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?