Midyear Review
July 19, 2024
Last winter, after a break, I resumed listening to Happier with Gretchen Rubin, her weekly podcast with her sister, Elizabeth Craft. At that time they were talking about their “24 for 24” lists, their alternative to New Year’s resolutions, and encouraging listeners in this process. I’d drafted these lists before (“21 for 21,” etc.) but my interest in them fizzled out. This year, “24 for 24” sounded like a fun challenge to set some ambitious intentions. I took time and care to create my list, wrote a clean copy in a notebook I love, and committed to doing the things.
For the June 26 episode Gretchen and Elizabeth observed Halfway Day (July 2) by reviewing their lists to see where they were on or off track, and why. Given that I’d hardly glanced at my list since I wrote it, I thought the midyear review was a good idea.
Some guiding questions: How does each intention support my personal growth, relationships, physical health, spirituality, community, vocation, and joy? If I haven’t made progress on an intention, is it realistic? Is it a “should” or do I really want it?
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
The List
Make a vision board—barely started. Last December I promised a small group of friends and accountability partners that I would do this for the Winter Solstice. I put it No. 1 on this list. All I’ve done so far is collect a few pictures from magazines. Apparently, before I can make a vision board I need to figure out what vision means to me. It’s also my word for the year.
Read 24 books—one-quarter done. This is a newsletter topic in itself, my general lack of book reading and the embarrassment I feel about that. The main problem is too many activities and interests. Also, although I’m disciplined in some areas, for reading and learning I have a lot of curiosity and desire but little discipline. This year, I’ve finished six books so far.
Go on a weekly Artist’s Date—not happening. This basic requirement of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way is something I’ve always resisted despite agreeing with its value. The problem isn’t only devoting the time for a creative date by myself. It’s that I’m not very creative about outings, and the few artist’s dates that I’ve had—exploring a block of antiques-and-artsy shops, visiting a gallery, hanging out in a bookstore—haven’t felt worth the time spent.
Visit four art museums/galleries—same issue as with the Artist’s Date. But I’ve visited at least one, in Asheville last month, and enjoyed it. I wasn’t alone, and maybe that made it more fun.
Take Gretchen Rubin’s Habits for Happiness Quiz—done.
Also take Rubin’s Five-Senses Quiz—done.
Take a Spanish conversation class in the spring semester—done. This is a continuing class on Zoom, offered by my local community college each fall and spring, with the same teacher and mostly the same small group of students.
Take the Spanish class again in the fall—planning on it.
Walk/hike 1,250 miles, an average of 25 miles/month for ten months—I’m nowhere near this. The hiking on my four-day backpacking trip totaled only about 27 miles. I generally walk about 15 miles per week.
Swim two times—I set this bar appropriately low, with the goal of getting myself to start swimming again. I swam laps with a friend I visited in Florida last spring. It was a huge struggle at the start, but I felt wonderful by the end of the half-hour swim—proof that I need the cardio work. This week I bought a pool pass at a public recreation center that recently opened near my home, so there’s no excuse not to do that second swim, and more.
Make four watercolor paintings—haven’t started. In January I joined Wendy MacNaughton’s 30-Day Drawing Habit, and actually did the drawing prompt most days. The habit didn’t stick, however. Although WendyMac is very clear that DrawTogether is a perfectionism-free space, what stops me isn’t perfectionism, but the belief that I’m not capable of anything better than terrible. I think I put watercolor painting on my “24 for 24” list because it seemed easier than drawing.
Buy a bass clarinet—I’m actually close to finishing this multistep process. In May I attended a manufacturer’s showcase and tried out a bass clarinet from a new product line and was impressed with its quality and price. I was told it would be ready for sale in summer, so a few weeks ago I emailed the showcase coordinator, who replied that the instrument is now available for pre-order. Next step: contact a manager at the music store from which I’ve been renting a bass clarinet for the past year, and which conveniently is a dealer for the one I want to buy. I’m waiting for a call back. (Hello? I’ve left messages that I’m ready to purchase an expensive instrument from you, and you’re not returning my calls?!)
