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Posts Tagged ‘self-reflection’

Review 25 for 2025 List

Posted in Positive Living, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 12, 2026| 1 Comment »

2025 has come and gone (rather quickly I might add), and it is time for me to share how I did on the aims I started and completed (or ignored) on my 25 for 2025 List. Despite burning myself out in the first half of the year and telling Tooty aka Comet good-bye as he crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the second half, I actually did well overall with accomplishing aims on my yearly list. I chose PHOENIX as my word for 2025, and it served me well as I crashed and burned throughout the year. However, like a phoenix, I rose up out of the ashes and moved forward. Out of the 25 aims on my list, I completed 15 items, started 6 items, and ignored 4 of them.

Kat’s 25 for 2025 List

  • Contact SPA 728 for health assessment information. YES ✔
  • Strength train 2-3 times per week. YES ✔
  • Walk at least 30 minutes daily, preferably outside. YES ✔
  • Reduce reflux meds to 20 mg. YES ✔
  • Keep a JOY journal. STARTED (and abandoned)
  • Create a Book of Life. NO
  • Clear the clutter in my scrapbook room. STARTED (work in progress)
  • Clear the clutter in my bedroom closet. STARTED (barely a work in progress)
  • Buy a comfortable chair for my home office. YES ✔ (took Andrew’s chair)
  • Organize home library. STARTED (work in progress…see photo above)
  • Keep track of spending on books. YES ✔ ($1,268.79 – books purchased for myself)
  • Start a new booktube project. (Saturday Morning Momentum: Thrive in 2025) YES ✔
  • Organize videos on Kat’s Novel Adventures (create playlists). YES ✔
  • Read 25 Books that have been on my shelves for 5 years or more. STARTED (read 9)
  • Start The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. YES ✔
  • Read Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix. NO (forgot about it)
  • Write 25 blog posts on The Kat Files. STARTED (wrote 15 posts)
  • Scrapbook 25 times in 2025. NO (epic fail)
  • Attend TAC Scrapbook Event in June with Donna & Heather. YES ✔
  • Volunteer at the Friends of the Library store during the summer. YES ✔
  • Visit the New Orleans Vampire Café in New Orleans. YES ✔
  • Visit the English Tea Room in Covington. YES ✔
  • Visit the Hammond Farmers & Artisans Market at least 5 times. YES ✔
  • Attend The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at The Columbia Theatre in March. YES ✔
  • Put a deposit down on running The Open Book in Scotland. NO (sadly)

Other Fun Plans for 2025:

  • I participated in Gretchen Rubin’s #Read25in25. I was thrilled that Gretchen brought back reading for the 2025 challenge since reading is my favorite activity. Of course, I loved this challenge!
  • I joined the 2025 Reading Challenge on Goodreads with a goal of 100 books. I reached my goal either at the end of October or the beginning of November, ending the year having read 120 books. Follow me on Goodreads (Katherine Loyacano).
  • I hosted all three of my readathons on my YouTube channel: Nevermore, Folklore February, and Zombiethon.
  • I interacted with members of the Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club on Facebook; however, not as often as I had in mind.
  • I participated in Booktube Book Clubs (FOMO, MGM, Cozy Cottage, and Book Wyrm).
  • I continue doing Collabs with Kelsi by participating in some capacity in her annual events and participating in a live discussion with her about the Terrifier franchise. Our collabs can be viewed on her YouTube channel, Slime and Slashers – A Nostalgia & Horror Channel as well as her movie YouTube channel, Nightmares and Nostalgia. Please consider subscribing to Kelsi’s channels.
  • I participated in Frugal February and saved some money. I love this no-spend month because I love saving money.
  • I did not keep up with my TA-DA list for 2025 all year long. However, I am currently in the process of completing it, and I plan to share it with you once I have completed it.

