I won’t regurgitate the month of June 2024 since I already reflected on it. In short: end of school celebrations+ a week of deep rest+camping+summer activities.

Now, July.. The way it structured itself (with some help from me) works well. This past week, the first week of July, was all about family: amusement park, beach, library, barbecue, piano, Brazilian JJ, play date, ice cream, Inside Outside 2. R sat through the whole movie, IN the movie theater!

Today is in the upper 90s, so typing this at our county spray park.

County spray park

The next three weeks of July is: CAMP! For both kids! That means I can finally clean up the house, and it will stay clean for longer than 30 minutes. It also means that I will have time to myself, time with T, and, hopefully, time with friends (with those who are in NJ). I don’t have a plan but will follow the typical activities that provide nourishment: meditation, reading, writing, yoga. May even organize a drawer or two.

Mid-year review/ goals realignment

Will only outline what I feel are the “biggies”

First half of year exercise was pitiful. Haphazard weights, haphazard walks. Finally, I signed up for yoga (!!) this week so now that they are taking money out, I will be sure to attend classes.

Community involvement… Also scarce.

I feel like I need to rework these goals… A lot of financial stuff is on autopilot so why do I even have it? Maybe, just maybe, I can cut some of the categories. Right now I have SIX. Could I just have THREE?

Something like:

SELF: put your phone in the caddy, read, meditate, yoga, learning, alone time, blogging.

FAMILY: activities with kids, quality time, dates, movies with T, family travel, house maintenance.

WORK: service to students, new strategies, professional learning, conferences, collaboration with colleagues.

But that’s really VAGUE, isn’t it?

✅, ♒️ (so-so) and ❌

17 responses to “Hello, July + 2024 Mid year check-in”

  1. Michelle G. Avatar
    Michelle G.

    Your county spray park looks like an amazing place for kids! I hope you enjoy your three weeks of kids away at camp. Your chart is very impressive!

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  2. Tina Avatar

    I see a lot of green checks there, so I don’t think you are doing too bad. I agree, maybe go over the list again and adjust. Life is always in flux so just go with the flow and adjust as necessary. I think you are doing great. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just focus on moving forward. Have a great summer, looks like you are already well on your way.

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    1. Daria Avatar

      Aww thanks Tina!

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  3. Lisa’s Yarns Avatar

    You have a lot of green check marks so should give yourself more credit! I don’t really set any goals. I used to but I find that setting goals makes me too hard on myself. I feel like in this stage of life, I can’t ask more of myself than I am already doing which I know sounds like a total cop out. But I am so tired as is!

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    1. Daria Avatar

      Hey Lisa! I also do so much, especially for the kids. I need to move toward more organic goals, like continuous reading, learning for pleasure, and daily movement.

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  4. Nicole MacPherson Avatar

    I think you’re doing really great, Daria!

    My goals are all of the vague variety, with the exception of the novel writing one. Everything else is something like “be in the moment” or similar.

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    1. Daria Avatar

      I am moving in that direction. At 43 I feel like I want to focus more on being present and taking care of my body. I also want t focus on getting out of my head and into my body – hence yoga.

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  5. J Avatar

    I’m also not a big goal person. I’ve slacked off a bit on the fitness, so should do something to make myself a bit more accountable. The yoga I do every day, a walk in the morning I do at least 5 days a week, but I really need to do strength training at least 4 days a week I think. I will start tracking that.

    I saw your comment on Lisa’s blog that you read ‘The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake’. I read that a long time ago (2011) but WOW, did I love it. Glad you enjoyed it as well.

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    1. Daria Avatar

      I can feel myself moving away from big goals… I mean, I am 43, not changing jobs anytime soon or having any more kids. But yes, exercise and healthy living is now at the forefront and I want to make them a priority.

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  6. NGS Avatar
    NGS

    You have a lot more green checks than I do in my goals so far this year! Way to go!

    Last December I got myself out of a volunteer gig that was bringing me down and now I’m not really doing anything in the community and I find myself feeling bad about it. But I also don’t know where I’d find the time. I’m struggling a bit with that right now.

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    1. Daria Avatar

      I remember you mentioned it on your blog. I think I need to define what that “community involvement” means for me. Volunteering? Fund raising? Tutoring? Service? Going to school meetings?… all of the above? I have no clue.

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  7. San Avatar

    I wanna be a kid again and go to a splash park. It’s been so hot here 😉 I also see a lot of green checkmarks so you’re doing good… and maybe yes, if some of that is pretty “automated”, you can simplify the list. I feel like it’s good to focus on the things with which we ‘struggle a little more’.

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    1. Daria Avatar

      Ohhhhh a good point!!

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  8. Sophie Avatar

    Sounds like a great balance of activities for summer! Well done on all your green ticks – I think you’ve made about as much progress as anyone ever can as goals – mine at least, are never all achieved.
    I like your revised list. You can always make them concrete instead of vague putting some parameters around them- you already have one date per month (which is great and I need to institute!), so you could put goals around how often you do each one on if you wanted, so you know what to aim for. Also, good luck with yoga! Hope the classes are great and just what you need.

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  9. rachelinwales Avatar

    I see so many green ticks there! Also I feel like “community engagement” can be so big and vague. Because maybe your community is your friend circle! Or you make people feel good so they can build community. As a teacher you are always building community in the people you teach.

    I hope the yoga goes well. I am really impressed by your goals and commitment.

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    1. Daria Avatar

      Ohh yes. You are so right. Community engagement can mean: parent meetings, school involvement, teacher meetings, volunteering, heck, even participating in a field day is community involvement. Also, community- is where I live or is it where I teach, because those are two different locations.
      Yoga is also community! It’s going well. I am continuing every other day mornings. Each time I show up- same people that live in neighborhood towns= community 🙂

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  10. Reflecting back on 2024 goals – Mom of Children Avatar

    […] July, I reassessed the chart, saw that many goals where just… I don’t know, far-fetched and unrealistic. One coffee […]

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