Spring 2019 bucket list update #2
We’re another month into spring, the season of new life and new beginnings. It is also time for our second spring bucket list update. So here goes…
Health & fitness
1. Download a 10k training schedule and get started.
I downloaded this 10k training schedule from Hal Higdon, and it turns out official training won’t start until we’ve said goodbye to our spring bucket lists, so I’m calling this one mission accomplished! In the meantime, I have continued my weekly three-mile runs. I have struggled to get the second run in, which I committed to last month. It’s all a matter of priorities. So far, I haven’t been willing to give up one of my Orangetheory sessions to make room for the extra run.
2. Practice mindful eating at least one meal a day.
As a reminder, here’s what that looks like: Before starting, take a moment to appreciate the look and smell of the food. Offer gratitude for everyone and everything that contributed to bringing the meal to me. Then eat slowly, savoring the tastes and textures. Put my fork or spoon down between every bite, chew and swallow completely, before taking the next bite. I have done this most days, though a few times it has gotten away from me. Last month I committed to doing a better job of tracking this goal. I started strong, but fell off later in the month. Overall, I am eating much more mindfully though, so I feel good about this goal, even though I can’t report exact numbers.
Joy
1. Set up the patio and spend some time out there!
Progress! We haven’t done the thorough cleaning we had planned, but Larry did set the furniture out, so I could take advantage of a brief stretch of sunny days. I spent one Sunday afternoon enjoying nature and reading a good book. Heaven.
2. Open up Hawkes Landing, as soon as the weather permits. There is a lot of snow to melt!
The snow has melted; however, the weekend we had planned for the grand opening, it rained and snowed. It’s no fun mucking around in the mud and cold to get things opened, so we decided to wait. With our family trip next month, we will be cutting it close to get this goal accomplished before the end of spring.
Learning & growth
1. Finish the darn novel already! Make the revisions that came out of the editorial assessment and prepare for querying.
Mission accomplished! I finished the final edit. (Pre-querying edit at least. If I should be so lucky as to sell this novel, I see publisher edits in my future.) The point is, I am now ready to query agents.
2. Complete the updated BlogAid SEO workshops and the “homework” assignments.
Mission accomplished! The course is complete.
Relationships
1. Monthly mindful speech exercises. You can read this post on Right Speech for further explanation.
I tried going another full day without speaking about anyone who wasn’t present. Once again, I slipped up four times. This time only one of those had negative connotations. People have asked why avoiding even positive talk is part of the challenge. This is a mindfulness exercise, and part of the purpose is making myself aware of how often I speak about people who are not present–really thinking before I speak. I’ll try this practice once more before our final spring bucket list report.
2. Go on the long-awaited, much-hyped family trip to Mazatlan!!!
The countdown is on! With less than three weeks to go, we are finalizing preparations for activities and meals. I bought a couple of new swimsuits and books for the beach. We’ll order pesos from the bank and finalize transportation to the airport this week. After years of dreaming, and a full year of active planning, this is happening–all 19 of us are spending a week together on a beach in Mexico.
Summary
By my count, I have completed three items, started another four, and have one yet to begin. Hey, I have to leave something for the final report, right?
Your turn
What are you doing this spring (or whatever season you are enjoying in your corner of the world)? We’d love you to link up your bucket list with us using the link below, or feel free to tell us about your spring activities in the comments.
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Shared on GRAND Social and #MLSTL.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay.
Good luck on your 10k training schedule! We all need to practice mindful eating! And we all need some joy in our lives. Snow, mud, and cold – yuck! Yay, you completed the BlogAid SEO workshops! I’m still trying to get thru it. Have fun in Mazatlan!
Thank you for the encouragement Dee!
Congratulations on your great success with your Spring Bucket List. You are very inspiring! Topping it off with a trip to Mazatlan is wonderful icing on the cake!!
Thank you Donna. It’s hard to believe that we are only a couple weeks out from our trip. We are all very excited!
I love the reading on the patio – I like to do that as a luxury! Have a really fab holiday. 19 of you. What fun!
Thanks Lydia. Reading outside is so relaxing. Why is that, I wonder.
Once the 10km becomes a habit, there will be no stopping you, Christie. I try to have two meals a day though it depends on how much walking I do and my mood!! Losing weight is an ongoing battle. #MSTL
I love to eat, so I guess it’s a good thing I also enjoy physical activity. Here’s hoping I can keep it balanced!
Your bucket list is inspiring, Christie! I’ve seen pics of your runs on Instagram! I remembe those running days! Your upcoming trip to Mazatlan really sounds wonderful! Visiting from #MLSTL today!
