October is in the books! What’s on the horizon for November?
As we say goodbye to October and hello to November, it’s time for another goal check and a chance to connect with the What’s Been On Your Calendar (#WBOYC) crew.
Health and fitness
October progress
In accordance with my overall goal to reduce highly processed foods, I have decided to quit purchasing canned Diet Coke. I will still drink fountain Diet Coke on occasion as a treat, but will no longer keep it in my home. Mission accomplished! I have finished the few cans of Diet Coke that were already in my refrigerator and have not replenished the supply.
Lessons learned
This was actually a pretty easy goal to achieve. I have discovered that as I gradually clean up my diet, I do not miss the items I’ve eliminated. By allowing myself the grace to enjoy treats in more controlled ways, I do not feel deprived and in truth rarely take advantage of the opportunities to splurge that I’ve built in.
November goals
I couldn’t choose between two goals for this month, so I decided to tackle them both:
- Research the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen (regarding buying organic) and incorporate them into my grocery shopping.
- Gently hold space for sleep, rather than trying to cajole or force it.
Watch for more information on both of these topics in future blog posts.
Joy
October progress
Take a photo representing something for which I am grateful each day of the month. Mission accomplished! Here is a small sampling of those daily photos. I posted almost all of the photos on social media, if you are interested in seeing more.
Lessons learned
I have so much for which to be thankful! Of course, I knew this, but intentionally taking photos of a few of those things reinforced the gratitude, and it was fun to share my joy with others.
November goal
Update my Jolts of Joy list and create a Possibilities List…you know, sort of like a Bucket List, but with less pressure. Then incorporate at least one of these items in each day.
Learning and growth
October progress
Continue with the mindbodygreen coaching course. In addition to the weekly coursework, this will include three more coaching sessions, a faculty review, and making up a class that I will miss while I am on a mini-vacation. Mission accomplished! I have now passed all of the skills assessments and the weekly quizzes.
Lessons learned
At the outset, I wanted to do something that would feed into my strengths, but also push me outside my comfort zone. This course has fit the bill. Of course, I have also learned loads of valuable health-related information and gained some practical communication and motivation skills.
November goal
Complete the mindbodygreen coaching course. For November, this means one week of coursework and taking the final exam.
Relationships
October progress
Take a trip to San Antonio, Texas with one of my sisters. Mission accomplished! We had a lovely trip. Here are just a few of the many photos I took.
Lessons learned
I need to travel more, and we need to reinstate our annual sisters’ girls trip! I also learned a lot about The Alamo, which I had either forgotten (despite the warning “Remember the Alamo!”) or never learned in school.
November goal
Send at least one handwritten thank-you note.
Your turn
So that’s what I’ve been up to this month and a little of what I am looking forward to in November. Now it’s your turn.
- What have you been doing in October?
- Do you have any fun plans for November?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
I’ve been to San Antonio a few times and enjoyed it. Your photos remind of how fun it is. I’m glad you got to go. I applaud your organized way of living your life. I am so scattered that I rarely know what I’m doing in the moment let alone in the next month! Which is my way of saying my plans for November are loose, 1 out to dinner with friends, 1 out to lunch with others.
Thanks Ally. My sister and I really enjoyed our time in San Antonio. I am one who likes to have things laid out, but we are entering the time of year where I often feel scattered. Wish me luck! Enjoy your loose November plans. Sometimes those are the best kind of plans.
Hi Christie – it looks like you had a lovely October – and well done on almost finishing your course. It will be interesting to see if you can use what you’ve learned on a regular basis into the future. Lifelong learning is so valuable.
October has been a pleasant month of coming out of winter and heading into sunshine and warmer days for me. November has a few things slotted into the calendar already and I’m sure there’ll be more to add as the weeks progress. Lovely catching up on all your news. x
Hello Leanne. October was truly one of my most pleasant months. Wishing you a happy November!
Happy belated birthday… and that hummus… oh my! Thanks for linking up.
Thank you Joanne. The hummus truly was the best I’ve ever had. It didn’t hurt that we were eating it on homemade pita. Heaven.
Great catch up Christie. Congrats on your course progress too.
Way back when my son was 13 he got to go to Texas for a Tennis Camp and I know San Antonio was where the plane eventually took him and the crew he was with.
Lovely photos making many memories.
Denyse #WBOYC
Thank you Denyse. It’s always fun to explore somewhere new, and San Antonio with my sister did not disappoint.