So, there you have it, dear reader. Overall, I am pleased with my accomplishments in 2025. I passed my three-year anniversary of releasing my first video on 28 October 2025. I cannot believe it has been three years already. Even though I took a hiatus from filming and releasing content on my channel (May-November), I continued hosting my weekly Wednesday sprints. I love hanging out with my community. They are super supportive and loads of fun to spend time with each week. And, since I mentioned my channel, I have included a video about my Review of 2025 below if you are interested in hearing more about my accomplishments and some of the books I read in 2025. Please consider subscribing to my channel, giving me a like and a share, and leaving a comment.

Not surprising, I am playing catch up with content both on my channel and here on my blog. As I mentioned, I want to share my TA-DA List from 2025 with you. I designed my year for 2026, and I look forward to sharing all of my shenanigans with you (one-word theme, 26 for 2026 List, and Gretchen Rubin’s yearly challenge). My hope is to share more of my adventures with you in 2026. Thanks for reading, and I plan to return soon. How did you do with your goals in 2025, dear reader? Happiness!

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” ~ Hal Borland

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Halfway Day: Review 25 for 2025 List

Posted in Positive Living, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 2, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Happy Halfway Day, dear reader! Today is the halfway point of the year and a great time for me to review my 25 for 2025 List. According to Gretchen Rubin, “It’s important to celebrate our accomplishments—and also to notice what doesn’t work. Halfway Day is a great time to reflect on our aims and to adjust our approach.”

My friend Liz and I met on Zoom a couple of weeks ago to review our lists, bounce ideas off of each other, and give one another support going into the second half of the year. I love that Liz and I have this mutual interest in personal development, and I value her input as well as her friendship. I had some time to reflect on ideas that came out of our conversation, and I created Jumpstart July for myself. For one month, my focus is going to be on building sustainable habits and realistic routines that I believe will help me accomplish the remaining aims on my 25 for 2025 list.

My one-word theme for this year is PHOENIX. I am preparing to rise up to the challenge of completing my aims with renewed energy like a phoenix rising out of the ashes. At the beginning of 2025, I chose to focus on self-care, organization, reading, creative pursuits, and fun, so let us take a look at my progress from the first half of this year.

My 25 for 2025 List

  • 1. Contact SPA 728 for health assessment information.
  • 2. Strength train 2-3 times per week.
  • 3. Walk at least 30 minutes daily, preferably outside. as of today, walked 28 times
  • 4. Reduce reflux meds to 20 mg. 
  • 5. Keep a JOY journal.
  • 6. Create a Book of Life.
  • 7. Clear the clutter in my scrapbook room. in progress
  • 8. Clear the clutter in my bedroom closet.
  • 9. Buy a comfortable chair for my home office.
  • 10. Organize home library. in progress
  • 11. Keep track of spending on books. January-June: $600.61
  • 12. Start a new booktube project. (Saturday Morning Momentum: Thrive in 2025)
  • 13. Organize videos on Kat’s Novel Adventures (create playlists). in progress
  • 14. Read 25 Books that have been on my shelves for 5 years or more. in progress
  • 15. Start The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. changed from read to start
  • 16. Read Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix.
  • 17. Write 25 blog posts on The Kat Files. including this one, 6 of 25 posts
  • 18. Scrapbook 25 times in 2025.
  • 19. Attend TAC Scrapbook Event in June with Donna and Heather.
  • 20. Volunteer at the Friends of the Library store during the summer. filled out volunteer form
  • 21. Visit the New Orleans Vampire Café in New Orleans.
  • 22. Visit the English Tea Room in Covington.
  • 23. Visit the Hammond Farmers & Artisans Market at least 5 times. 1 of 5 times
  • 24. Attend The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at The Columbia Theatre in March.
  • 25. Put a deposit down on running The Open Book in Scotland.

As for my other fun plans for 2025, I am earning gold stars.

