Intentional Living 2020, I

Best is the enemy of good. ~ Voltaire

One month of 2020 is gone and a fresh set of 29 days is upon us. Have you made any resolution progress? If not remember there is nothing magical about January 1st. And in the words of Voltaire don’t let best or perfection get in be way of good progress. Don’t not make good because you are worried you ant do great. I have some things I am proud of and some things still left to experiment with.

January To Das:

• I was able to read 3 books and part of two others.
• Organized the pantry.
• Sent two snail mails.
• Simplified the clothing in my dresser.
• Went to the chiropractor.
• Tracked my exercise and finished the month consistently tracking food.
• Bought a door organizer for my clothes. I put my work tank, undies, socks or yoga clothes in it. Because if I don’t go to work then I go to yoga (usually).
• I mostly stuck to the Clean Mama routine. I did sometimes if I had an off day did the sweeping and mopping all in one day. I’ve also started a cleaning note in Evernote to track the last day I washed the sheets in each bedroom, towels, shower curtain, cleaned other things, etc.
• Journaled on a most consistent bases.
• Printed all of our yearly photo and trip albums minus 2019 and Iceland/Norway.
• Logged 1013 exercise minutes.

February To Experiment:

• Simplify closet #1
• Simplify closet #2
• Read three books
• Prep and enjoy trip #1
• Prep and enjoy trip #2
• Send Valentine snail mail
• Do the thing (unsure if I am ready to share)
• Find a wellness accountability partner
• Move my body 4/ week
• Weekly financial checkin
• Unplug on a weekly basis
• Journal most days
• Meditate for three minutes per day
• Document wellness
• Develop and practice good sleep routine in order to prepare for working nights
• Clean Mama routine daily
• No spend month. I so easily grab a shirt for Em or something for the house etc. The graphic about want to waste $10,000.00 then mindlessly spend $27.40 daily. Phew that is crazy isn’t it!?! Dining out, teas, wasted food, a shirt for Em or a toy. It all adds up.

Happy February! 💕💖

Comment with your January wins! Id love to celebrate with you.

Welcome to the Roaring 20s

This morning I watched the first sunrise of 2020 standing on the literal foundation of so much of my life, the beach house. What a gift. I’ve been reflecting this last few days and looking a head. I’ve thought about what legacy I hope to leave when I die and what I hope people will say about me at my funeral (hint it’s not those Southern-isms such as sweet, kind, a good heart, blah). To know which direction you want to go in you need to know where you want to go.

The Roaring 20s are here! I am excited to see what they have in store.

I have six main themes. My phrase for 2020 is Root to Rise a yoga-ism from.one of my yoga teachers, Megan. In yoga it means a firm, grounded foundation so you can rise tall and strong. Basically going for the same thing in 2020 life. Planting deep roots to rise in life.

Below are my goal themes. The goals written out as if they have already been completed.

Physical Wellness

I am the healthiest version of myself. My body is operating in it’s tip top optimal condition. I am energetic, have excellent lab levels, well-rested, strong, clearer skin, accomplished, and flexible. 

Spiritual Light

I  deeply connected to God, myself, the people I love, the earth, and the universe.  Thus my inner light radiated to those around me. 

Mental Health

My mind is peaceful and my heart is full of joy. My light and physical body ground my emotions and mental space.  I have a more peace, a quieter mind, therefore I have a deeper connection with myself. 

Finances

We are financially secure and I have peace about money. We are able to give generously to bless others. 

Life-giving Home

Our house is a place of refuge, belonging and love. Our space provides us with clarity, rest, energy, joy and rejuvenation. It houses celebrations, love, laughter, miracles and warmth. 

Rooted Connections

I have rooted, deep connections with my tribe. We have become rooted in our community. Our marriage is anchored and thriving. 

In January I am planning to read three books, simplify my clothes, organize the pantry, exercise four days a week, send some snail mail, follow the Clean Mama calendar, document my food and exercise, eat lower (ish) carb, and review spending weekly.

What do you hope 2020 holds for you?

For some goal setting boss babe inspiration follow Lara Casey, Danika Brysha, Rachel Hollis, Gretchen Rubin, and Emily Ley.

2019 in Review

2019, What a year for us.

