One of the many hidden but great perks about being a school teacher is that there are many opportunities to start anew...almost like New Year's Resolutions. For example, there's the start of the new school year in August, the actual New Year in January, another new year of sorts with the time of Lenten sacrifice, and then there's the start of the SUMMER BREAK. Many teachers I know use these times as springboards for reorganization of life and priorities. And so...yet again..."The List"
I've turned 45. (This list was intended to be something that I did before I turned 45.) Well, 45 came and the list is still here. (To see my blog post to see some of the rationale behind the updates from LAST summer...Click here.)
The Updated* List (Black=2014, Red=2015)
*Done, deleted, and renumbered
1. Lose at least 45 pounds. Plan of Action: Be more active and eat less. Duh!
Well, the truth is that I quit my gym membership in the fall of 2013 and I haven't been routinely active since then. So, with the start of the summer comes that recommitment/quasi New Year's Resolution. As far as the definition of "active" goes... I'm thinking: more time on the South Tampa Farm (in addition to walking to and from), doing more yard work and house hold chores, taking nature walks, more paddleboarding, etc. And then there's "eat less"...with that also comes the need to eat better - yet another reason to keep myself grounded in doing things that make me happy but are not associated with eating: farm, walking, chores, yard work, paddleboarding, and more!
Hence forth, I officially declare..."Operation: Go, Jen! Go!"
2. Finish reading Dante's Divine Comedy.
This confounded thing had been a huge burden. I felt like I couldn't read any other book unless I finished this! When I did read it, I actually enjoyed it. But it just sat around calling out to me a language that I did not understand. Yet, one of the supposed genius traits of this book was that it was written in the lowly common tongue rather being than scholarly and poetic. "Midway on our path through life..." Grrr! Stupid book. 💥🎉BUT I FINISHED!!!💥🎉
3. Finish reading the books on my nightstand: Winning at Losing and all of the magazines and catalogs I've hoarded.
The expression of not being able to see the forest for the trees...that's me. I cannot enjoy reading for pleasure because I cannot get over my self imposed assigned reading. And, it doesn't help that my father-in-law keeps giving me his used magazines. I love looking at magazines but they pile up quickly.
I have, however, looked at almost every single one! I flip the pages, look at the pictures, read the captions, scan for interesting articles, and then feel compelled to pass them on. (I refuse to just trash them. They must be given to someone else to enjoy.)
4. Finish the Dalmatian quilt I started about 10 years ago.
Waiting on a rainy day.
5. Be binge free for
I'll struggle with this forever.
6. Floss daily for
DONE.
7. Go without TV for a month.
DONE.
8 and 9. Lumped together now: Do the splits and do a head stand.
Meh.
10. Be a better listener.
I'll struggle with this forever.
11. Complete the Sudoku, word search, and crossword puzzles I started but never finished.
I haven't bought any new ones and that is a step in the right direction.
12. Learn to do a really loud whistle.
After watching YouTube videos, I am somewhat able to do this. But, my daughter can! And for that I am HUGELY proud!!!
13. Bike ride across the state of Florida.
Back burner. More like a pie in the sky kind of task. But not something that I'm ready to let go of yet.
And not to end the list on "13", I must add a "14". But, oddly enough, this was item 15 from my original list and something that I'm super proud to do.
14. Visit my grandparents' graves.
