32 While 32!

Here it is! My 32 while 32 list. It took me a while to get to my 32 things. With the current state of things, I tried to stay away from things that may not actually be possible within the next year. So I had to strike off things like ‘go to a Vikings game’ or really anything that involved spectators or large crowds or anything like that. If things start going back to ‘normal’ I may still find myself doing them anyway, but they’ll just be bonuses. Or, they’ll go on next years’ list. Without further ado, here’s my list (along with some explanation on some of them, mostly for the benefit of my future self who might be asking ‘what did I MEAN by that?’):

1.      Read 12 books – at least 3 personal development.

Last year I found myself reading books just to get to my 12. A lot of them weren’t really well written, didn’t have much of a point but were ‘quick, easy reads’. This year I want to be more intentional about my reads and choose ones that either benefit my life, or can help me develop my writing skills. I’m sure some ‘easy reads’ will sneak their way in there, but I’m hoping if they do, they’re above and beyond my 12.

2.      Go to a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre.

I’ve wanted to do this for SO LONG. It’s the one thing on my list that may not actually be able to happen if things don’t open back up. But I left it on there anyway. Here’s hoping it can happen!

3.      Regular posts to travel blog.

I’ve got a LOT of work to do on this. I have a lot of posts in the ‘queue’ that either need editing, that need wrapping up, or just need writing altogether. I’m hoping to get things cinched up and get the backlog of journals onto my Journeys and Journals page.

4.      Road trip with Steve & Indy.

Pretty open ended at this point. May have to just be a weekend getaway because right now we have no idea when he might be gone or be home. So, no big plans to be made.

5.      Go to 2 new state parks.

Last year, I thought ‘3 new parks’ was ambitious and we ended up doing like 14 or something like that. BUT with the road trip bit still up in the air, 14 would be SUPER ambitious. So we’re scaling it back to 2. I’ve got 2 in mind. Hoping that 2 is a gross understatement and we can go to WAY more, but time will tell.

6.      32 letters to 32 people.

This is my way of acting out on an idea that I had a few years ago. Of letting people know what I admire about them. What I think they’re great at. Why they inspire me. It’s always been my intention to do more of that, but it’s never really become a priority. I still do it on occasion, but I want to make it a more regular and intentional thing. So this year, I’m going to (attempt to) pick 32 people to reach out to and let them know why I admire them.

7.      Become STRONGER.

Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. All of the ways.

8.      Finish book #2 and send to 1^st reader.

Seriously. This one has been such a struggle. There’s a part of the book that I don’t like. Not in the ‘this needs to be rewritten’ way. But in the ‘these characters are being pains in the butt and I don’t like that the storyline has to do this, but it does’ kind of way. You know. The part of the book where things are just going wrong and you want the resolution to ‘hurry up and get here’. THAT kind of not like. And every time I get to it while writing/rereading/editing, I find other things to do instead of write/read/edit. So it’s been a struggle. But I’m DETERMINED to make it through this one this year so I can move on to the 15 other ideas I’ve put on the back burner in the meantime.

9.      Journal daily.

Sounds like a lot. But really, I have 2 journals I’m working through that have daily prompts. It usually take 5-10 minutes (sometimes longer) to do both of them. And even if that’s all I do, I’m counting that as ‘journaling’ for the day. I’m sure some days I will journal about other things, but if I do at least those 2 prompts, I’ll be happy.

10.   100+ miles on the bike.

It’s gonna happen this year. I’m sure of it.

11.   Finish travel journals.
This ties pretty closely to the regular posts to the travel blog. Once I get my own personal journals completed, I can start rewriting them in a way that I can share them with the world and hopefully inspire other people to get out there and live.

12.   Phone free weekend.

This one is both exciting and terrifying for me. I’m looking forward to it and dreading it. Clearly I’m addicted to my phone (NOT good), so I think it will be a challenge, but I think it will allow me time that is NEEDED to decompress and focus on things like writing. 

13.   Purge house.

A never ending process. I know that next year at this time when I’m seeing what I did and what I didn’t, this one will STILL read, ‘in progress’.

14.   Spend more time relaxing outside.

I’m pretty good at sitting in my house in my chair, even when the weather is nice out. But last year I spent some mornings sitting on my deck and menu planning. And I kind of enjoyed it once I got a rhythm and setup that worked. So there’s really no reason I can’t sit out there and write or read.

15.   Kayaking.

Not sure when or where or with who, but I want it to happen.

16.   Weekly bonding with Indy while Steve is gone.

Sometimes I think he gets neglected a little when his favorite human is gone. So I’m going to try to spend some time doing the activities he likes (like chasing the laser). Maybe that will make me the favorite. But probably not.  

17.   Get a massage.

I feel like my body could use it after the copious amounts of exercise I’ve put it through the past year.

18.   Do a Bible Study.

Looking for a self-study one. I do SO much better with ones I can do at my own pace instead of having an assigned reading. Let me know if you’ve got suggestions!

19.   Work on establishing routines.

Cleaning. Cooking. Writing. All of the things.  

20.   Enjoy. Moments.

I want to stop living at the pace of 800 miles an hour where my brain is constantly thinking of ‘what’s next’ and ‘what’s after that’ and just making sure I’m checking all of the boxes. I want to actually take time to enjoy the here and now.

21.   Learn to knit grandma’s slippers.

I found the pattern online! Now to find some yarn and give it a whirl.

22.   Tribute to grandma.

It’s been over a year since she’s passed and I’ve yet to write a tribute to her. I haven’t been able to find the words. But I want to. And I need to.

23.   Find myself again.

I’ve not felt like myself for the past few years in so many different ways. And for a lot of those years, I didn’t really want to find myself. I didn’t know where to even look. But now I want to get back there. More than ever.

24.   Be a better friend.

Again, I spend too much time living my life at 800 miles an hour. Even when I’m with my friends. I rarely feel like I’m with them because my brain and thoughts are elsewhere. I want to be present. I want to be invested in their lives. I want to be the friend they can go to. With anything.

25.   Do a dance or boxing workout program.

Or maybe both. We’ll see where the year leads.

26.   Take a ‘fun’ class on Udemy.

I surfed around on there a little bit. I think there’s definitely some that I could benefit from or that I would find interesting!

27.   Go on 3 lunch dates.

Not sure with who, but I want to go on 3 lunch dates with 3 people at some point throughout the year.

28.   Get highlights in my hair.

I’ve been on the fence about this one for a while, but heck. Why not!?

29.   Marvel movie marathon.

Steve and I had plans to watch ALL of the Marvel movies, in chronological order (the order that the movies actually happened, NOT their release date) before the last Avengers movie came out. But his career change made that fairly difficult. So, now we’ll just have to do it when we have time.

30.   Start documenting gratitude.

I want to start writing down the things that I notice that go ‘right’ throughout my days/weeks.

31.   Create an actual writing space – no more armchair authoring!

Armchair authoring leads to too many distractions. TV. Naps. Books (to read). Internet. I think a designated writing space would alleviate some of that and make me more productive and focused.  

32.   Go to a drive in movie.

I’ve always thought this sounded fun. And it’s pretty much the perfect solution to seeing a movie while social distancing. So, this might be the perfect year!