Intrepid possibilities and a Christmas roundup
“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!
~Audrey Hepburn
As you may recall, I chose INTREPID and POSSIBILITIES as my Words of the Year. These two words together described my intention for 2025. Well here we are at the end of the year, and I can report with enthusiasm that these words and my mantra, “I am open and receptive to all possibilities” have served me well.
In three weeks, I will be back with my Word of the Year for 2026 and my plans for putting it into practice.
But first, one way of putting my 2025 intention into action has been my seasonal Possibilities Lists. With that in mind, I’d like to share a final update on my Autumn Possibilities list.
Autumn Possibilities list
In no particular order, here are my autumn possibilities:
- Get my annual mammogram. Mission accomplished in October.
- Go on a leaf viewing drive or hike. Mission accomplished in October. You can find photos here.
- Hike in Zions National Park. Did not do. I had this activity planned for the week of my birthday, but the government shutdown and Mother Nature conspired against me. One day I will get there, but not this year.
- Prepare yard for winter. Mission accomplished!
- Complete Hell Week at Orangetheory Fitness. Mission accomplished last month.
- Visit friends in Mazatlan, Mexico. Did not do. Sadly, we canceled this trip in the midst of the US government shutdown and the related chaos at the airports.
- Complete Christmas shopping. Mission accomplished!
- Hike to Lions Mouth Cave. Did not do…perhaps next spring.
- Hike to Elephant Arch. Did not do…perhaps next spring.
- Visit St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site. Did not do. Maybe I don’t want to see it that bad, because there’s really no reason I couldn’t have accomplished this one.
- Take a golf lesson with Larry. Did not do…perhaps next spring.
- Enjoy some pumpkin treats. No new pictures, but mission accomplished several times over!
- Make homemade soup. Mission accomplished in September, October, and November.
- Try new local restaurants. Mission accomplished in October.
- Complete Halloween and autumn jigsaw puzzles, and start a Christmas one. Mission accomplished! Here’s the Christmas one.
While the beauty of a Possibilities List is that there is no pressure to tick everything off the list, I couldn’t stop myself from counting up the achievements…I completed nine of the 15 possibilities this season, and I am satisfied with that.
Share your bucket lists
If you have a Fall Bucket List to report on or a Winter Bucket List to share, please link up with the Quarterly Bucket List Bloggers.
Christmas post roundup
I will be taking next two weeks off from the blog, so I thought I’d share a little holiday spirit with you today in the form of a roundup of past years’ Christmas-related posts. I hope you find something here that interests you.
Until we meet again, wishing you and yours peace, joy, and love this season!
Christmas carols: for mature audiences only? | So what? Now what?
I need a little Christmas | So what? Now what?
A new Christmas theme: let it be…or it is what it is | So what? Now what?
Learning from the children this Christmas | So what? Now what?
Give yourself the gift of self-care this Christmas | So what? Now what?
Can we talk? Successfully asking for help this holiday season | So what? Now what?
Your turn
- What’s one thing you’ve done that was particularly enjoyable, or that you are proud of this past month?
- Do you choose a Word of the Year, a New Year’s Resolution, something else…or do you just go with the flow?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
Feature Image by Walt Musekamp from Pixabay
Nice job on doing so many interesting and fun things. (As well as some not, but still important things…thinking mammogram.) I look forward to hearing your new word of the year in 2026. Here’s wishing you peace, joy and love right back! ❤️
Thank you sister! I love you.
Hi Christie – Merry early Christmas to you and your family. Good on you for being proactive and ticking off all those possibilities….and being kind enough to yourself to not make them absolutes. I have one wrap up post next week and I’m done for the year too – I can’t believe how quickly it’s flown by (a sign I’m getting old????) x
Thank you, Leanne. It really is crazy how quick the year has flown by. Enjoy your time off!
My family and I attended Winterlights which is our way of kicking off the holiday season. I count it as an accomplishment because it’s not easy getting four different families to agree to the same night! Have a wonderful holiday season, Christie!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
I’m so glad you were able to get the families together for that special holiday celebration, Marsha. I agree, it’s no easy feat getting everyone’s schedules to coincide.
I was so glad to read of all you have been doing and congratulations on those accomplishments. I am looking forward to feeling ‘more settled within’ after a year I would not wish to repeat.
Thanks so much for your connection on line in 2025.
Wishing you and your family a lovely festive season.
Denyse x
Thank you, Denyse. May 2026 bring you the settled feeling you desire. You’ve certainly put in the work.
Hi Christie, well done on your Autumn possibilities list. 9 out of 15 is pretty impressive (I think I counted right?) and I’m sure you’ll have the rest ticked off before long. I hope you have a wonderful break and Merry Christmas to you and best wishes for a Happy New Year – as after next week I’m on a six week break from blogging. Thank you for your support of #WWWhimsy throughout the year and thanks for sharing with us at #WWWhimsy this week. xo
Thank you Min. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours as well!
Hi Christie. I do love the idea of a seasonal possibilities list, and I’m thinking that I may even use your idea in 2026 – with attribution of course. Well done on ticking so many of them off. You definitely have lived your word of the year and your mantra this year. I haven’t really started thinking about a word of the year for 2026 yet, and not really sure if I will have one. Perhaps something will just occur to me without thinking too hard.
I’m not certain how I will approach my intentions for 2026 either, Jennifer. If you do try the seasonal possibilities approach, I’ll be interested to see how you put your own spin on it. It worked well for me combining the possibilities lists with an underlying WOTY. In the past, I have also tried lining them up with my core values: health, joy, learning, and relationships, just to mix things up. I’m sure you’ll find the right combination for you. Here’s to an enjoyable 2026 for us both!
Oops Christie, I forgot about Christmas. I just wanted to send all my best wishes to you and your family for a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe new year. I have absolutely loved connecting with you this year, and I look forward to continuing with that next year.
Thank you Jennifer. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well! I have also enjoyed getting to know you this year, and look forward to another year of connecting.
I definitely tend to be a go with the flow kind of person, I do make to do lists and goals but they tend to be much smaller more immediate focused. That puzzle is adorable! Other than the government shutdown screwing up several of your plans you really did a great job!
Thanks Joanne. For the first part of my life, I was a big goal-oriented person. In later years…about the time I started this blog…I have focused on being more present and as you said, tending toward smaller, short-term goals and plans. For 2026, I have a couple of larger goals and one life bucket-list item I’d like to accomplish. Other than that, I see myself continuing a focus on celebrating life’s small moments.
I am such list person. Plan is to finish off December list this week!! I also do a word of the year. Helps and keeps me focused. Have a wonderful holiday.
I’m a list person too, Amelia! I do like a Word of the Year as a way to stay intentional without being too rigid. Happy holidays to you and yours!
Christie,
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind words!!
I do chose a word for the year and I already chose mine for 2026 and will be sharing it soon in a post…This year’s word was Hope and all I can say about that is that I hope next year is a better year than the last 2 have been….Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy New Year….
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
I look forward to learning about your word of the year, Debbie. If you think about it, “Hope” is the perfect word for a difficult year…but yes, I hope 2026 brings you some peace. Happy New Year to you and yours!