full at home manicure
Week 4: Out of town
14. Fingernail polish, wear it!.
Week 1: Done plus color changes twice
Week 2: Done
Week 3: Done
Week 4: Done
15: Contact someone I have recently been out of touch with either by phone, email, or text
Week1: Called Sandy. Will see her when I am in Nashville for the weekend
Week 2: Met a ton of people at the get together of the convention, instead of reacquainting I opted to just meet a boatload of new folks. But at the same event I did talk with Gwen and have not seen her in several years.
Week 3: Texted with Fran. Have not been in touch with her for over a year
Week4: Out of town
Week4: Out of town
16: Take Mom somewhere just to get her out of her house. Right now even the grocery store could be considered an outing.
Week 1: Fail, she would not go anywhere
Week 2: Ditto
Week 3: Took her to 3 doctors appointments and out to get lunch one of those days
Week 4: Out of town
17: Try something different. The door is wide open on this one!
Week 1: Interviewed and hired someone to stay with Mom on a permanent but part-time basis. Other than that I just tried to keep my head above water which is also something different! Also tried mashed rutabaga and decided I really don't like it.
Week 2: Started a course to learn Mandarin
Week 3: Fail
Week 4: Went to a new to me museum to see Medieval art. Ate mofongo,And now May is off and running and I am all ready to jump in feet first. Hope May is delightful for all of us!
I have heard good things about Mofongo but have yet to find anywhere around here to eat it. lolz
ReplyDeleteThere is no where here to eat it either, but it was outstanding.
DeleteHEy I think you had a great month.
ReplyDeleteI did have a good month, just did not do things I planned.
DeleteI liked reading your list. Have you tried roasted sliced rutabaga it's yummy. We eat mashed carrots and rutabaga that too is yummy.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried roasted rutabaga. I will give it a try.
DeleteI am always impressed with your list.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you think of Eleanor Oliphant. I loved it.
I really did like reading Eleanor Oliphant. I will admit I did not see the twist at the end coming.
DeleteA good list with real results. I like it!
ReplyDeleteIt is real only if you count not getting everything done real. My real life interferes with my planned life all the time.
DeleteI really like your list - you are far more ambitious than I am especially when it comes to stepping outside my comfort zone. Have a great May!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I try to make myself do something different because I tend to get into a predictable pattern of living and really get bored with who I become.
DeleteYou did very well with your April list of goals. Yes, some items didn't get accomplished, but, that's to be expected. How is your Mom adjusting to having a care giver? Is she more accepting of it?
ReplyDeleteShe is not very happy having help but at least she is eating and taking her meds.
DeleteYou always make the best lists, Anne. I love this one. I'm going to do something similar when summer gets here. :)
ReplyDeleteLists are important tools for me though I understand most people don't have to have them. I am too easily distracted to live without one.
DeleteIt looks like you had a great month. It's a very impressive list.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nil!
DeleteYou got a lot done. Good luck on your May list. My May list is garden, garden and garden. It is that time of year.
ReplyDeleteI do not like gardening but I am making myself go out each day and do something in the yard
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