Take a short course at my church—done. I think I put this on the list because I was already in it, so it was an easy check-off. The February class, taught by a woman I like and respect a lot, was on the topic of “call,” a fundamental concept at my actively progressive little church. As described on our website Home page, “We believe God calls each person to a place of need in the world. Young or old, regardless of experience, skills, or education, despite our past successes or failures, God calls each of us to a life of love and service. This call may take root in workplace, community, family, or nature. We may be called to art or advocacy, law or homemaking, building relationships, or deconstructing oppression. The call is always bigger than we are, but as we find support from each other in our spiritual journeys, we can dare to say ‘Yes!’ to impossible undertakings, to fully imagining and living our unique and precious lives.”
Invest in socially responsible funds—done. After holding this intention for several years, I finally took action: first, attending a workshop hosted by my church with the Faith & Money Network, then contacting Calvert Impact Capital—which is NOT related to Calvert Equity Fund or any other Calvert investment company. Creating an account and transferring funds to Calvert Impact proved remarkably easy.
Clear out my parents’ dishes—in progress. Prodded by my midyear review, I paused this writing to spend 25 minutes unpacking, arranging, and photographing a few pieces of my mother’s Franciscan Desert Rose china set. The end goal is to unpack and inventory all the dishes, then figure out how and where to sell them. Of course, I’ll have to repack and label each dish. Unlike No. 14, this project is neither quick nor easy.
Ride my bike 24 times—one done, 23 to go. My goal here is to do a lot more of my short-distance commutes by bike. A couple of years ago I bought a used Trek hybrid bike from a neighbor. It’s perfect for my purposes, and I love being upright on it and feeling much more secure than I do on a racing bike. However, I still have some mental blocks to overcome, such as the inherent conflict between this goal and walking (No. 9), plus the fact that it’s impossible to go anywhere in my neighborhood without climbing hills.
Update my website and figure out how to connect it with Substack—not done. I finally had a decent website in March 2023, after several years of trying to figure it out on my own, then working with a coach and a professional designer. All I wanted was a place for my blog, as I didn’t have anything to sell (still don’t). Then I learned about Substack, started writing there, and discovered that people actually found my posts (like you, reading this, thank you!), which wasn’t happening at my website. Now I just want to connect the two, so that anyone curious about my previous blog (started in June 2020) can find it.
Actually do the online course in drawing that I purchased years ago—not started. I’ve heard that between half and 90 percent of people who purchase online courses don’t complete them. I’m one of those. I probably put this on the list hoping that Wendy MacNaughton’s 30-Day Drawing Habit (see No. 11) might inspire me to return to my hardly-touched course with more confidence.
Visit my brother Steve and his family—Recently I wrote about my older brother, David. Steve is my “little” brother (seven and a half years younger). Due to circumstances that I might write about in the future, Steve and I did not grow up together. Over the past year I’ve gotten to know him and my sister-in-law, Chris, and their daughter and son-in-law and the grandkids, and I adore all of them. We all got together in June in Asheville, N.C., at the end of my backpacking trip, and my Dear Husband, Daughter, and Son also came. Chris calls it a “Family Union”—it can become a “Reunion” next year. It was a wonderful time. I hope to visit Steve and Chris again at their home before year’s end.
Go on a meditation retreat—not done. This is a “should,” and maybe I really should do it, but I know that sitting and meditating for hours isn’t something I want to do. What I really want is to go on my own solo retreat, and Nic Antoinette has created a helpful, free workbook for planning one.
Beach trip—not yet; I’m waiting for cooler weather. I can drive to a beach in an hour—the Chesapeake Bay, not the ocean, but it counts. I also want to go to the ocean, a three-hour drive, which makes it more than a day trip. I just have to convince myself to take the time for it. How could a trip to the beach not be worth taking the time?
Hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park—done!
Spend a few days backpacking on the Appalachian Trail, southbound from Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park, the end point of my two-week hike in June 2019. I would love to hike more of the AT, but I’m still figuring out my relationship with backpacking, especially alone. My Great Smokies trek last month was totally worth all the work, but it was a lot of work, even with a lot of help from my fellow hikers. Right now, I’m not feeling the energy for another major hike this year. I’d rather go to the beach.
Wild Card—I left this last one open, and it’s a good place to add something just for fun. Some interests I’d like to explore or renew are crochet, photography, astrology, and tarot. What are you doing for fun? Please tell me in the Comments!
