Ever feel like life takes you on a treadmill, where the speed is a bit random? Sometimes it speeds up where you cannot keep up and start running, and sometimes you can manage at a nice brisk walking pace. That’s what the latter part of 2017 felt like for me. With having a few days off before the holidays, I planned to have a few lot of things completed around the house. It didn’t happen as I was exhausted. I did some thinking instead about what I want to do in 2018 that will be different than 2017. Our lives are crammed with joyful and stressful things all at once. Some we have a say in and lots we do not. I’m thinking about the ones that we do. About the committments that we make without realizing the impact. About the to-do lists and plans and what is actually accomplish-able. We need down time, but our lives don’t have down time built in.
2018 will bring my fortieth birthday. When I turned thirty, I had a rough year, even though in the end it was one of the best years ever. Ten years later, I see the year before me and I am filled with hope. Love my peeps and my life.
My sister is following in Cait Flanders’ footsteps and is going with a 2018 shopping ban. I am joining her in a moratorium on mindless shopping. I just don’t like the word ‘ban.’
I’ve also been thinking about our impact on the environment, and some of my 2018 plans involve minimizing what I have to throw away. Here are my stream of consciousness 2018 goals:
- Get outside everyday and follow Dakota and Pepper’s lead
- Take a photo most days and post it.
- Finish a 31 day minimalist challenge
- Keep only what is useful or beautiful
- Plan lunches 4/5 days of the work week
- Dinners in. Get the kids in the cooking rotation
- Shop for groceries once a week
- Divert all plastic bags and wrap from landfill
- Eliminate most boxed foods and snacks
- Get a weekly Mustard Seed basket
- Save restaurant meals for a special time once a month
- Do not buy any furniture or home accessories in 2018
- Revitalize the emergency fund and save two months’ expenses
- Slay the car loan
- Pay for a credit card purchase the same day
- Visit Copenhagen and the East Coast
I will try to check in every month or so, and see how things are doing. Hope your 2018 feels as fresh and lovely as mine!