  • Participate in Gretchen Rubin’s #Read25in25. every day for 25 + minutes
  • 2025 Reading Challenge on Goodreads 51 of 100 books (behind on book reviews)
  • Nevermore, Folklore February, Zombiethon Readathons ✅
  • Interaction with members of the Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club on Facebook not much
  • Book Clubs (FOMO, MGM, Cozy Cottage, and Book Wyrm) participating in all 4 clubs
  • Collabs with Kelsi (Terrifier live chat; cohosted Old School April)
  • Frugal February ✅
  • TA-DA List haven’t offically started list

I have completed 5 aims with 9 aims in progress. Even though I have taken a step back from creating content on my YouTube channel (15 videos released between January and April), I successfully hosted three readathons and consistently host livestreams on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. I am in a weird place with my channel at the moment, and I have taken a hiatus from creating content with no idea when I will start creating new content. Also, I made a slight adjustment to #15 on my list. Instead of reading The Dark Tower Series, I am starting it this year. There is no way with all of the other books I want to read this year that I will be able to read the entire series by the end of 2025, especially since I have not even started reading The Gunslinger, yet.

The second half of the year will see a recommitment to the aims on my 25 for 2025 list, working hard on self-improvement, especially where my health is concerned, and getting my home in order. I also have to spend time helping my Dad get his house in order. I will not be going back to work this fall as a Title I Tutor, so between now and the end of the year, I will be helping him with decluttering and organizing his house. I am ready to get started, and I am excited to see everything I will accomplish in the next six months. Dear reader, what are some aims you reached in the first half of this year? What are you looking forward to accomplishing or experiencing in the second half of 2025? Happiness!

“The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.” ~ Josiyah Martin

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Review 24 for 2024 List

Posted in Positive Living, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 9, 2025| 4 Comments »

2024 started off in the same fashion 2023 ended with my mom in the hospital with dementia and a broken hip. I decided to give myself grace and begin my new year on the first day of the Lunar New Year. I admit it was a bit weird not starting a brand new year on 01 January, but considering the circumstamces, it felt like the right decision for me.

2024 turned out to be a continuation of my Season of Sorrow. My mother died in August and my mother-in-law followed her to heaven three months later.

As you can see, dear reader, by the date I am publishing this post and the lack of posts published in 2024, life had other plans for me. That is not to say I did not work on my aims or find pockets of joy amidst the upheaval. I am steadily trying to catch up on life, but it has been a sloth-slow process. Today is the day to share how I did with my 24 for 2024 list! I chose RESET as my word for 2024, and boy did I wear it out. It seemed like I was resetting every other week. With that being said, I did accomplish a few aims on my 24 for 2024 List. I completed nine items, started four items, and attempted one on my list.

Kat’s 24 for 2024 List

  • Time-track at least once per quarter (March, June, September, December). YES ✔
  • Join The 5AM Club by getting up at 5AM each morning (The 5AM Club). YES ✔
  • Implement the 20/20/20 Formula (The 5AM Club). NO (used it more for Focus Work)
  • Implement the Pre-Sleep Ritual (The 5AM Club). NO
  • Quit Coffee. STARTED (Gave up afternoon coffee on 06/19)
  • Strength train two times per week. NO
  • Walk at least 30 minutes daily, preferably outside. NO
  • Get a massage. NO
  • Clear the clutter in my scrapbook room. NO
  • Buy a book cart. YES ✔
  • Buy two bookcases for living room. YES ✔
  • Organize home library. STARTED
  • Keep track of spending on books. NO
  • Get library cards (Tangipahoa, Livingston, and Baton Rouge parishes). YES ✔
  • Start a new booktube project. YES ✔
  • Read 24 Books that I did not get to in 2022/2023. STARTED (read 11/24; started 1, but put to the side)
  • Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie) 2.0. STARTED (read 3/6)
  • Buddy Read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt with Alex @ Frankfiction. YES ✔
  • Read The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. YES ✔
  • Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. NO
  • Read On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. YES ✔
  • Write about my adventures in Sicily on my blog. ATTEMPTED
  • Organize photos and video clips from my Sicily trip. NO
  • Scrapbook 24 times in 2024. NO

Other Fun Plans for 2024:

  • I participated in Gretchen Rubin’s #Write24in24 Challenge. Loved this challenge! I did not use it the way I originally planned, but I did write (mainly book reviews) 25 minutes or more each day.
  • I joined the Goodreads Challenge again and set my goal to read 100 books in 2024. I reached my Goodreads goal back in November and ended the year having read 111 books.
  • I participated in Booktube Book Clubs (FOMO, MGM, Cozy Cottage, The Book Wyrm Club).
  • The Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club is still on hiatus; however, I have some ideas that I’d like to implement in 2025. I’m not quite ready to give up on it, yet.
  • I participated in Frugal February and saved some money. Gold star for me!
  • I collaborated with Kelsi in 2024. I was a one of her co-hosts for Old School April and one of her Monster Squad members for Halloween-A-Thon. We buddy read The Store by Bentley Little in August for the GarbAugust readathon and had a live Movie Chat about the movies we watched during the spooky season.

As for my Birthday Message Project 2.0, it fell by the wayside with everything that happened in the second half of the year which is when I wanted to complete the project. I just did not have the motivation or the energy. So, it might be something I try again in 2025, but it will not be on my 25 for 2025 List. Also, I did not keep up with a TA-DA List for 2024; however, I do plan to reflect on the year, write the list, and post on my blog like I have in the past.

Considering 2024 was another rollercoaster of a year where I continued living in a season of sorrow, I think I did okay with my 24 for 2024 list. I am grateful for my Youtube channel community. I passed my two-year anniversary of releasing my first video on 28 October 2024. My weekly Wednesday sprints that I host on my channel have been a continued source of joy for me. My community is super supportive and really helped me through the last year and a half. And, speaking of my channel, I have included a video about my Happier Trifecta Review below if you are interested in hearing more about my accomplishments and some of the books I read in 2024. Please consider subscribing to my channel, giving me a like and a share, and leaving a comment.

Currently, I am playing catch up with content both on my channel and here on my blog. I already designed my year for 2025, and I cannot wait to share with you my one-word theme, my 25 for 2025 List, and Gretchen Rubin’s yearly challenge. I really am hoping you will see more of me in 2025. How did you do with your goals in 2024, dear reader? Happiness!

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” ~ T.S. Eliot

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January: Laying My Foundation for 2024

Posted in Positive Living, tagged , , , , , , on January 31, 2024| 2 Comments »

A weird feeling came over me upon January’s arrival as I gazed at the fireworks outside the window of my mom’s room at Ochsner Hospital. I felt out of place in both space and time, like I should be somewhere else. I felt uneasy, unprepared, and unhappy which is the total opposite of how I usually feel entering a new year. The lack of excitement for 2024 without its clean slate and plethora of possibilities waiting in the wings to take flight were marred by an unfortunate event and the recent death of my best friend. Never in the history of my life have I entered a new year in a state of disarray, discomfort, and despair.

There is nothing wrong with grieving after a loss or feeling a sense of hopelessness after an accident. However, getting bogged down by negativity can be tempting if the grief or hopelessness remains constant. Thankfully, a negative outlook on life is not my nature. I understood that I was in a season of sorrow at the end of 2023, but oh, how I wanted to enter 2024 in a season of celebration. Life is full of surprises, some are pleasant while others not so much. When those unpleasant surprises arise, I generally take a step back, feel all the feelings, then take a deep breath, and put the unpleasantness in perspective.

Therefore, that’s exactly what I did at the beginning of January. In the past, I announced my plans for the new year along with my one-word theme on January 1st or 2nd. At the start of 2024, my plans had not even been put on paper, and I was struggling with my word for the year. Even though I accepted that I was behind in this area of my life and had plenty to catch up on, I still fretted a little over the delay. I wanted my clean slate. I wanted to begin anew.

Finally about mid-month, I settled on my word for the year, and I started writing out my 24 for 2024 List. I recently filmed a couple of videos to close out 2023 on my channel and participated in a number of readathons, including one of my own, while also preparing for another one happening in February.