We moved to Beaufort, SC essentially into a semi tiny house. Had the great purge of 2019. Did A LOT of work on our house in Homewood. Sold our house. Paid down some of Ryan’s student loans. Took a Summer Sabbatical and learned the art of resting. Became a turtle volunteer for Hunting Island SC, a life long dream of mine. Began practicing yoga and exercising on a regular basis. Adventured in Iceland and Norway, where we snorkeled in the Arctic Circle. Went to Disney. Visited friends in Laurel and Hamilton. Cruised on a Stalker family vacay. Watched the Blue Angels from our backyard. Each started a new job. Attended Mumford and Sons, Needtobreathe and Hootie and the Blowfish concerts. Magically happened upon affordable Hamilton tickets in Dallas. Made new friends. Spent quality time with my younger cousins. Traveled to Cape Cod. Built a dollbed. Magically saw an orca in the ocean in Norway. Spent a cousin weekend reminiscent of Camp Amy at Uncle Steve and Aunt Molly’s in Maine. Started our own version of Camp Amy with Camp Tate with Em and Emory as attendees. Celebrated graduations and Match Days and birthdays and our 6th wedding anniversary. Met Ryan’s besties baby and got all the snuggles. Increased my blogging. Caught up on our yearly photo albums. Continued to clear some clutter and simplify. Read 39 books. Did the 25 days of Riley Kate’s Lovies during December. Had Chocolate Tree chocolate covered strawberries. Went to the Bama vs SC game.

This is the list I read this year. All are good because if I start a book and don’t enjoy it I typically do not finish it. The stars are the extra good ones, two stars the best.

1. Intuitive Eating
2. Fire Along the Sky⭐
3. Queen of Swords⭐
4. Becoming
5. Love you Smore
6. The Endless Forest⭐
7. The Power of Vulnerability
8. Where the Crawdads Sing
9. Beach House Reunion⭐
10. Glory Road
11. The High Tide Club
12. Miranda’s Big Mistake
13. Maybe This Time
14. By Invitation Only
15. Sunset Beach
16. The Summer Guests ⭐
17. I’m Fine and Neither are You
18. The Royal We
19. Forever is the Worst Long Time
20. Life and other Near Death Experiences
21. Brunch at the Bittersweet Cafe
22. The Stationary Shop⭐⭐
23. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
24. Where’d You Go Bernadette
25. Little Fires Everywhere
26. Next Year in Havana ⭐⭐
27. The Island House
28. The Guest Cottage
29. When We Left Cuba ⭐
30. Nantucket Sisters
31. Make Your Bed
32. The Alice Network ⭐⭐
33. Looking for Lovely (reread) ⭐
34. The Over Due Life of Amy Byler
35. When Less Becomes More
36. One Day in December ⭐
37. Make It Happen
38. Cultivate
39. The Tattooist of Auschwitz ⭐⭐

I can’t wait to see what 2020 and the next decade bring. I will be posting my Powersheet goals this week too. So encourage me and hold me accountable.

Welcome to the Roaring 20s! I can’t wait to see what is in store.

Happy New Year! Best wishes for a Roaring new decade.

2019 Intentions

“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein

2019, wow! Here you are. Anyone else remember being little and completely being unable to fathom the years, age and life we are living now?

 

Honestly, much like when I was little, I can not imagine like after January when we get everything moved and the house on the market. But if there is one thing I have learned, believed and put into practice it is manifesting, dreaming and living life with intentionally planning. Not for just this day or week but for life.

 

My word for 2019 is miracles. I want my heart to be in a state of expectant anticipation that miracles will happen. Some of my goals will require miracles to accomplish. I want to live my life believing in miracles and with the heart and mind to notice and appreciate them. 

Overall Intentions for 2019

Spiritual Light

• Read the Old Testament.
• Trust God and the universe.
• Open my heart, mind and soul to more magic and miracles.
• Pray the impossible.
• Maintain prayer journal. 

 

Physical Well-being

• Movement.
• Intuitive eating.
• Flexibility.
• Measure by how I feel not a number on the scale.
• Chiropractor appointments.
• Primary Care MD appointments.

Emotional Strength

• Meditate.
• Peaceful mind.
• Joyful heart.
• Counselor appointments. Maintain throughout this busy, hard season. When life gets busy these appointments are some of the first to get cut, and yet the most important. 
• Read for enjoyment and learning.

