It helps me to write down what I want to work on, or my monthly resolutions, and place the list somewhere I can see it every day. I have this month’s {which is rolling into next months} list hanging on a mini clipboard next to my bedroom door. The list is on top of ten or so other lists; I absolutely love seeing how my goals and resolutions have evolved as I’ve grown and changed. Here’s my July-turned-August resolutions – things that I’m working on, striving toward or in general, just trying to focus on.
1. Wake up before 7am every day: this comes from the 7am monthly experiment I’m doing in July with Zach. We both wake up before 7 am each day in an attempt to make the most of our day – especially those I-wish-I-was-still-sleeping hours. It’s definitely been a challenge, especially on weekends but really awesome to see how those few extra hours or minutes allow me to do a little more each day. Not sure if I’ll be waking up before 7am on the weekends in August though 😉 We’ll see.
2. Be active: walk, gym, swim and pilates 5x/week: In general, I’m a pretty active person but I am trying to step it up this summer. I want to make sure my physical activity level never gets put in second place to work, going out to dinner, etc. I’m trying to spend every day {or at least five days} doing something active, whether it’s swimming, hitting a class at the gym, pilates or hiking.
3. Be generous: studies show that generosity makes people happier, improves relationships with other people and increases your life satisfaction. This summer, I don’t want to live and spend my money just on me. I’m really trying to send surprise gifts in the mail “just because” and give money to a few local missions and nonprofits. I’ve had this idea of ‘be generous’ on my monthly resolution list for awhile and was recently had the opportunity to support amy’s ministry with cru and young college women back in Bowling Green, Ohio. It was the perfect example of how sometimes “being generous” just falls in your lap. God presents opportunities for you to bless other people often without you planning or looking for it. How cool is that?
4. Write meaningful blog posts and letters to mail: I am always going to share blog posts about being happy and enjoying life on this blog, but I also want it to be a place for you to come and find peace and that feeling of “I totally have been there and know how that feels.” I want to be able to pour out my heart and my soul to you and for us to be able to share about not-so-happy things and this learning experience called life together. This blog post about forgiveness and this one about inner beauty are two examples. I also want to get back to sending more handwritten cards and notes in the mail!
5. Belly laugh: self-explanatory, right? I want to laugh deep and loud and enjoy life and the silly moments to the absolute fullest.
6. Live fearlessly: I love this Taylor Swift quote about fearlessness: “To me, fearless is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.” This summer I want to live life fearlessly. I want to choose to live bigger and bolder even when it’s scary. I want to approach each new day and situation out of possibility, rather than fear.
7. Be a loving and supportive big sister: given that I talk about my sisters all of the time, you probably know how much the three of them mean to me. It’s such a blessing to be the big sister of Kerry, Katie and Hope and as I get older, I’m cherishing our relationships in a much deeper and more meaningful way. This July and August, I want to show them how much I love and support them and remind them that they always have a #1 cheerleader here for them.
8. Meet and spend time with new people: Did you ever hear the little song, “Make new friends, but keep the old…one is silver and the other gold”? My mom used to always cheerfully sing this to us girls when we were in a situation to meet new people. This month, I want to spend time with new people and get to know new people that I can learn from, love with and live in community with.
9. Remember beauty flows from the inside out. Always. I’m remembering how important inner beauty is and appreciating that, instead of hair color and body size and what I’m wearing that day. Here’s a few tips for finding beauty on the inside {thanks, Oprah}.
Do you have any goals or resolutions for the summer? Find a few more of my monthly resolutions here. Happy Tuesday!
Loving this post today, Queenie! 🙂 Brightened my Tuesday for sure! xoxo!
Those are all great! Some of mine are: being okay and accepting with where I am in my job search, nourishing and being kind to my body, trying to relax and stay in the moment, and to allow myself to fully rest at night and not worry about the future and the impending moments.
I haven’t made monthly goals just yet, but I’m working on my summer list of things that I want to get done. I like the idea so much that I might do a list for each season. It takes me out of my comfort box and gives me things that I haven’t wanted to do, but something always holds me back.