Goals - Three Month Check-In
Everything three months I try to update the results of my current goals in the hopes that it will keep me on track. So here's what I've done for the first quarter of 2016.
Health - My goal was to get into the mindset to get back on track to being healthy in 2016. I am still dealing with a few personal stress issues and a practical workout issue that have definitely been holding me back. With the help and advice of my personal project manager - that would be the fabulous persnickett -- I am hopeful that I've found a way past those issues now.
So I have now set an 'official' goal. Starting Wednesday (because that's payday) I will be
a. eating healthy good-for-me foods
b. cooking the majority of my meals at home (goodbye take-out, it's been a blast)
c. working out on the stationary bike 4 times a week
I didn't set a stringent weight loss goal mostly because Snick and I forgot, but I'll come up with something next time I meet with my boss project manager. ;)
Writing - I am feeling successful here even though I am down about 6000 words from where I should be for the quarter. I have maintained good momentum, writing 47 days (goal: 42) and for the most part have been happy with my output. My posted word count goal is down (at 46%, goal 80%) but that's because all but 2K of my 17K words in March were toward a big bang that won't be posted until April.
I also have an unbroken writing chain! I have been crossing off my days during the month (black X's indicate writing days, blank squares indicate non-writing days) like so:
And then when the month is done and I have met or exceeded my 14 days/month goal, I go back and fill in the remaining squares. That means it's a true chain, and it looks like this:
It's a thing of beauty.
Movies - Goal: 40 movies, 25 of which must be new-to-me. So far I have watched 9 movies (8 new, 1 rewatch) so I am technically 1 movie shy of my goal.
Movies
08. The 33 (2015) - starring Antonio Banderas, Lou Diamond Phillips
The true story of thirty three Chilean miners who were trapped underground for months during a mine collapse. The company would have let them rot in there, but the people of the town rallied and fought and an untried government official had their backs, and the result was a months-long effort to find and then free them. This is perhaps a simplistic look at the story but it will tug at your heartstrings nonetheless - I think I cried three times! I'm a sap.
09. Spy (2015) - starring Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jude Law
I really enjoy silly comedies so if something makes me laugh out loud repeatedly I consider it a win. This one? Definitely did that!
Books - Goal: 45 books, of which approximately 15 can be rereads. I have read 11 books so far this year (3 new and 8 rereads), so I am on track for this goal!
Books
09 to 11. Wizards and Glass, Wolves of the Calla and Song of Susannah by Stephen King
The 4th to 6th books in the epic Dark Tower series. I had truly forgotten how much incredible detail goes into these stories, and I've fallen in love with Roland, Eddie, Jake and Oy - most especially Oy! - all over again. Having said that, I really do think that "Wizards and Glass" - which mostly concerns Roland's backstory - would have been better served as a companion piece to the main arc: a separate book that you could purchase away from the main story. Yes, there are moments and characters that come up later in the story, but I honestly feel that the only reason Sheemie is a part of the final book is BECAUSE King realized that he had to find a link back to that backstory or else there was little reason for it to have be included in the first place. (I would love to ask him if he'd planned Sheemie's return from the start… though I honestly wonder if he'd give an honest answer.)
I'm excited and super nervous to hear that in May they begin filming a Dark Tower movie. It's either going to be the most amazing thing ever or make millions of fans cry.
Money Jar - I have succeeded in emptying my change purse every Saturday night into my money jar, despite how broke I might be that week. Go me! I'm not going to count it up until the end of the year, but take a look:
Memory Jar - Good times! Things have still been pretty stressful for me this year, but it's definitely been better than 2015 as my colourful little notes attest:
And lastly…
I didn't make it a goal to keep up with all the wonderful people on my flist this year, but I clearly should have. I've been woefully amiss at commenting on all your posts, even when they inspire me or make me laugh or make me awwww over your adorable kitties (I'm looking at you, fansee and katleept!) As I mentioned a few times above, life is still stressful with a capital S, but I will sincerely try to do better in the next quarter. You all are awesome and deserve to hear it!
