It finally happened. We are finally in it. It is February. Are you excited? I am...maybe a little. Now I don't want any offhand comments about it being the shortest month of the year for a reason, or it is the last month of the winter, or any other pleas that you may have about it being the worst month. I am trying to keep a brighter perspective, as I think we all should. Goals such as this one I find to be particularly enlightening. Now I don't expect February to be a dam that is expected to flood over at any moment if I am ungrateful or that starving being that is parched on their last day yet they should have all the sustenance in the world, they just don't know how to use it justifiably, or what comparison have you? I just think being ungrateful, even for the things that are hard to be grateful for, like February, is a quick and sure passageway to doom (or a place that sure feels like it).
1) Read at least 3 books. In case you don't know me or we haven't had the pleasure of actually meeting yet, here is one vitally important fact about me: I am a bookworm. I have been my whole life, I fear. I enjoy being transported to worlds very different or not all that different from my own by the words on a page. I was the kid in class that always finished the class reads in English class before I was supposed to (in my defense, I couldn't help it; I had to discover Wilbur's fate and hopefully save him (in a way) in Charlotte's Web or readjust what happened to Brian at the end of Hatchet). And, get this, some of my teachers didn't support me in my love of reading...I guess that makes sense because I was the only person in the class that knew what I was supposed to know long before the rest. I guess looking back and hearing it like that, it does make sense because since I knew, I had to be more exclusive in the literary conversations that I could participate in. I can just see me know, wanting to say everything in my colorful reading classroom yet able to say nothing because I knew far too much. Here is a summary: I LOVE to read. You can't stop me. Many have tried (I don't know if I'd say many...), and none have succeeded. I am a fast reader too. (It could be this reason why I beat the rest of the class in our class reading.) Not to say that I do nothing but reading (if only I could...). This is more of the long hand way to say that I am in a book club that reads about one book a month, that goes with the theme of the month (for February, we are reading a romance, need I say more?). Though I love to read, I don't always love the book of choice that I feel that I must read, because of said club. So, I decided to make a goal out of it (and added two other books for kicks and giggles) (I can't help myself). True, I may not enjoy every book that we read, but my book club helps me see into others' viewpoints and opinions, and that is all I am trying to humbly do. (Maybe I should've challenged myself to read four books...)
2) Workout each and every day. Here is another nip-in-the-bud fact about yours truly, I try and work out several times, or more than once a day/. The jury is still out on the statement of whether I like it or not, but it does aid in helping me to relax, oddly. It is a good thing to do if I nothing to do (and I can read or watch a tv show/movie at the same time if I am on the treadmill). Some of my workouts are particular to me, because the right side of my body doesn't work as well as the left side, because I was in a car accident several years ago, but I don't like dwelling on the past (it is a sad story, does that do for an explanation?). Not to complain, I am leaps and bounds away from how disabled my body used to be right after-a few years after the car accident. I am very grateful, but I also know why I may use that statement. I sustained a habit of working out, no matter how tired my body seemed or tight my muscles were. It has been a long journey (and the destination seems to be getting further and further away-I am grateful for how far I have made it still). I also need to figure out how to work out on my very own and learn to be diligent with those workouts too. That is why I create this goal. I can't do anything and expect something to happen, that is unrealistic. I need to learn to work out on my own warrant, kind of like I was the last person on earth, and had no one to blame but myself (and God, but that is a different conversation). If I was the last person on earth, I would still yearn for recovery, that is why I create this goal to learn to work out each and every day.
4) Bake Valentine's Day cookies for book club. This is also a secret fetish and a secret weakness (well, maybe it's not so secret, at least anymore): I love to cook anything, particularly cookies. Also, I must say that the picture of cookies right beneath this goal and said paragraph were not cookies that were baked by me. When I was thinking of this baking goal for February, I happened to be shopping, and therefore noticing that sugar cookies alone were cheaper than all the ingredients that I would have to buy to make the masterpiece of sweetness that cookies (or muffins, call them what you want) are. Side note: I also HATE spending money. I just had a thought, Michael, if you are reading this, making Valentine's Day cookies could be an activity during a date that we plan on having later this week. I promise to do what I can to help, no matter how much I love the smell of sugar, plus watching you work. 😉 That brings the second thing standing in my way. Ever since this COVID-19 craze hit, my book club has had to do virtual meetups through Zoom, over the internet, or just by posting something on our Facebook page (newly created by me) because we find ourselves at a handicap, and are unable to meet. If you happen to be someone who knows the worse side of COVID-19 and really understands the reason for all the shutdowns, I mean absolutely nothing negative to you. The Facebook page that I recently started for my group has made it do things that I thought it would never do. It reminded me that we're all in this together because some of the club's members are in Utah, Idaho, and even other countries, like Australia (please join so that we may continue the spread...and books are awesome). We can all be one, though we are several miles away from each other. So, I'll be posting what I bake on Facebook, and encourage you to do so too. Also, on a different note (sort of), how many people had to actually learn how to bake because of this pandemic?
5) Try a new Pinterest project. Most women (and men, now that I think about it) have lost track of time pinning away at delicious treats, outfits, arts, and crafts on Pinterest only to forget about it later. I certainly am guilty. My mind works in an if you want to do it, do it now sort of way and if I don't do it then, I'll forget about it entirely. Not to say that I am lazy, you should see all the things I have sewn, knit, and/or baked throughout my lifetime. I think that my particular issue with this is what makes me human, rather than just the simple fact that I have a bad memory (what was I talking about again?). I think everyone wants to move the world in a good way (at least a good way, it seems, from their perspective), but things like work and school tend to always be getting in their way. I am not saying that the items of work and school are necessarily bad, without them the world would be void of money (everything going to the rooster), determination, and education (I can make a rhyme anytime). I am saying that everyone should have the chance to work on their own dreams because those things could move the world. How do you think Facebook started? It started simply (well, as simply as things can be that start at Harvard). In 2004, a group of friends created a new social media platform with the goal to connect Harvard students through an online community (don't see the movie, I don't like all versions of this story). In other words, it started small, and had no idea how large it could, and did become. That is what I mean, I'll start a dream with a Pinterest project, who knows how large it could become (though I don't gander that it will be anywhere near as big a deal as Facebook is)?
6) Daily flossing. As you most likely already know, I am human and humans make mistakes (all the time, if you happen to be like me). One common mistake that I make is that I commonly forget to floss. My dentist has already talked to me about this; how it weakens my gums and is bad for my oral hygiene, and yet I still commonly forget (nevermind this, I am only human). That is why I make this a goal. I need to dedicate this to my memory better because it is preventative oral care, prevents tartar buildup (that is what it is called, look it up), prevents bad breath, is more effective than brushing alone (darn it), and prevents gum disease (bingo). I know that this should already be a habit, but it isn't. At least I noticed it, and that goals help me sometimes.