I realized this week that I have actually been laying the foundation for my year ahead throughout the entire month of January. On January 4th, I started reading, The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. The meditations for the month of January are focused on clarity. Then, yesterday evening, I saw a comment on the Happier in Hollywood FaceBook Group where a woman and her family, who encountered some unexpected surprises, are starting their year on February 10th, the Lunar New Year. I thought, “What a terrific idea!“

So, dear reader, I have decided for 2024, I am starting my new year on February 10th. I will be announcing my “Happiness Trifeca” in the coming days which includes my one-word theme, my 24 for 2024 List, and the 24 in 2024 Challenge that Gretchen Rubin has chosen for this year. I look forward to sharing my aims for the year with you. Have you set resolutions or made plans for 2024? If so, did you start on the first day of January or did you pick another day to start your new year? Happiness!

“No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.” ~ Buddha

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Review 23 for 2023 List

Posted in Positive Living, tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 31, 2023| 9 Comments »

2023 started off full of promise, projects, and possibilities. The first six months of the year flowed smoothly. Then, I hit a speed bump in July, thus beginning my season of sorrow and the reason I have not posted anything in the last six months. That story will be told another day.

Today is the day to reflect on my 23 for 2023 list! I chose CREATE as my word for 2023, and for the most part, it worked well with the aims I accomplished on my 23 for 2023 List. I completed nine items and started three items on my list this year.

  • Schedule dental appointment (implant crown). YES (February; implant process complete)
  • Buy myself flowers quarterly. YES (last quarter flowers in picture above)
  • Buy a new vacuum cleaner. YES (Dyson…I love it!)
  • Buy two white bookcases for office. YES (I bought four.)
  • Buy a book cart. NO (suffering from decision fatigue)
  • Deal with digital clutter. (email, photos, documents). STARTED (still have lots to declutter)
  • Organize home office. YES
  • Organize home library. NO (need more bookcases; bought one for livingroom)
  • Write my personal manifesto. NO (never thought about it)
  • Write a will. NO (dragging my feet)
  • Scrapbook monthly. NO (only at annual June event with girlfriends)
  • Complete Year of Gratitude scrapbook. NO (sadly)
  • Learn StreamYard to host sprints on my YouTube channel. YES (now host weekly sprints on Wednesdays)
  • Host two Readathons on my YouTube channel (February/May). YES (Folklore February – February and Zombiethon – May)
  • Read 23 Books that I did not get to in 2022. STARTED (only read 9 books and 1 novella from my 23 Books in 2023 List)
  • Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie). YES (love reading Agatha Christie stories)
  • Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. NO (attempted in June, but too overwhelmed)
  • Read The Galveston Diet by Mary Claire Haver, M.D. NO (on hold after seeing new cardiologist)
  • Revisit Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin. NO (no time)
  • Read Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam. YES (really enjoyed it and participated in project)
  • Complete Becky Higgins Classroom: Photo Tips + Work Flow. STARTED (need to finish in 2024)
  • Complete the WordPress Blogging course. NO (disappointed; maybe try again in 2024)
  • Update theme (layout) for blog. NO (still suffering from decision fatigue; disappointed; maybe try again in 2024 )

In addition, I participated in two reading projects which I am still participating in one of them (Goodreads) until the end of today because I am hoping I can finish the book I am currently reading by bedtime. I joined the Goodreads Challenge again and set my goal to read 75 books in 2023. I reached my Goodreads goal back in September and hope to complete 95 books this year. I also read 6 terrific books with members of my Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club. Sadly, the book club has been on hiatus since the fall, and I am not sure what its future will be in the upcoming year.

I participated in three book clubs on a regular basis throughout 2023. They are the FOMO Book Club, the Middle Grade March Book Club, and the Cozy Cottage Book Club. I read some fantastic books and attended some enjoyable meetings with wonderful discussions. I plan to continue participating in these book clubs in 2024.

