My Year of
50 list was created to help me be intentional about things I wanted to
accomplish this year...nearby places I’ve wanted to see, books I put off
reading, and activities I kept saying I would do. I’ve always been a list maker
and used to be a better goal setter so this list is a combination of both for
the year I turn 50.
Now that
one-third of the year is over I started analyzing the list and noting my
accomplishments. What I realized is not how many boxes I’ve checked off but
that life has been a lot less stressful and more enjoyable. I’ve taken the time
to slow down and spend more time with my husband and friends. I worry less when
my agenda goes awry or my to-do list is left undone. I’m not even that stressed
about completing the 50 list (well maybe just a little). It’s not that I never
get worked up anymore, but I feel that it’s a lot less often than it used to
be. Here is my analysis of the list up to this point in the year.
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| My Boyne City-Petoskey Girls |
- Intentional girlfriend time has been a blessing
for me. When our boys were younger and life was more chaotic I didn’t always
take the time to connect with my gender unless we were with our kids. In April I
had the honor of celebrating my long-time friend’s early 50th
birthday for an extended weekend in Las Vegas. Over most of our 42-year
friendship, Paula and I have lived geographically apart so it was extra special
to get away for girl-time. I was also able to celebrate the birthday of my
neighborhood friend and running encourager, Marianne, in April. In May I caught
up with my niece, Brina, over lunch, and spent a night celebrating birthdays
with a host of girlfriends from Boyne City and Petoskey. During our time
together we laugh, sometimes cry, reminisce, and talk. A lot. I’m thankful for
all the girls in my life. You have no idea how much you mean to me.
- I have been eating more fruits and vegetables
and sometimes in place of my carbohydrates (that’s checking off two things on
the list!). My new foods though haven’t always fallen in the healthy column.
While on Spring Break in March I tried an alligator tail appetizer…breaded and
fried. It was a little chewier than chicken nuggets but not as tough as fried
clams. I doubt I’ll order them again. Las Vegas introduced me to gelato at
Caesars Palace and a hot tamale at a restaurant called VegeNation. (I’m also checking
off ‘a restaurant out of my comfort zone’ because I wouldn’t choose a vegan
restaurant on my own.) Gelato and hot tamales both get a thumbs up. Brina and I
shared fried dill pickles (Did I try them in college?) and we had eggplant for
dinner one night. I’ll definitely make eggplant again.
Hot Tamales - As a child I was a voracious reader. I read all the time. Even under my covers with a flashlight when my parents enforced bedtime. (Does that have anything to do with my terrible nearsightedness?) Over the years, I’ve put kids, jobs, and other things in front of reading. Putting books on my 50 list made me prioritize reading again. A classic novel is the only one left on my list, but I did read a bonus book in April and have two others sitting on the coffee table waiting to be read yet this year.
- Exercising at least five days a week has become normal even if some of those days are slow yoga or weight lifting. Getting into the pool for lap swims is something I look forward to each week. I’ve completed 25k of my 50k goal in organized runs/races and over 200 of the 600 miles for my Run the Year team. Plantar fasciitis has been a nagging issue this whole time though so I’m going to take a break from running for a few months to try to let it heal. The new plan is to ride my bike and swim more in place of running.
While analyzing
my list it became apparent to me that everything on it had to do with relationships
and not just the one with myself. Sure, more girl-time is definitely
relational, but trying new foods or watching sunsets are also more fun when you
do them with someone else. Even blogging every month has to do with my
relationship with my kids (I’m hoping one day my boys will relate to something
I share). Throughout the remainder of the year I will continue to be
intentional about completing My Year of 50 list (for myself) and enjoy the
bonus of spending more time with others in the process. Life is good!
