Spring 2019 bucket list
Spring is finally here! After a long, hard winter, I couldn’t be happier. Spring means flowers, birds, warmth, and a new bucket list. Before I get too carried away, here is a quick report on how I fared with my winter bucket list.
Final winter bucket list report
Health & fitness
1. Choose a race for 2019 and get registered. This was accomplished the first month.
2. Four weeks of clean (semi-clean?) eating. This was accomplished last month.
3. At least one yoga session a week to improve balance and flexibility. Mission accomplished! I am happy to report that I did not miss a single week.
Joy
1. Visit the Midway Ice Castles. This was accomplished last month. You can see photos here.
2. Make time for at least three sangha gatherings. I attended twice, and I have plans to go again this Sunday, so I’ll call this a win.
3. Pause and breathe. Use washing my hands as a reminder to pause, take a couple of deep breaths, and observe how I’m feeling before proceeding with my day. I have been doing this regularly and it has now become a habit.
Learning & growth
1. Purchase and listen to a French-language audio book. I replaced this goal with listening to French podcasts and TED talks . I’m calling this one “Mission accomplished,” even though it’s not exactly the activity I originally envisioned.
2. Visit one new blog a week. Mission accomplished! Here are the new blogs I visited since the last report:
https://awesomealice.com/
https://favoritegrampy.com/blog/
https://allthelittlebits.com/
https://pandoraandmax.blogspot.com/
http://www.crackingretirement.com/
3. Start querying agents about my book. As you may recall, I changed this item to “finish the book, so I have something to query about.” I have been writing on my novel at least once a week since my last report, though I am not yet finished. I will carry this item over to my spring bucket list.
Relationships
1. Take a weekend trip to visit my mother-in-law. This was accomplished the first month.
2. Celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary. This was accomplished last month. A good time was had by all!
3. Schedule the ground transportation and activities for our upcoming family vacation to Mazatlan. While I have not technically scheduled the transport, I did complete my investigation of options and had email conversations with the company we selected. This weekend, I will reserve the bus. We have talked at length about the activities we want to pursue while in Mazatlan, but we have not actually scheduled anything.
To summarize
According to my calculation, I’ve completed nine of 12 items (including one substitute goal). Two items are well on their way and will be complete before the week is out. One substitute goal will be carried forward to spring. Not bad–not perfect–but not bad. I’m ready to put winter behind me and run headlong into spring!
Spring bucket list
Health & fitness
1. Download a 10k training schedule and get started.
Official training won’t start until early June. In the meantime, I am gradually increasing my running. During April, I will run at least once a week. During May, I will increase that to a minimum of twice a week.
2. Practice mindful eating at least one meal a day.
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.
Joy
1. Set up the patio and spend some time out there!
2. Open up Hawkes Landing, as soon as the weather permits. There is a lot of snow to melt!
Learning & growth
1. Finish the darn novel already! Make the revisions that came out of the editorial assessment and prepare for querying.
2. Complete the updated BlogAid SEO workshops and the “homework” assignments.
Relationships
1. Monthly mindful speech exercises. Watch for an upcoming post on Right Speech for further explanation.
2. Go on the long-awaited, much-hyped family trip to Mazatlan!!!
Your turn
That’s my list. What are you hoping to accomplish this spring? 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 plans in the comments.
Great job on your Winter list, and I hope Spring is just as successful! I have working on my own WIP for my list as well. I’m nowhere near close to finishing, but I want to get some sort of routine going again.
-Lauren
Thanks for the encouragement Lauren. Good luck on your spring goals!
Oh, Christie, I am so proud of your great work on your winter bucket list. Well done. I was so excited that you got to see the Ice Castles this year. I remember how you had hoped to do that last year. Your pictures were beautiful.
I would love to try to run a 10K but not sure that will ever happen. I have registered for a 5K. And might register for a second one. That would equal a 10K, right? Ha!!
Going to try your mindful eating. I have heard of setting the utensil down between bites. But what a good idea to take a moment to recognize and be thankful for the people who are responsible for the food we eat. That is such wonderful idea.
Would your family adopt me just long enough to accompany you on the trip to Mazatlan? Oh, friend, I need some time at the beach. Will look forward to your photos and descriptions of your trip. Have the best time.
The ice castles were pretty amazing, Leslie. Next year, we may try to see them at night when the colored lights are on. It was a tough winter weather-wise, but a good one nonetheless. I think two 5Ks definitely equal a 10K. I used to run half-marathons, but 10K seems to be the perfect distance for me now–far enough that I feel challenged, but not so far that training consumes my life. I’d love to have you in my family. Come on down! We typically have a beach vacation in the winter or early spring, so I’m really missing it now, but come June, I know I’ll be happy I waited, so the whole family could join us. Happy spring!
Oh, I LOVE this idea of a seasonal bucket list! I may have to get cracking on one of my own. Congratulations on completing your Winter bucket list so successfully, and I am honored that my blog was one of the new ones that you visited!
I love the four categories you use for your bucket list. I, too, practice the mindful eating for a lot of my meals. Sometimes time does not allow it, but I do enjoy doing it when I’m able. I think it’s amazing that you are writing a novel! I’d love to know more about that. And I look forward to learning about the mindful speech exercises. I have no idea what that is. Have fun completing your Spring bucket list!
Hello Gale! You should join us in our seasonal bucket lists. It’s a lot of fun and helps ensure I make time for some of the short-term activities I want to do. I’m happy to have found your blog as part of my bucket list.
Hello again, Christie! I just wanted to follow up and let you know that I did do a Spring bucket list and linked it up. I hope you don’t mind that I mentioned you in it. Thanks for the recommendation!
That’s wonderful, Gale. I’ll head over there and check it out. Happy spring!
Looks like Spring will be interesting and fun for you.
Thanks Juhli. I’m looking forward to it. Happy spring!
Happy Anniversary, Christie –
Your bucket lists are always so inspirational. I love reading them.
Enjoy Mazatlan!
Thank you Donna. We’ve been planning this trip for a year. It’s hard to believe it’s only a couple of months away now.
Congratulations on your winter list!! I hope I can check off my spring list as you did for winter. Also, Happy Anniversary, I aspire to reach 20 years…
Thank you Shugunna. Good luck on your spring list and on reaching 20 years! 🙂
You did great on your winter list! Well done, you! Thanks for sharing your spring list. I always enjoy seeing what others have planned!
Thank you Michael Ann. I also enjoy seeing everyone else’s lists. Enjoy your day!
You’re doing great on your winter list — and your spring list sounds wonderful – Mazatlan! Good luck on the novel writing — and enjoy the process. Happy Spring!
Thank you Janet. Happy spring to you too!
Good job on your winter list! And good luck on your spring! Good to hear the book is going along well and you’re still writing! Looking forward to reading it once published!
Thank you Dee. One step at a time. I am sure happy to see spring!
Everyone should have a Spring Bucket List – thank you for sharing yours with us!
Relationships – including letter writing to my grandchildren is on my list.
Letter writing is a great goal. I’ve had that on my seasonal bucket list before. I enjoyed the writing as much as the recipients enjoyed getting surprise mail. Happy spring!