 

Loving Connections

• Intentional time with Ryan.
• Growing new friendships.
• Cultivating old ones.
• Strengthening the bond with Em. 

 

Life-giving Home

• MOVE!
• De-clutter before and during move (outer order, inner calm).
• Create a relaxing, welcoming cozy space in our new home.
• Enjoy Beaufort. Don’t let our environment lose it’s magic because we are working and paying bills there.
• Grow pretty flowers.
• Create a backyard oasis: hammocks, tiki torches, party lights, fire pit.

 

Financial Prosperity

• Budget.
• Spending tracking.
• Plan with Ryan about our desires for the future. 
• Replace the saving we will use to sell the house/move.
• Move my retirement.

My intention for January is mainly prepare, survive, and complete our move. After that the priorities will definitely shift.  I feel overwhelmed already and so I did not want to set myself to fail by trying to do all the things all at once. Pack. Move. My friend did get me a yoga pass for Christmas so I will be incorporating that this month. Fingers crossed I do not die. I really do hope I love it. Get more in the routine of talking to Em on the phone more. Meditate more consistently, this will help my moving anxiety ridden brain. I plan to read the Old Testament this year. I know there are Bible in a year plans but they seem to overwhelm me and I think sowing down to really dig deep could be helpful in soaking everything in. Danika Brysha has a formula for a self-care checklist. She is the bomb, so encouraging, so inspiring I really encourage you to check her out. I am referring to her daily self care checklist as dailies.

Here is a reminder to myself I want to included a happy/grateful/lovely memory in my weekly Fabulous Friday post to look back on at the end of 2019. I saw the jar idea, you place a good thing from each week written down on a piece of paper and save them in a jar. That way if 2019 when 2019 proves hard you can remember the good things. Because often the bad things occupy more of our time, energy and faith than the good things.

Happy 2019, Lovies! Remember there is nothing special about January 1st. You can take charge of your intentions, goals and life on any old Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Midnight, noon, 8 am or 124 pm can be your special time to dream, decide and change.

Here is too a miraculous 2019!

Goals Update: June/July 2018

Welcome, July! I love fresh starts and July is a double fresh start with the second half of 2018 beginning and a new year age wise for me.

Goals Update: May/June 2018

HELLO, June! Never have I been more excited for a new month, clean slate and fresh start. I have no idea what happened in May. I feel like it lasted forever in a way but was also completely gone in a flash. I felt like I got nothing accomplished. And for the most part that is completely true. But it was nice to look at my powersheets to be reminded of what I have accomplished. It was not much but I need to remember not to discredit what did get done even if most of my list did not get done.

I continued to schedule in time for things in my planner. It did not work well for May, well I did not work well. I might be late to this game because is this not what the Cultivate team teaches us…Schedule time for what you want to happen to happen. So this month I took my Simplified Planner and penciled in things I want to accomplish in June.

Goals Update: April 2018

Goodbye, April? Does anyone else feel like April was here and gone in a flash? I feel somewhat bogged down and unaccomplished at the end of this month. Here is to hoping May feels better at the end. There was no big action step that was neglected to badly. I just feel a bit off. I am thankful for a visual way to tack my progress and for a fresh start or clean sheet every month.

Goals Update: March 2018

Phew! How are we 1/4 of the way finished with 2018?!? I can not believe it, yet that has been a great motivator to buckle down, refresh and refocus on what I want the end of 2018 to hold.

For April I blocked off week five on the tending list  to help streamline my weekly to dos since this month is really just four weeks and 2 days. The past couple of months I had been having trouble figuring out what to do with the few days at the beginning and end of a month. My brain functions better one a Sunday to Saturday thought and scheduling process.

This month I tried something new. I might be late to this game because is this not what the Cultivate team teaches us…Schedule time for what you want to happen to happen. So this month I took my Simplified Planner and penciled in weekly accountability appointments, Three15 and aerial classes, house task to complete before we have a few days away, and simplifying (purging) different areas of the house.

Goals Update: March 2018

Goals Update: February 2018

Here is a look at my completed February Tending List and my new March one. Check back on the first Thursday of each month for a month review and a look ahead. Below I organized according to goals to make it easier to follow monthly. This month we need some prayer, good thoughts and love for some big things that I can not even mention right now. Keep us close please.