I participated in Collabs with Kelsi, participated in Frugal February, and created birthday videos for most of my family/friends for my Birthday Message Project. Circumstances out of my control prevented me from creating videos for everyone this year, so I may consider creating birthday videos for those peeps I missed in 2024. Finally, I did not keep a TA-DA list for 2023. If I can wrangle up some time to create one in the near future, I will do it and publish it in January. I would like to acknowledge my wins this year. The only other extra project, where I was not consistent, was #Outside23in23. I am disappointed that I did not do better with this project, but I did not make it a priority.

Overall, I think I did okay with my 23 for 2023 list considering the turmoil that entered my life in the second half of this year. I could never have predicted that I would be ending the year in a season of sorrow. Sadly, I will still be in this season starting 2024.

Currently, I am thinking about my one-word theme for 2024. As soon as I settle on one, I will start creating my 24 for 2024 List. January will be a month of wrapping up loose ends from 2023 and planning for 2024 since I did not have the time I usually have in December to wrap up the current year and plan for the upcoming year. How did you do with your goals in 2023, dear reader? Happiness!

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” ~ Shauna Niequist

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Halfway Day: A Moment of Reflection

Posted in Positive Living, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »

According to Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, “observing Halfway Day on July 2nd is a catalyst for reflection.” Six months ago I shared with you, dear reader, my one-word theme for 2023, my 23 for 2023 List with my aims for the year, as well as a list of other fun plans I wanted to participate in alongside my aims. All of these tools set into motion the resolutions I wanted to achieve for myself throughout the year. Today, I am sharing how I am doing with my one-word theme, my aims, and my additional projects thus far.

My one-word theme is CREATE. YES, my year has been all about creating through 1) bringing (something) into existence (content, organization of my office), 2) causing (something) to happen as a result of my actions (relationships-community, friends, family; memories), 3) originating a role by playing a character for the first time (performing improv; graduating from Anubis Improv; auditioning), and 4) investing with new rank or title (myself through personal development; cohosting content with others).

My 23 for 2023 List

  • 1. Schedule dental appointment (implant crown).
  • 2. Buy myself flowers quarterly. (1st and 2nd quarter) ongoing
  • 3. Buy a new vacuum cleaner.
  • 4. Buy two white bookcases for office. bought 3; planning to buy a 4th one soon
  • 5. Buy a book cart.
  • 6. Deal with digital clutter (email, photos, documents). slow going; bought additional photo storage
  • 7. Organize home office.
  • 8. Organize home library.
  • 9. Write my personal manifesto.
  • 10. Write a will.
  • 11. Scrapbook monthly. only scrapbooked 2 days at event in June
  • 12. Complete Year of Gratitude scrapbook.
  • 13. Learn StreamYard to host sprints on my YouTube channel.
  • 14. Host two Readathons on my YouTube channel (February/May).
  • 15. Read 23 Books that I did not get to in 2022. slow going; I’ve read 6 so far.
  • 16. Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie). slow going; I’ve read 3 so far.
  • 17. Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. started in June; postponed
  • 18. Read The Galveston Diet by Mary Claire Haver, M.D.
  • 19. Revisit Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin.
  • 20. Read Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam.
  • 21. Complete Becky Higgins Classroom: Photo Tips + Work Flow.
  • 22. Complete the WordPress Blogging course.
  • 23. Update theme (layout) for blog.

Other Fun Plans for 2023:

  • #Outside23in23 super inconsistent; recommitted on July 1st
  • 2023 Reading Challenge (Goodreads) 47/75 (10 books ahead of schedule)
  • Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club ✅
  • FOMO Book Club ✅
  • Collabs with Kelsi not as many as last year; The Shining and Year of King wrap up; cohost Old School April (sprints); cohost live chat of Night of the Living Trekkies
  • Frugal February did well for the majority of the month; spent a little moolah on an overnight trip to Orange Beach-room free of charge (had to use voucher in February); visited bookstores, but spent very little on used books; dinner out
  • Birthday Message Project 18 birthdays so far
  • TA-DA List keeping one loosely

Even though I have only completed 7 aims, there are 4 aims that I have been consistently working on (slowly) since the beginning of the year. I have accomplished a great deal on my YouTube channel, my reading life has expanded, and I am making wonderful memories with family and friends. The second half of the year will see a major lifestyle change that will affect my health (hopefully positively), recommitting to some of the aims on my 23 for 2023 List, and a trip to Sicily in September. I am looking forward to the adventures I will be having from now until the end of 2023. Dear reader, what are some aims you reached in the first half of this year? What are you looking forward to accomplishing or experiencing in the second half of 2023? Happiness!

