Intentions Review for June 2021

My Star Word for this year is “Affirmation”. The internet says an affirmation is a positive statement of agreement.

I am a child of God, holy and beloved.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here are my intentions for 2021.

(After the dumpster fire of 2020, you’ll notice I’ve pared down my intentions for 2021, and I intend to hold them loosely.)

Physical Health

• Eat real food. – Check
  • Eat more vegetables – Tomatoes, yellow squash and corn on the cob are “first choice” in my menu rotation. I also make a pot of greens occasionally.
  • Be sure to get 25 grams of fiber every day – Check
• The itch that plagued me a couple of years ago came back, but I got to the doctor and got a prescription for the anti-fungal that worked in the past. It’s basically a memory now, but I was pretty uncomfortable for a couple of weeks.
  • The dermatologist checked me over and add a topical salve to my itch remedy. It really did the trick
• Big Al and I got our second Pfizer shots on February 13th, so we’ve been fully vaccinated since the first of March!
• Al and I met with our new Primary Care Physician this month. My blood work showed my cholesterol and blood sugar was elevated, so rather than add any meds I’ve been more particular about what I eat, how much exercise I get, and I’ll see if I can get those readings down in a couple of months.

Emotional Health

• Remember that I am a child of God, holy and beloved.
  • If I can say it for me, I must grant it to every other person on the planet, whether lovable or not.
• Continue to post “Five Things that Made Me Happy Today” every day on my blog – Check

Intellectual Health

• Expand my leisure reading.
  • Major Pettigrew ‘s Last Stand  by Helen Simonson – finished
  • Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie – finished
  • The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie – finished
  • The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie – finished
  • Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry – finished
  • A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George – finished
  • How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates – finished
  • Stargazer by Anne Hillerman – finished
  • Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg – finished
  • Beneath a Scarlett Sky by Mark Sullivan – finished
  • The House on Vesper Sands – Paraic O’Donnell – reading
• TRY to get over my “outrage obsession.”
  • Listen to NPR – Check
  • Watch Rachel Maddow – Check
  • Follow Heather Cox Richardson for perspective – Check
• Participate in Creative Writing classes here at Franke Tobey Jones – None available at this time.
• I subscribe to the New York Times and try to work the crossword puzzle and read several columns regularly, including the cooking column.
• I subscribe to the Seattle Times and read several of their newsletters.
• I subscribe to the Washington Post. and read several of their newsletters, including Travel, Fitness, and Cooking.
• Support aspiring writers via Patreon and Substack – Check
• Participate in Great Decisions here at Franke Tobey Jones – The session on Africa and China was “okay” but like all of them, suffered for not being current.
• I subscribed to MasterClass. I’m now working through a course from Doris Kearns Goodwin about Presidential Leadership.

Spiritual Health

• Continue to participate in weekly Bible study, and weekly Worship – Check
• Continue with General Assembly Nominating Committee – No meetings yet

Social Health

• Tend the relationships I have at Franke Tobey Jones
  • Wellness Center – Gradually opening up. We are allowed to use the facilities WITHOUT masks if we are fully vaccinated. I also returned to my personal trainer twice a week.
  • Gazebo Group – We seem to be still having difficulties meeting. If it’s not too cool and rainy, it’s too hot to meet outside but the weather should settle down after the 4th of July. I’m hosting a potluck picnic this year, not a barbecue.
• Tend the relationships I have at Bethany Presbyterian Church Bible Study – Check
• Continue to connect regularly with family, virtually – Check

Social Justice

• Participate in Town Halls and face-to-face meetings with elected officials – Not much on this front (not too much need, either.) I follow my local, state, and federal representatives on Social Media and send messages about things that matter to me.
• I have regular contributions to the DNC and my US Representative. I also contribute to reps in other states if they seem particularly outstanding.
• Support the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and MoveOn – Check
• Support the election of officials who are champions for Social Justice issues – Check
  • Climate action
  • Racial justice
  • Health Care Availability
  • Wealth Inequality