.
Health - My goal was to get into the mindset to get back on track to being healthy in 2016. I am still dealing with a few personal stress issues and a practical workout issue that have definitely been holding me back. With the help and advice of my personal project manager - that would be the fabulous persnickett -- I am hopeful that I've found a way past those issues now.
So I have now set an 'official' goal. Starting Wednesday (because that's payday) I will be
a. eating healthy good-for-me foods
b. cooking the majority of my meals at home (goodbye take-out, it's been a blast)
c. working out on the stationary bike 4 times a week
I didn't set a stringent weight loss goal mostly because Snick and I forgot, but I'll come up with something next time I meet with my boss project manager. ;)
Writing - I am feeling successful here even though I am down about 6000 words from where I should be for the quarter. I have maintained good momentum, writing 47 days (goal: 42) and for the most part have been happy with my output. My posted word count goal is down (at 46%, goal 80%) but that's because all but 2K of my 17K words in March were toward a big bang that won't be posted until April.
I also have an unbroken writing chain! I have been crossing off my days during the month (black X's indicate writing days, blank squares indicate non-writing days) like so:
And then when the month is done and I have met or exceeded my 14 days/month goal, I go back and fill in the remaining squares. That means it's a true chain, and it looks like this:
It's a thing of beauty.
Movies - Goal: 40 movies, 25 of which must be new-to-me. So far I have watched 9 movies (8 new, 1 rewatch) so I am technically 1 movie shy of my goal.
Movies
08. The 33 (2015) - starring Antonio Banderas, Lou Diamond Phillips
The true story of thirty three Chilean miners who were trapped underground for months during a mine collapse. The company would have let them rot in there, but the people of the town rallied and fought and an untried government official had their backs, and the result was a months-long effort to find and then free them. This is perhaps a simplistic look at the story but it will tug at your heartstrings nonetheless - I think I cried three times! I'm a sap.
09. Spy (2015) - starring Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jude Law
I really enjoy silly comedies so if something makes me laugh out loud repeatedly I consider it a win. This one? Definitely did that!
Books - Goal: 45 books, of which approximately 15 can be rereads. I have read 11 books so far this year (3 new and 8 rereads), so I am on track for this goal!
Books
09 to 11. Wizards and Glass, Wolves of the Calla and Song of Susannah by Stephen King
The 4th to 6th books in the epic Dark Tower series. I had truly forgotten how much incredible detail goes into these stories, and I've fallen in love with Roland, Eddie, Jake and Oy - most especially Oy! - all over again. Having said that, I really do think that "Wizards and Glass" - which mostly concerns Roland's backstory - would have been better served as a companion piece to the main arc: a separate book that you could purchase away from the main story. Yes, there are moments and characters that come up later in the story, but I honestly feel that the only reason Sheemie is a part of the final book is BECAUSE King realized that he had to find a link back to that backstory or else there was little reason for it to have be included in the first place. (I would love to ask him if he'd planned Sheemie's return from the start… though I honestly wonder if he'd give an honest answer.)
I'm excited and super nervous to hear that in May they begin filming a Dark Tower movie. It's either going to be the most amazing thing ever or make millions of fans cry.
Money Jar - I have succeeded in emptying my change purse every Saturday night into my money jar, despite how broke I might be that week. Go me! I'm not going to count it up until the end of the year, but take a look:
Memory Jar - Good times! Things have still been pretty stressful for me this year, but it's definitely been better than 2015 as my colourful little notes attest:
And lastly…
I didn't make it a goal to keep up with all the wonderful people on my flist this year, but I clearly should have. I've been woefully amiss at commenting on all your posts, even when they inspire me or make me laugh or make me awwww over your adorable kitties (I'm looking at you, fansee and katleept!) As I mentioned a few times above, life is still stressful with a capital S, but I will sincerely try to do better in the next quarter. You all are awesome and deserve to hear it!
.