Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Did I mention I enjoy making lists?

Check out my latest find.

Can't wait to use it, starting today.

The List

So here it is. My list of 12 things to do 12 times (or more) over the next 12 months. Anything sound fun or interesting to you? Any goals that you're setting for yourself? 

1) Books
Read twelve books before 12/31/22 (new or existing in my current library).

2) Adventures!
2021 felt overwhelming with responsibilities (real or imagined) and a lot of sacrifices of my free time were made. I am looking forward to 12 new, solo adventures! Whether it's a day at a museum, a weekend Jeep adventure or a silent yoga retreat with a friend, I know my adventures await! 

3) Date Nights
Similar to #2 above, 2021 took a toll on my love life. I didn't feel like I had the energy to plan or focus on time for myself, much less time for my husband and I to reconnect. Planning a simple date night seemed overwhelming towards the end of the year and hence, it was sacrificed. I miss our fun nights out and plan to resurrect date nights - big or small!

4) Physical Self Care/Pampering
Yep. I'm investing in physical self care. You know, spa days. Massages. Facials. Whatever it is, I'm doing it this year. 

5) Creative Outlet
I used to draw and draw well. I even craft, color, paint, and enjoy making things. I don't recall the last time I made anything besides dinner. Lets get back to fun! Whether its coloring a page in an adult coloring book, taking photos, drawing something from scratch, signing up for a new class/activity - time to get back to my artistic roots.

6) Girls!
I need time with my friends. We all do. My friends are available, again I have just felt too overwhelmed to spend the energy planning anything. Time to get back to the fun times! Go for a walk? Sure! Catch up over brunch? You got it. 

7) The Ninja 
This one just might kill me. I received a Ninja Foodi for Christmas of 2020 (yes, 2020!) and have been too intimidated to use it! Perhaps this year I can make 12 new dishes using it! Hey, it's a start!

8) Gratitude and Kindness
So this might be a hard goal to measure but I find myself getting mired down in my own complaints and negativity. I used to be a super positive person but feel like that dastards have torn me down over time and sadly, I've allowed for it. Perhaps 12 positive/feel good posts? Compliment 12 people? List twelve things I'm grateful for each month? In some way, I will honor and practice being grateful and kind.

9) Movies
Because this blog has morphed over time, you'll see there is a header page labeled "AFI Top 100" (go check it out!). I will dedicate this year to watching at least 12 more movies from the list.

10) Exercise
I miss it. I used to do it 6 times a week. I used to run. Injury and post injury depression that followed caused me to give up for most of 2021. It's time to get moving again. And while I cannot return to 9+ mile runs, I can walk. I can ride. I can hike. I will embrace what I can do. So, starting small - I'll dedicate each month to at least 12 workouts or some sort. Anything counts.

11) Learn
I'm a big fan of taking classes so I'm tasking myself to learn 12 new things. Online course for work? Language app for fun? Jeep mechanics? Anything's game!

12) Blog! 
Maintain this blog. Post at least 12 times per month about my list of 12's over the next 12 months!

12 x 12 x 12 in 2022

It's December 30th and I'm already gearing up for the new year. I understand that many might be cautious about getting excited for the new year given our current Covid state of affairs, but I'm ready and hope you take this journey with me. 2021 was not a real treat for me, so I am happy to celebrate the sloughing off of the old and looking forward to making improvements in the new year ahead. 

In ramping up for 2022, I realized I like lists. I like to make them. I like to organize and highlight them. Most of all, I enjoy scratching things off of them. And just like that, I thought I could easily make a list of twelve themes, with twelve tasks to tackle over the next year. So here I am, revamping my blog which is something I thoroughly enjoy, and bringing you my "to do" lists for 2022.

Stay tuned, more to come!

Day 366

20 years ago today, I lost my Dad. I was in my mid twenties then and the quote below, which my father stated often, held true. Coming across it today makes me giggle as I'm pretty sure he sent it my way just to remind me. if even just in hindsight, that he indeed was far smarter than I ever gave him credit for. While I don't think his genius was ever a question in my mind, I'm sure his "cool points" waned often. As I work to help raise two stepdaughters today, I'm sure he is laughing where ever he's at as I now realize I won't be smart or cool until they're probably in their 30's. Late 20's if I'm lucky. I miss you Dad.

 

Day 365

It's officially been one year, 365 days, since COVID-19 broke out and changed the way we live, work and interact. I am no more used to wearing a mask than I was then. While the "lock down" has allowed me to slow down in some ways, I see the havoc it's consequences have brought upon other people and it's horrendous. Not that I am left unscathed by Corona Virus but I feel like I have, somehow, faired better than others. For that I am grateful, but still I grow weary of the enforced restrictions and long for some normalcy. Like, "old school" normalcy. I hope and pray that this summer brings some relief, if only in the way of sunshine and warmer days ahead. In the meantime, all we can do is just keep on hangin' on. Hang in there!

Day 358

Yep, in case you're actually paying attention I just skipped a week of blogging. I worked in the office during the past week so time felt limited to do anything personal. Adding in 90 minutes of commuting time each day and feeling the need to rush out the door in the morning and rush home in the evening, isn't very blog-inspiring. Sure there was plenty of time left over in the evenings after I finished making, eating and cleaning up dinner. Sure there was an hour or so when I wasn't doing laundry, cleaning, watching TV with the family or doing my physical rehab exercises like a goofus in the middle of the living room (insert big yoga ball floating through your line of vision while trying to watch tv for giggles) but I just didn't. And. It's okay.

The past week seems like a blur now that I try to recall any of it in hopes of finding something inspiring to write here. But it just wasn't memorable. It was life. Sure, I did great things at work and felt "managerial". I know I cooked a dinner (or two) that got lots of "Yum!" reactions. I completed a lot of weekend warrior household tasks and even got a car wash. It was a very boring week and ya know what? I'll take it. Sometimes boring is best! There's a safety in being boring (at times), there's a routine to it. There are no surprises to deal with in "boring" and I appreciate that. With that said, I hope you had a "boring" week, too! Have a happy and mundane Monday! 

Day 351