In her novel, The Painted Drum, writer Louise Erdrich discusses taking risks:
“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and being alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You have to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes too near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself that you tasted as many as you could.”
Source: The Painted Drum
In the past two weeks, life has tried to break me. Juggling two girls in college (Covid), a husband in educational leadership (covid), and my educational schedule — which, is facing the 7th schedule in 12 months — has placed me in a spot where I want to jump on a plane and fly south for longer than a winter. I remain thankful for this space, as revisiting my 2012 goals helps ground me while returning my compass needle.
Side note: I’m still excited about Spring Break. That never changes.
01: Get 6 – 7 Hours of Sleep Each Night {Status: 79/84}
One small family emergency ended in a sleepness night with a subsequent day of naps.
02: Learn Calligraphy
Software still sitting there. I did complete a bit of research by following social media channels of other calligraphers. Does that count?
03: Purge 1000 items {Status: 405/1000}
Spring weather makes me want to purge, but I do not have time to tear out a closet yet. So, I purged my social media feed and a few other items. I’ve decided that if I do not learn from you or if you do not bring joy into my life, then you cannot clutter my digital space.
04: Organize the Attic
No progress in this area this week.
05: Read 100 Books, including ALL of the DBC books. {Status: 16/100}
Lots of short professional reads this week…
In Progress
(1) Radical Candor | Scott {Professional Growth}
(2) Culturally Responsive School Leadership | Khalifa {Professional Growth}
(3) Hacking Questions {Professional Growth}
(4) The Ethics of Leadership | Ciulla {Professional Growth}
(5) Coaching for Equity | Aguilar {Book Study, Professional Growth}
Complete:
Pleasure Reading: 16 books.
06: Try 52 New Recipes {Status: 06/52}
Still stuck on this one, but I do have fresh salmon ready to cook tonight.
07: Get in Shape
Here are some specific action steps that I took this week:
Spring challenge begins this week.
For another week, I closed the Activity Ring every. single. day. There is something quite satisfying about these silly little rings!
And, I do love earning surprise badges!
08: #OneMonthGoals with Michael Matera
Last year, I joined Michael Matera on his #OneMonthGoals journey. I ran every single day for a month – and it was glorious. This year, I am committed to selecting (and sticking with) one new goal each month, which I will document here.
January 2021: Day 31 of my Run Streak! {Done!}February 2021: Track my meals on Lose It App {28/28}
March 2021: Select and maintain a proper skin care routine! {28/28}
**I’m adding collagen repair to my regimen! Before & After pics might happen!
09: Write/Send 52 notes/cards {Status: 78/52: Done!}
10: Maintain a weekly blog {12/52}
Here I am!
11: Simplify my life
Lots of progress in this area this week… clearing space, clearing emotional clutter, minimizing connections of social media. I already feel lighter.
12: Organize my mother’s photographs
Still sitting there… still laughing at me.
Secret Goals!
- Secret Goal #1: This one is starting to take shape…
- Secret Goal #2: Parts of this one were assembled this week…
- Secret Goal #3: I have sketched out a paper/pencil plan for this…
- Secret Goal #4: I might just switch this one…
How are your goals going?
Cheers, Holly