Intrepid possibilities and what’s been on my calendar in August
“I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities.”
~Whoopi Goldberg

As you may recall, I chose INTREPID and POSSIBILITIES as my 2025 Words of the Year. These two words together describe my intention for the year.
One way of putting that intention into action are my Possibilities Lists. With that in mind, I’d like to share an update on my Summer Possibilities list.
Summer Possibilities list
1. Girls trip at Bryce Canyon. Mission accomplished! For a full description, including photos, see this post.
2. Have my annual exam. Set new health goals as appropriate. Mission accomplished, including the related new health goals:
- Meet with a dietician. Mission accomplished last month.
- Begin taking an iron supplement (ferrous sulfate) three times a week and refrain from donating blood until I have my levels rechecked in three months. In progress.
3. Have my DEXA Bone Scan. Mission accomplished. I talk about the experience in this blog post and this YouTube video.
4. Complete Orangetheory PUSH 30 Challenge. Mission accomplished last month.
5. Finalize fall Mazatlàn travel plans. In progress. We’ve been watching airfare and made tentative arrangements for a dog sitter.
6. Research the best time to start collecting Social Security. Mission accomplished. I have decided to wait until next year when I turn 65 and can apply for Social Security and Medicare together.
7. Learn more video-making skills. In progress. I’m still a beginner, but here is my most-watched video from August.
8. Visits with various family members. In progress. We had several lovely visits in July and have more visitors expected in the early part of September. During August, we traveled to see family. Here are just two photos from the many visits we made.


9. See Wizard of Oz at Tuacahn Amphitheater. Not yet, but I have purchased tickets for a September showing.
10. Check out Dixie Meats. Mission accomplished last month.
11. Hike to Lion’s Mouth Cave. Not yet started. The hot weather continues to be a deterrent.
12. Hike to Elephant Arch. Not yet started. Again, the hot weather has been a deterrent.
13. Take a golf lesson. Not yet started. Again, the hot weather has been a deterrent.
14. Visit St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site. Not yet. No excuses, just haven’t made the time.
15. Maximize pool time. In progress. While the hot weather has hampered some of my other possibilities, it has made this one even more enticing.

16. Visit YouTuber, Matt’s Off-road Recovery. Mission accomplished last month.
17. Complete the Orangetheory Fitness Marathon Month challenge. (For a description of the challenge, see this post.) In progress. I am within one mile of reaching the half-marathon distance before the end of the month. One more session ought to do it.

Your turn
- What is one thing you did in August that made you happy or that you are particularly proud of?
- Do you have any fun plans for September?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.

I always like looking though people’s possibilities lists for ideas! The one thing in August from my long term possibilities list was visiting Washington DC. We spent the majority of the trip seeing monuments and museums. The monuments were way more impressive than I expected. A few we visited both the day and night and had different experiences. And the museums…we really did not have time to see it all.
I really want to make a trip to DC and see the monuments, especially the Lincoln Monument. It sounds like it might take more than one trip to see everything worth seeing.
Christie, Well done checking off items on your Summer Possibilities list, especially health & fitness items! In August I enjoyed exploring a new park and several family gatherings and friends’ meet-ups. Have a great week! #WWWhimsy
Thank you Natalie. Time with friends and family really is the best, isn’t it?
Lots accomplished Christie – and I just cannot believe that you’re a great grandmother! Maybe my two grandgirls will have lots of babies so I get a few “greats” when my time comes – even more joy ahead! x
Thank you, Leanne. Larry and I both married young the first time around and had children right away. Then a couple of our children had babies right away, so we are on the young end of being great grandparents. It’s been a while since we had any babies in the immediate family. I am loving it!
Well done on ticking of your Possiblities. Getting them all done shows that you’ve had a great month. I think you’re going well with your videos. It’s not an easy media to get comfortable with. I’ve started doing my monthly interview series, and still fell like I’m ‘faking it till I make it’. The next one is in two weeks and I’m hoping to feel more at ease by then.
I agree, Jennifer, that video is difficult to get comfortable with and takes some time to really get down. We have to start somewhere right? If we aren’t willing to be beginners, we won’t try anything new. Good luck with your next interview!
Christie, you are a go-getter! I need to revisit my lists and see where I am…not very far, I’m afraid. But, I did do my first public tour as an official docent and will be doing several more before the end of the year! I am currently (as well as everything else) working on a weekend retreat for the women of my church. It’s a program we bought, but I have to “make it my own.” I haven’t ever done a weekend retreat only mini retreats! Wish me luck!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Congratulations again on your first public tour! And I am impressed that you are taking on the responsibility for a weekend retreat. I look forward to hearing all about it. Good luck to you! I’m sure you’ll do great.
Good going here for all you planned, achieved and are still waiting to do. Loved seeing your pics too. I admit at times on a very hot day that I miss having a swimming pool in the backyard. We have no particular plans because we are in Winter moving into Spring. I know I am making good progress with my emotional exhaustion recovery and look forward to getting out and about more.
Lovely catch up.
Denyse x
Thank you, Denyse. Good work on your recovery. I wish you a very happy spring!
You are doing great with your possibilities list! I have so many fun plans for fall– a few shows, some travel plans, and possibly a second trip with my youngest to go see family. He’s been asking for one last trip to North Carolina to see his cousins before he heads off to college next year. We typically don’t go until later in the fall since my parents are up here until Oct. 1st and all our family lives within an hour of each other in the Carolinas.
It sounds like you do indeed have a fun fall planned, Joanne. I love having trips and family activities to look forward to. Here’s to a delightful September!
Hi Christie, you’re sure getting stuff done and you have lots of fun things ahead yet to tick off your list. Hard to believe you’re a great grandmother (she is so cute)! I guess for me one thing in August that has made me happy was our recent revisit to the Bunya Mountains for a couple of nights. It was a different experience this time as we went with all of my hubby’s siblings and their spouses so definitely a memory making trip! Thanks for linking up with us at #WWWhimsy xo
I’m glad you got to make memories with family this month, Min. It sounds lovely. Here’s to a spectacular September…or a pleasant one at least. 😊
My favourite word is possibility so a list of possibilities is a great thing. A list of possibilities with missions accomplished (and I note from your socials you ticked off your marathon mile challenge too) is a truly great thing.
Thanks Joanne. Possibilities is going to be a tough Word of the Year to beat. It has been a perfect fit for me this year.