I debated getting outside
for a Friday adventure today
but
I am still trying to do
No Spend January
and I knew if if I left home
there was a strong chance
I would spend money
I don’t need to spend.

So I stayed home and
forced myself to start
decluttering
which the big orange house
desperately
needs and it’s starting to wear
on my mental health
so I know it’s time.

But it’s so overwhelming.

Baby steps.
That’s all I am doing.
Bite size chunks.
Til it all gets done.

FRIDAY I’M IN LOVE
♥ speaking of not spending money…heh…I bought tickets for this
I HAD to….Noah Kahan is coming!!!!! and yeahhhhh…I know, I know…no spend January….but this is in SEPTEMBER so…kinda doesn’t count (also I am very good at justification…heh) (plus….#glee)
♥ I skipped to the end to watch this but still my heart was racing for this kid who BEAT TETRIS. also it made me miss playing tetris. which also made me think about dad…and the family sessions of tetris we would have after supper (though the first after supper competition was asteroids. heh.)
♥ I am loving this series. Like….loving with all my heart. It’s so clever and sweet and interesting and has made me laugh out loud.
♥ an unexpected supper with a best friend last night where we laughed belligerently and guffawed and held back tears a little bit and left feeling both belly AND heart full. And yes, I know I said this was a no spend month but I consider filling your social gas tank to be a bit of a necessity.

happy, happy friday to you.
I hope it was out of this world. ♥

Every year,
I choose a word
as my “compass” word
for that whole year.

Some years, it works out very well…
other years, I forget the word
by February.

Last year was cultivate
and I was excited about it…
then life kinda went a different way
for awhile and I had to re-calibrate.
But when I reread this from last year
I think I wasn’t as far off the mark
as I had thought:
”Life is short.
What matters to me right now
are the people in my life…
the experiences we share,
the adventures, the connections…”

This year, I barely had to think about it…
it struck me hard almost right away.
I had thought heal. Or rest.
But then I thought of Dad…
and if I really want a year that would
make me think of him
I want a year full of joy, of delight,
of glee.

So glee is my compass word for 2024.
I want to laugh hard, I want to do things that
excite me and inspire me. I want to
explore and try new things (except food)
and be open to new experiences.

I want to live life
with my arms wide open
and less over thinking…

I want to do things
that give me butterflies
in my belly.

I have a couple of other things
in my brain for the start of 2024:

I am going to do the “75 soft challenge”.

Eat well and only drink on social occasions. (added - track my food)
Train for 45 minutes every day, with one day a week for active recovery.
Drink three liters of water a day.
Read 10 pages of any book a day.

AND I am going to attempt a No Spend January
(and possibly February).
My plan is that I will only spend money on the
things I have to (bills, etc) and on the bare
necessities but no extras.
I honestly have enough self care items
(moisturizers, shampoo, conditioner, candles,
books, art supplies) to last me for YEARS
but I have gotten into the habit
of “treating” myself when I feel
down or stressed….so it’s time to curb that.
And what better time to do than winter?

I am looking forward to 2024.
I hope that you are, too.
♥