December Report Card: 18 for 2018

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I feel like I just wrote my 18 for 2018, so it’s hard to believe that we’re dangerously close to 2019. Before I finalize my 19 for 2019, I figured it would be wise to reflect back on the 18. Read on to to see what goals I met, where I fell short… and which resolution I actually forgot I’d made, despite having documented it in a blog!

Where I get an A+

Plan fun birthday adventures for both kids: Big checkmark on this one! We went to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum when Dude turned 1, and just got back from DisneyWorld which was to commemorate Bean’s 5th birthday. 

Backup all the videos on my phone: Done! My approach to doing this was taking a long, long time and before the Disney trip, my husband managed to handle it in about an hour. I was so grateful because I wanted to have plenty of room on my phone for Disney videos and photos.

Try watercolor painting: Done! I’m not any good at it, but it’s fun and my daughter likes that we paint together now.

Take my daughter to an indoor trampoline park: Done! We did this on her 5th birthday as well. 

Find a new physician: I’m not sure I deserve an A+ here, though technically I got this done. I did find a new physician who seems like a good fit. Have I actually scheduled my appointment with him yet? No. Do I know where I can find him? Yes. I didn’t intentionally write this goal to be vague but in this case it’s to my advantage 😉

Organize our laundry/storage room: Done. It’s not an interesting story, but it’s done.

Do the splits: It’s a lot more painful than it was 10 years ago, but I can do them again thanks in large part to a nightly stretching routine.

Leave room for fun: It’s not scientific, but I get a 100% here. This year was less than ideal in many ways but I can still think of a lot of fun we had this year. My instinct is to schedule every spare minute, but that pushes out all the fun. We had big fun but I also left open moments for fun to find us.

Fails

Read the Harry Potter series: I get an F. I did an ok amount of reading this year but never made it to the Harry Potter books. I really do want to know these stories, so I’m not giving up on it.

Go to a float tank: Did not go. Kind of ok with it.

Do more than think about and debate the need for stricter gun laws: This one bothers me because it’s something I truly care about. I didn’t do as much as I wanted to though. I voted for candidates in the midterms who support common sense gun laws, but aside from that, I just thought and debated and, honestly, worried.

Grade: I don’t know, somewhere in the middle maybe?

Plan a date with my husband that isn’t dinner: This one sadly didn’t happen. I had every intention of doing it but life kept getting in the way. In truth, neither my husband nor I made dates enough of a priority this year. We squeezed them in when we could, but it was often at his mother’s urging! (She baby-sits our kids three days a week and will sometimes text us that she can stay late if we want to go grab a drink.) I’m addressing this in my 19 for 2019, which I’ll be sharing soon!

Update our legal documents: In progress!

Learn basic ASL: I get like a C- here. I learned the alphabet and a couple of words, but I certainly wouldn’t say I know basic ASL yet. Something to strive for.

Complete part 1 of the presidential reading challenge: Ha, so, funny story. I have done absolutely nothing on this since my April progress report because I thought I’d decided to abandon this goal. Apparently I said I was still going to give the biographies a chance for about 50 pages… not much left to say here. I didn’t do it, but I think it was the right choice. I’m trying not to waste time reading things I don’t truly want to read.

Try aerial yoga: In progress! My cousin has agreed to go to a class with me and I’ve picked a studio. Just need to set a date!

Prepare more thoughtful birthday gifts: I don’t honestly remember what spurred this because aside from the kids, we don’t really give birthday gifts.

Convert to a greener beauty routine: I’m off to a good start here. I still use these products and I’ve also switched all the body lotion in our house to green options, like this one, this one and this one. As other personal care items in the house run out, I’m replacing them with better options.

What’s next?

I really like this approach to resolutions and goal-setting. You can create any combination of lofty goals and quick to-do list items. I’ve started drafting my #19for2019 and will share them on the blog soon… probably right at the start of 2019 from my couch while watching Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve with Ryan Seacrest. (One item NOT on my 19 for 2019 is partying… not my style.)