13 for 26???
Remember how I was going to “celebrate” the 12 Days of Christmas? Hahahaha. It started off great! I did NOT get depressed on the 26th (as I usually do) and sailed right into New Year’s feeling pretty good. Is there any way to get through the whole 12 days feeling celebratory? If so, I haven’t found it. I ended the last few days fighting the usual post-Christmas blues. I’m in the process of Grinch-ing the house- all the big stuff is done, but it’s a huge job since I decorate very “thoroughly”. There are Christmas towels, pillows, shower curtains, pajamas, shirts, socks… lots of laundry to be done before everything is put away. One thing I do enjoy is post-Christmas shopping. I got wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and a new wreath for the front door. The old wreath was so shabby, I felt like it was an insult to the community. Everything was 60-80% off! And, I finally found the time to sit down with my new planner and get some New Year energy going. I started a “26 for 26” list but only got to #13: Read 75 books Complete a 60 mile run (planned for 60th birthday, but if that doesn’t happen for any reason, will be done at some other point during the year). Put a serious focus on strength training April-August (assuming 60 mile run is completed in March). Read “Why We Sleep.” I really need to sleep more, and I’m hoping this book will scare me into making the necessary changes. Send all of Engie’s postcards- as part of my Secret SANta present, Engie included blank postcards with the instructions to mail them all! Have one “adventure” per month. Watch Season 2 of Severance. Teach Angie to meal prep. Once a month date with husband (can be double date). Get nightstands/lamps for bedroom. Get a new dining room table. Mail Christmas cards in November. Ahem. Bake (and freeze) Christmas cookies in November. Now I’m stuck. I can think of other things, but they’re all things I know are going to happen anyway. Like “buy dress for Paul’s wedding.” This is going to be a project, but it’s something I HAVE TO DO, so it seems like cheating to put it on a goals list. I can also think of some goals that are much too vague, like “eat better.” What does that even mean? Is it pressing enough to make it a goal? I don’t know. Reading 75 books will be a stretch, since in 2025 I read 63. But having it on my list is helping already- I need 6.25 books per month, so that’s gone onto my monthly goals list, and I can also think about it on a weekly basis. I’m starting to see how SHU’s “nested goals” system works! Do you have a list of goals for 2026? Does anyone else feel like the world is suddenly blah and un-sparkly, or is it just me?