Hello Terri. I do love running outdoors, but I’ve become less enamored with indoor running on the track or treadmill. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with my 10K training. I am so looking forward to Mazatlan. Counting down.
Your trip to Mazatlán sounds like fun! The weather should be great.
We are so looking forward to it Janis. Family and the beach? What could be better?
Hi Christie, Hal Higdon has been a running guru for many years. I was surprised to see his name again. I followed his training schedules many years ago. Good for you! The mindful eating is an interesting concept. Especially when you say, one meal a day. You are very inspirational, Christie. You remind me how writing down your thoughts and goals helps with accountability and behaviours:) Erica
Hello Erica. Even though I have run several 10Ks, I like Hal Higdon’s novice training schedule, because you don’t run every day, which allows me to continue Orangetheory Fitness, race training, and still have a life. Ideally I would eat every meal mindfully, but I’m not there yet. I know some days I’m going to rush through lunch, and breakfast is typically eaten while I write. Dinner is the one time, I commit to slowing down and focusing on the meal. If you decide to write out your goals as a bucket list, we’d love to have you join us for the Summer Bucket List Link-up on June 21.
You’re going great Christie – I might start trying some mindful eating – my husband and I often comment on how quickly we eat dinner. We do say grace before our meal so the thankfulness part it there, but the pause and chew part could probably use some work! Good on you for upping your exercise level even more. I’m nowhere near that level of fitness, but I’m trying to move more and eat less in my goat towards losing 10kg over the next year or so.
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
Hi Christie. I hadn’t heard of Mazatlan so had to google it. Looks like a wonderful place for a holiday. I really enjoy reading about your bucket list #MLSTL Happy to share
Good morning Jennifer. My husband and I kind of stumbled upon Mazatlan when we were looking for someplace to go when another vacation plan fell through. That was four years ago. We’ve been back six times since then. Needless to say, we love it, and we’ve made some good friends there. Thanks as always for stopping by. Have a lovely day!
Thank you for the encouragement, Leanne. One benefit of slow, mindful eating is you eat less and enjoy it more. That sounds like it would fit in well with your health goal. Thanks again for hosting #MLSTL. I always enjoy it.
This is a great update to read Christie! Congrats on having your book done and good luck in the next phase of it. Your trip sounds amazing! Enjoy #mlstl
Thank you Debbie. At one point, I had decided to set the book aside until I retired and “had more time.” I’m glad I didn’t. It’s exciting to be moving forward. And, of course, we can barely contain our excitement over our trip.
Well done on preparing for a 10km Christie and as long as you are consistent with your training missing a run here and there won’t hurt. Don’t forget to do some cross training as well to give you strength. We have now been in our apartment for two months and you have inspired me to make our balcony a haven. We are lucky to have an ocean view so spending time there sitting in the winter sunshine is very soothing. I like your Speech Challenge but it is hard to remember sometimes isn’t it? Have a fabulous holiday and thank you for sharing at #MLSTL. xx
Thanks for the running advice, Sue. I’ve built strength training and yoga into my training schedule. Congratulations again on your new apartment with the ocean view. That is amazing. As much as I love our mountains, I wouldn’t mind waking up to the ocean. Right speech is an ongoing practice with me–practice, not perfect, right? Enjoy your day! I hope you get some patio time.
I too spent a lovely warm spring day on the patio reading a book….and trying not to feel guilty as neighbors were all doing yard work. It happened to be a Saturday. My yard work had been done earlier in the week, a benefit of being retired is doing a bit of stuff each day and not having a lovely Saturday afternoon filled up with back soreness from mulching for hours!
You shouldn’t feel guilty at all, Pat! You’ve earned the luxury of reading on the patio. Right now we hire someone to do our yard work, so I can enjoy what leisure time I have being leisurely. However, I look forward to puttering around in the yard myself after retirement.
Great job, Christie!! You should be just a little more than a week away from the family excursion to Mexico. Lucky YOU!
Add the 10K to summer’s list. You’ve done the ground work so you can jump right in with it.
Hoping that surely you can get into Hawkes Landing by the time you return from Mazatlan. This spring has been more like late winter in so many places. Our March winds have carried on through May with gust-o!
You are correct, Leslie. We are 10 days away from our trip and everyone is getting so excited! Even more so, with this crazy weather, which as you pointed out, is more like late winter than spring. Thanks for the encouragement on the 10K. I’m sure you will see it on my summer bucket list.