At the beginning of the year, I picked 23 projects that I wanted to tackle in 2023. It’s been awhile since I checked in, so let’s see my progress!
- Attend fifty hot yoga classes: As of today, I’ve attended 35 classes – woot woot! I thought about trying to attend 100 classes in 2023, but after all the drama with my dad’s multiple brain surgeries, I’m so glad I aimed for 50.
- Track what I eat for 30 days in a row: I completed this in January.
- Drink at least 64 oz of water/day for 30 days in a row: Ditto.
- Publish my second novel: I’m currently writing some new scenes after receiving feedback from my editor, and I think (fingers crossed!) that the novel will be ready to publish by year’s end.
- Read 100 books for myself: I’ve finished 64 of 100 books and according to Goodreads, I’m 7 books ahead of schedule.
- Try 23 new recipes: I’ve tried six new recipes and lost all momentum here because I abhor cooking in the summer. I foresee lots of fall cooking!
- Cook with mushrooms 23 times: I’ve cooked mushrooms four times! Always delicious!
- Bake 23 loaves of bread: Not a loaf yet. And not happening with the current humidity and heat.
- Make 23 different buttons with my button maker: Falling short here (I’ve made one button, ahem(), but I’m probably using my button maker to help with fundraising at our school’s welcome back fair. So stay tuned…
- Finish 23 craft projects (not including buttons): Four down. Hopefully I can do some smaller projects with the kids soon.
- Watch 12 different Creativebug classes: I’ve only watched one, but I’m planning to distance myself from volunteering during the 2023-24 school year so I can have more time for myself. And I definitely want more crafting as part of my self-care.
- Draw 12 times: I’ve drawn four times. I’ve got such a mental block against this.
- Play 23 different board/card games: Up to twelve different games. Need to pick up the pace with this.
- Watch 23 movies with my kids: I’m at eight! We saw Elemental in the theater over the weekend and I enjoyed it a lot.
- Write 23 blog posts: This will be my fifteenth post of the year.
- Visit 23 new places: I completed this goal several months ago, and visited my 29th new place – a movie theater in downtown L.A. – over the weekend.
- Go on 12 hikes: I’ve done the same hike, Eaton Canyon, twice now. Once with Pippa, and once with Pippa, Nathan and Julian. Both times were so good for my soul.
- Do 23 things I have never done before: I’m at 14 new things.
- Finish decluttering the house! I’ve made a ton of progress. I really need to tackle the basement and garage.
- Indulge my inner child 23 times: I’ve indulged my inner child at least 16 times. Yesterday, we went to the beach and I built a sand castle with Julian and then went boogie boarding.
- Publish 12 podcast episodes: This remains at zero. I feel the urge to record a podcast episode slowing increasing, but that urge is not yet loud enough for me to take action. Or maybe it’s that I feel compelled to do other things first. A woman only has so many hours in a day, and this woman is revising a novel, raising two kids, keeping house, going to hot yoga, and doing lots of other shit — plus, she needs time to relax and chill the eff out. So, if podcasting doesn’t happen, that’s fine! But then again, maybe I’ll finish novel revisions and use podcasting as a creative outlet. Who knows?!
- Attend 12 live performances: I’ve been to six live performances this year, and they have been so nourishing for my soul. We have tickets to see Peter Pan Goes Wrong in a few weeks, and I’m considering a few other shows. In December, the kids and I will see the Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol – or possibly both!
- Spend 20 hours gardening: Nature and fresh air are so good for my mental and spiritual health. I’ve done a ton of gardening this year, but have not always remembered to log it. I’d say I’ve easily done 15 hours of gardening this year (probably more).
Confession: Even though I’m still working on most of these items, I’m already thinking about my 24 in ’24. I love this shit.