Updates in blue on The Year of 40....I'm very glad I made it a YEAR of 40.. I have a lot of work to do!! : )
1. Successfully train and complete the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Dallas, Texas on March 25th! Life happened and I fell way behind in my training. It was my worst race time ever, but I was happy to be able to do it and I finished!
2. Welcome as many people as possible in my home for a meal and a meaningful time at my table. (hoping to get at least 10-15 dates scheduled) I've had one group of ladies over and was set to have another group of ladies from church this past weekend and it fell through, but more to come!
3. Totally become Financially Fit. I'm fairly certain this is going to take until 12/31/18, but I am getting professional help and committed to this. I am meeting with a FANTASTIC Financial Advisor and I'm not sure how I lived without one this long. Man, I need help! I have a big mountain to climb, but I'm confident I can get there.
4. See all of my relatives! I don't see any of them nearly enough, some I haven’t seen since in over a decade, so this is exciting. Plans are in the mix and I can't wait!! Pics at Year end!
5. Run 40 "Race" Miles. I've got 13.1 and a lot coming this summer, fall, and winter! I got this one!
6. Read 6 Books. I don't think I read 1 an entire book in 2017. PS. This number was much higher, but I decided to be realistic. I read 1 that was over 1,000 pages - that i finished within 5 days. I am about to start my 2nd one, but I think I can reach 6!
7. Get Tech organized. Part 1. I have 3 personal emails that I am having hard time letting go of. And I probably have over a million emails total. No exaggeration
(These are separate because they are both a VERY big deal!!) Working on this - This is going to be one of the toughest and one that takes me longest, but one I MUST do as it causes me great anxiety!!
8. Get Tech organized. Part 2. Get photos organized. I also have photos all of the place. My phones and computer are always maxed out on storage. I would like to be totally Tech organized and living in 2018 with all that the tech world has to offer! Same with #7 - Working on this - This is going to be one of the toughest and one that takes me longest, but one I MUST do as it causes me great anxiety!!
9. Get on ESPN or Today Show. If you follow me on Instagram, you will see that I was recently the closest I may get this year!! Still only pretend ESPN, but I hung out Sir Charles! We'll see what football season brings!
10. 40 Donations to St. Jude. I am committed to raising $1,000.00 for the children of St. Jude for my race in April. If I receive 40 $25 to St. Jude, I can accomplish that goal. Thanks to my dear friends, I exceeded this goal and raised over $1,000 for St. Jude!!
11. Visit my stomping grounds at Pitt State and or KState. (hoping for both!) Hoping to make it to a football game at both this fall!
12. Learn 2-4 new skills, possible hobby. (ie, class at Home Depot, perhaps a sewing class because I can’t even sew a button anymore, what has become of me!!) This one is in the works.. the summer will be full of learning new "skills" - stay tuned!
13. Intentionally worry less and take steps to do so. (Tacking it immediately) I truly believe worrying is a disease and I just can't heal from it on my own. I'm really working hard to get rid of it! I've had it since birth :/ I started out the year doing well on this and I've taken a nose dive and actually worse than I've been in a while! Pray for me.
13. Intentionally worry less and take steps to do so. (Tacking it immediately) I truly believe worrying is a disease and I just can't heal from it on my own. I'm really working hard to get rid of it! I've had it since birth :/ I started out the year doing well on this and I've taken a nose dive and actually worse than I've been in a while! Pray for me.
14. 40 days of intentionally working on breaking at least 3 bad habits and replacing with new good habits. Ie, Having a yard sale with my stuff in my house when I get home from work. Losing stuff every other day. Password reset every week. These habits need to go!
15. 40 scripture verses memorized. Started out good, but this one, but this goes hand in hand with some others that I just need to improve on!
16. More Zen. More rest. Better rest. Whatever it takes. More Yoga, Less FB. Less of everything with a screen. I have had over a year of poor rest, so this is very important! Yoga is my new best friend. I have joined an amazing Yoga Studio and I LOVE it so much, I look forward to all the wonderful things it will bring!!
17. Meal Planning. Sat Plan and Sun Prep. Plan, Plan, Plan. Stick with the Plan! I traveled most of March and still recovering, but showing strides of improvement here- just need consistency!
18. Make every day count. Don't miss an opportunity that is presented in each day. Looking forward and not back. (habit of looking back) Still looking back, but I have a sign reminding me- if only I didn't have such a thick skull!
19. Stop yelling at people in the car while driving. I’m the worst. It's not nice and such a bad habit, it got it's own line! I still do this!! I am going to pinch myself when I do this. Maybe that will help??
20. More Face time with my people, less texting. Let's meet in person. More coffee dates, More in person chats! Need to be more intentional here!
21.
22. Be more present. Put down the phone, close the laptop. Be in the moment. Be intentional! Leaving my phone in the car or in my has really helped- still need to work on this, but making it a priority.
23. Love on the needy, the orphans and the widows until it hurts. My plan to go to Kenya fell through and my Widow's brunch just fell through- but I financially support my dear orphans and hope to reschedule something special for the widows! Hoping for other opportunities to arise.
24. 20 + Handwritten notes, telling people you care and love them. I have sent a few out, but May is month to practice my handwriting and tell my people the are loved!
25. Send off my HS Senior Girls knowing they are loved and cared for before they go into the next phase of life! This is starting to get real and I'm starting to get real teary about it! I've got a few graduation get togethers. Will show pics at Year End!
26. After 20 years, Get back on those ski's. Learn to Snowboard. 1 trip planned, another one in the works.. BOOYAH! I DID GO SKIING and lived to tell about it! I went to Utah, which is incredible. I had such a great time and want to go back soon!!! SO SO happy to be able to do this!
27. Go Paperless as much as possible. This will follow 7 & 8. I am still living in the 80's and have giant paper sacks that make me crazy! Working on this- confident I will improve by end the end of the year.
28. Cut the Cable Cord. The TV has become my roommate and it's time to evict them. This one ties to a few of the others. I needed to make this one of it's own, so I would actually do it- that's what this year is all about. This is good for so many reasons. A must do. It's in the works - I finally did this and I can't believe I didn't do it sooner!!! I have Play Station Vue and it is THE BEST. Will never go back to all those worthless channels!! Love, Love, Love this!!
29. Don't sweat the small stuff. Let it GO! If Elsa can do it. I can do it! This sounds easier than it is. I sweat everything and I'm working to break this. I'm about to turn 40- there is a lot of sweating!!! So haven't improved here!!
30. Unexpected.
It’s only the 19th and I’ve been able to see 3 people I’ve known since I was a wee little one… and a 4th is coming in a few weeks. What a fun surprise in 2018!! I've been able to reunite with quite a few people I've known since I was a young child and this has meant the world to me. THREE were unexpected and that has been so special! I am hoping more of this moments present themselves!
31. Unexpected. 2/14 I got another puppy-dawg! Wasn't planning this- just happened! His name is Tater. He is 4 years old- and Yorkie/Schnauzer and he is preicous and I am so lucky to be his Mom. Big brother Tyson is a great big bro- It has definitely been an adjustment, and has it's challenges, but he is definitely meant to be with our family!
32. Unexpected. I am going on a mission trip in June to Portland, Oregon to work with a ministry to educate against sex and combat sex-trafficking, it's called Abolition Now. I'm super excited about this opportunity and my heart for issue has grown as this is a massive problem in the US and around the world!!
33. Unexpected.
34. Unexpected.
35. Unexpected.
36. Unexpected.
37. Unexpected.
38. Unexpected.
39. Unexpected.
40. Unexpected.