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ~ Aristotle

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A Summer Solstice Reflection

Posted in Happiness Project 2019, Life, Positive Living, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 25, 2019| Leave a Comment »

This year the summer solstice fell on Friday, June 21st. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the beginning of the summer season.  With that being said, Gretchen Rubin and her sister Liz Craft recommended the following “try this at home” on their most recent episode of Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Celebrate the summer (or winter) solstice by revisiting your one-word theme. My theme for this year is COMMIT. Since the year is almost half over, I thought, why not do a little self-reflection and see how I’m doing.

When I chose the word COMMIT, I thought it would light a fire that would ignite and spread throughout all the different areas of my life. Nah, that has not happened.  While I am not earning high marks in every area, I am earning gold stars in a few of them. I am slowly, but steadily, making strides in my house with purging/organizing the stuff that is in it. My hubby and I are making improvements (painting, making repairs, and buying a new bed). Now that I have a new scrapbook room, I am making the effort to carve out time to organize photos/mementos and to finally finish Andrew’s Ireland scrapbook by the end of the year. I have been taking classes to exercise my acting muscle and have signed up for private coaching sessions. And, I am reading at least one book per month on self-improvement.

Scrapbook -Ireland

The STA group in front of the Springfort Hall hotel that they stayed in on their first night in Ireland, and the group exploring the scenic route known as The Ring of Kerry. 

Where am I falling short? Health and wellness. Self-care. I am not referring to avoiding the doctor or skipping annual exams. I am referring to the day-to-day self-care that could improve my life dramatically. I have not been able to commit to daily exercise or a healthy diet (eating clean). Why? Not sure. Since the beginning of the year, I have started and stopped a million times (hyperbole). Three items on my 19 for 2019 list are connected to this area in my life: #4 Lose 19 pounds.; #5 Go to the gym at least once per week.; and #6 Run a 5K. Meh! Unfortunately, I have not made any strides towards accomplishing those goals.

With regards to my 19 for 2019 list, I have accomplished one ongoing item.

#8 Read one book a month for self-improvement. This month I read The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer. Since I was taking auditioning classes with Lance Nichols this month, I thought it would be beneficial to read it. It was an excellent choice. Jenna Fischer is well-known for her role as Pam on The Office. She tells her story about the struggles of becoming an actor with honesty and humor while providing sound advice for beginning actors. How I wish this book had been written years ago when I first started this acting journey! Knowing myself though, I probably would have quit the minute I finished the book. HA! All kidding aside, I consider it a user-friendly reference guide for aspiring actors that I plan to utilize throughout my acting career (no matter how short-lived it may be).

Although I am not accomplishing everything I want or need to accomplish at this moment, I am not going to feel defeated or give up, dear readers. Life is too short, especially at 50 years old. With a bit more self-reflection, I hope to figure out what is obstructing me from moving forward with my health and wellness goals, so I can eliminate it. Have you struggled with any of your goals and figured out how to achieve them? Let me know if you have and how you triumphed. Happiness!

“The truth is: Being an artist is hard. Writing is hard. Acting is hard. Directing is hard. Making music is hard. I know your relatives at home think, How hard can it be? It’s just playing pretend, but it’s hard. Most of the time it will feel like you are pushing a boulder up a mountain. But if you keep going, the muscle that moves you forward will get stronger. You learn to press on even when you don’t want to.” ~ Jenna Fischer, The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide 

 

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