Tuesday, August 7, 2012

august goals.

{photo via Garance Dore}

August, you guys. What on earth is happening with the time? Does it have to do with aging? When I'm 50, will years pass like seconds on the clock? Seriously, what is going on, and why does 2012 feel like it just began, only to end in the blink of an eye?

My July goals got a little shafted, I think, mostly because of the move and the mission trip. I'm sure I'll look back on July 2012 as the month I could have lost my mind, but didn't, thanks, in part to June and all the no-saying I did. Hallelujah for the nos.

An evaluation, then, of July goals:

Swim in the pool/visit the beach. Nope. Didn't happen, not even once, and I'm not happy about it.

Read three books. I read two, but finished a third by August 2, so I'm going to count this one as done. Reviews headed your way later this week.

Get organized. Done to coincide with the move. I've got a lot of thoughts on the mounds of stuff that had piled up in our previous home -- most of them angry and unhappy -- but if one good thing came from the discovery of our hoard-ish tendencies, it's that we got rid of things and cleaned up others. I think we're off to a good start in our new home, which is a success, I think. 

Pack.  Done, and don't think I'm going to let Jordan forget anytime soon I did most of it alone. (Okay, not alone. Moving takes a village, and mine includes a spectacular family and some very generous and kind friends.) So thrilled this one is all said and done.

Give careful yeses. I actually accomplished this one, perhaps mostly because my schedule simply didn't allow for a lot of yeses. I tried to be careful to evaluate what I really was capable of in light of the move, and anything I did say yes to, I did because I wanted to.

And now August's goals:

01. Settle in.
I'm sure you'll find this shocking, but I don't handle chaos well. I don't like boxes milling around, and I don't like a house without pictures hanging on the wall. Our new home already looks pretty lived-in, thanks to my aforementioned village of friends and family, but I'd like to use August for me and Jordan to settle down and continue to make our house a home. I want to empty the last of the boxes and put things in their proper place. Also? I'd like to sit on the couch and enjoy it all.

02. Grocery shop regularly.
The number of homecooked meals we've eaten the past few weeks is so few it's shameful. It's time to get back on track; we've moved, and now there's no excuse for our shoddy eating habits.

03. Be brave/embrace change.
There are changes headed our way, I think, and I want to be able to tackle them with courage and enthusiasm. I don't want to lose my nerve when things get stressful and hard -- and they inevitably will, at least a little bit -- so that's my goal this month.

04. Read three books.
I like this goal, so I'm continuing it from the previous couple of months' lists.

05. Play the piano.
The family piano is officially ours, proudly residing in our new living room and waiting to be played. I'd like to get a new piece of sheet music to inspire me to play; any recommendations of something a little more modern and fun to practice on?

9 comments:

AbbieBabble said...

The best part of your first goal is that you still have August to accomplish it!

I like your "read three books goal"- I've started reading for pleasure again lately (inspired in part by blogs like yours, which remind me how much I love to read), and while three books in one month is a bit lofty for me, I always eagerly await your book reviews!

Chantel said...

I love your goals for this month. Especially "be brave". :) I hope you achieve all your goals.

Amanda said...

Love your goals! You can do them -- settling into a new place is sort of tough, but it's fun, too -- being able to start with a sort of "blank slate."

As far as sheet music goes, my students keep asking for this song called "The River Flows in You" by Yiruma, and I picked it up yesterday. It's really pretty. And I know it's a little old school, but I still love "Ashokan Farewell" -- it was the theme song to "The Civil Wars" miniseries/documentary by Ken Burns. It just has this lovely, moving, and vintage sound to it. And I think the theme song to "The Newsroom" is nice, too.

Kinga said...

I love your goals! I hope you achieve all of them. And I'm looking forward to the book reviews.

Sydney said...

congrats on a successful move!! Good luck with this month's goals!!

Erin said...

If you find some sheet music you love, I'd love to hear about it. My family piano has recently moved to my house as well. I was really good at sitting down a playing for a few months, but I've slacked off recently...perhaps I need to add that to my goals!

Anonymous said...

Yes, at 50 days seem like seconds; ask your dad!

Melissa said...

Annie, I am so proud of you! Keep us posted on your "changes" and we want to come by and visit you in your new home! Congrats to it all! Love you!

Elizabeth @ Love Is the Adventure said...

I'm not 50 yet but I already feel like the years are just flying by and I can't do anything to slow time down! This summer has gone way, way too fast and I am sad about that.

Glad you're settling into the new place alright and getting some reading done!