Intentions Review for July 2022

My Star Word for this year is Solitude. I’m taking it as an affirmation that my introverted tendencies are just fine.

“We are human beings, not human doings:”. I set these intentions for who I want to BE not what I want to DO. As with last year I will hold these intentions loosely, and may add new ones or subtract some of these as the spirit moves me.

NOTE: *indicates intention added in June

1. Traveler – partially completed
   1. Train Trip to Upstate New York – postponed until at least Spring 2023
      1. Summer of 2022
      2. Cost
      3. Start saving now
   2. Northern Washington with Bill
      1. Because of the weather and traffic, we opted to visit Port Townsend instead of Leavenworth. We got pictures of the sound, the mountains, the shore, etc.
      2. Cost – lunch for two
   3. Whale Watching with Al – Al may not go because of his recent medical set back, but we shall see
      1. August – for my Birthday
      2. Cost – tickets for the boat, two nights in a hotel in Port Townsend
      3. Bill and Erika will go with us
2. Content
   1. Habits to keep
      1. Exercise 1 hour a day 5-6 days a week (see 3-C)
      2. Eat healthy food (see 3-C)
      3. Stick to regular schedule of noon meals – mostly good, but not obsessively so
         1. Sunday – eat out
         2. Monday and Friday – meat, starch, fresh vegetable
         3. Tuesday – feed yourself (sandwich, salad, pre-frozen pasta)
         4. Wednesday – soup of the week, or salad
         5. Thursday – pickup Fast Food
         6. Saturday – finish off leftovers
   2. Habits to change
      1. Focus on how I feel when I’m exercising and eating right and try to ignore the numbers – Check
      2. Really listen to Al instead of thinking I know what he’s going to say – It’s a work in progress
3. Healthy
   1. Both cataracts are done. New glasses are in place and I see fine
   2. I’m double vaccinated and double boosted, and so are all my family.
   3. *My new Primary Care Physician gave me a new prescription for healthy living
      1. 5 or more fruits and vegetables daily – generally okay
      2. 1 hour or more of physical activity daily – usually
      3. 2 1/2 hrs of aerobic activity a week – check
      4. 2 days of strength building activity a week – finally got with my personal trainer this week for a program – started last week
      5. 0 soda & sugary drinks – more water – check
   4. *Lose 2 lbs a month before my 80th birthday (will complete the goal I set in 2014).
      1. June 2022 – 3 lbs
      2. July 2022 – .8 lbs – I was definitely on track before Al had to go into the hospital (had lost 1.8 lbs). Then, the combination of no time to cook, and having Bill here put me off
4. Learner
   1. Great Decisions – first Wednesday of every month
      1. Changing Demographics – Interesting, but nothing earthshaking
      2. Outer Space – interesting perspective from others in the class
      3. Climate Change – I led the discussion and everyone seemed to enjoy the conversation
      4. Putin’s Russia – interesting history, but mostly overcome by events and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
      5. Myanmar and Asean – interesting, I guess, but I’m really not interested in that part of the world (I probably ought to be)
      6. Quad Alliance
      7. Drug Policy in Latin America –
      8. Industrial Policy
      9. Biden’s Agenda
   2. MasterClass – I didn’t renew my membership. It felt like I wasn’t using it enough to make it worthwhile.
   3. Read at least 24 books this year
      1. Finish the Inspector Lynley series
         1. In the Presence of the Enemy – Elizabeth George – finished
         2. Deception on his Mind – Elizabeth George – finished
         3. In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner – Elizabeth George – finished
         4. The Sacred Bridge – Anne Hilllerman – finished
         5. A Traitor to Memory – Elizabeth George – finished
         6. A Place of Hiding – Elizabeth George – finished
         7. From Rocket Boys to October Sky – Homer Hickam – finished
         8. With No One as Witness – Elizabeth George – reading
5. Writer
   1. 5 Things that Made Me Happy Today – I’m definitely keeping up with this.
   2. Stories from my Life – abandoned
      1. Publish a story at least twice a week – current events have sidelined me often this month
      2. Okay to use and/or expand other things I’ve written
   3. Memoir (longer form) of our 50th Anniversary Trip – I’m taking a course in Memoir from Senior University – it’s a work in progress
6. Friend – Remember the only person I can change is me.
   1. Accepting Mindset
      1. Try to give other people the benefit of the doubt
      2. Ask questions instead of jumping to conclusions
   2. Introverted actions to take
      1. Send a kind message to distant friends at least once a month – done
      2. Keep up with friends on Facebook – done
      3. Send an email or text message to people who do nice things for me or for other people – done, but not as many as I should.
      4. Keep up with my sisters – weekly on Zoom – done (my lifeline for sanity)