Happy belated birthday Christie. Your time away with your sister looks like great fun. I loved catching up with your goals. You are doing so well. I’ve always been a goal setter, but have been a bit lazy about it in recent months. I’m planning on setting a few goals for November to kick start me back into healthy habits.
Thank you Jennifer. We did have a good time. And thank you for the encouragement on my goals. I’ve enjoyed choosing mostly small goals in different areas of my life this past year. It was a good approach for me. Good luck with your November healthy habit goals!
I’ve been working more towards trying to limit those highly processed foods in our home and buying/researching organic produce. I have definitely heard of the dirty dozen but not the clean 15 before so I’m off to research that! Your trip with your sister looks like a lot of fun.
Yes, Joanne, I’ve noticed we are on a similar healthy eating journey. As it sounds, the Clean 15 is the opposite of the Dirty Dozen and highlights foods where there is less to gain from going organic.
Good job on finishing up the mindbodygreen course! I know that was a really big under-taking.
I loved our girls trip. Thanks again for going with me.
I’m a little scared for your dirty dozen post, as I think most of my produce is on the list, and considered my “healthy” food. 😬
Love you sis!
Thank you, sister! It’s been a while since I’ve taken an exam, so we’ll see how that goes! I too loved our trip and am so glad you suggested it. The good news about the Dirty Dozen is you don’t have to give up any of those healthy foods you loved. You may want to consider going organic with those, which could be a little tougher on the pocketbook. I love you too!
Hi, Christie – Thank you for linking up with us at #WBOYC. I wasn’t able to get in through the InLinkz but it looks like others have so it likely is just me. I was able to get in easily by going directly to your blog site. No problem at all. It looks like you have had a fabulous October. I totally agree that more travel – especially with sisters – sounds like an excellent idea!
Thank you for not giving up and coming directly to me, Donna. I always enjoy hearing from you. I did have a wonderful trip with my sister and look forward to doing it again.
I like the idea of a picture a day of the small pleasures/joys. I’m not a good picture taker, so this would be a huge stretch for me. I’m getting back into morning journaling again (tough month) and need to restart my daily gratitudes…I like the idea to focus in on a small pleasure of the day. Oddly today was the fact that the last of our “debris pile” was removed from the front of our house. Kinda sad, but yes, it made a difference.
I’m not a great photographer either, Pat, but setting the intention to take a picture daily was a good reminder to watch for all the things that I am so grateful for in my daily life. Another acquaintance of mine keeps a journal by her bed and just writes one word representing what she is grateful for every night. So simple, but a similar result of focusing on the good things that are in our lives. I’m glad your debris pile was carted away. Your state has had a rough go of it these last several months. I wish for you a more peaceful November.
Was that hummus at The Pearl? It looks delicious!! I missed out on that when we were there this summer. Guess we need to go back.
I bet San Antonio does Dia de los Muertos up right!! It is my favorite holiday. Years ago, there was a mercado you could walk to from the Riverwalk. I don’t think it is still open but they had so many wonderful things for the traditional dia ofrendas.
Your nails are adorable. I should start saving money to have regular manis. My nails look SOOOOO much nicer when I do.
Is that your house with the holiday lighting? Our neighborhood has gone wild with lights that look very similar to those. Wish I could get PC to buy some. Going to start needling him about them again. The ones we have seen stay up all year and are positioned under the eaves.
Bravo on eating much healthier. I should follow suit. And on your continuing your work on the mindbodygreen coaching course. Did I write that right?
Have a splendid November!!
Hello Leslie! We got that hummus at Ladino in the Pearl District, and it was delicious! We had a great time in San Antonio. We were a little early for the Day of the Dead celebrations, but everyone was getting ready, and the decorations were amazing.
The holiday lighting is on our house, and it is as you described permanent LED lights set under the eaves. We can change the colors and patterns using our smart devices, so it’s really fun and easy. They were a little pricey, but I’ve gotten so much joy out of them.
Thanks for the encouragement on my health goals and on the mindbodygreen course. You wrote it exactly right.
Happy November to you!!!
Thank you so much for letting me know about the lights. Wish I could find them on a huge sale!! They are so pretty and all of our neighbors are having a ball switch colors, having the lights dance in rhythm to music!! Just crazy.
They are pretty fun, Leslie. I hope you find some for a good deal. I know you would love them!