Recapping the year - what worked! It's almost New Years!!!

[Lady Maverick]

Good morning

I’ve gone down a couple of rabbit holes today, following links posted here. I really enjoy having a loose schedule over Christmas break, with the luxury of extra time. Yesterday was the first time in 66 days that I didn’t follow my hourly pathway steps. It wasn’t an intentional decision to skip the cards, but without planning for it, I dove deep into a couple projects that ended up consuming hours of my attention. While I used my time productively and accomplished a lot, I didn’t like the feeling last night of not knowing how many things were left undone. This morning, I was eager to jump back into the structure of my hourly pathway steps.

I’m putting together a list to answer the question, “What brings me joy?” and will use it as a guide to shape my plans for 2026.
I want to be intentional about how I spend my focus and time. So far, I have eight things listed that bring me joy. If it is not on my list, then I want to put serious thoughts toward eliminating or reduce it from my life.

[Nancy]

I have found individual containers of one serving of cottage cheese yesterday I did not know
they made those! I was excited to learn that.
I have read a lot I started with just three pages at a time when I began.

Tossed out some items in the kitchen that needed to go!
Found my note card with ideas to write out.

[Twins' Mom]

FrenchFlyBebe, I printed it off...perhaps doing parts of it, a little at a time, will be useful for me.

Yes, Mystery, 30 lbs is wonderful!

This has been an interesting year with dh retiring on 30 June. It was a vast improvement over 2024, when I broke my wrist in April and had the surgeries, PT and recovery. But it's not been without challenges, as you guys have probably heard every day.

I need to get distance from the party prep and have some downtime for reflection. I think I say that I need some time to reflect and plan every new year, and then I get into the heat of being normal again and never get to it. You know what they say about the road to hell being paved with good intentions?

I'm going to pick up dh's bourbon around 1:30ish today. I'm kind of flying by the seat of my pants today because no time for planning yesterday/last night. Three things for the day.....kitchen/DR back to normal after party, list for the rest of the week and going forward, and dh birthday (pick up bourbon, wrap another gift, dinner out tonight.)

December is always a crazy month between holidays and birthdays. I need to leave myself space next year. I know Hanukkah falls earlier in the month next year. When kids were growing up I always liked it when Hanukkah was closer to Christmas. Fewer conflicts with school activities and finals. Now, I think it's probably better with some space, especially with birthdays too.

I did two HOA checks this a.m. - they need to be mailed today. I'll go to post office and also check the HOA box. And I need to send HOA email re: billing HOA dues at the first of the year.

I'm thinking that I need move my "accounting" office upstairs. Dh was on the phone non stop this a.m. with birthday phone calls and my attention suffered. It's an adjustment but OTOH I suspect he resents me disappearing upstairs too.

[blessedw2]

hello - I have add a 3 x 5 card for this month - why? Why am I doing....
on the holidays - there was a lot about the feeling of christmas - which was wonderful - I wanted a feeling christmas - but I found myself trying to do house, holidays etc. - everything - December has to be very simple for me.
One of my why- why do I keep asking my family what they want - I got stressed by it. What to do instead - I will ask once and then let it lay in their hands.
having a small fake tree was nice - I might think of replacing the real -bigger - tree with an artificial tree

stuff of others is another thing that we have to address - dh and are thinking of adding an end of summer dejunking time again - room by room. with dd younger, d mom, etc. living here - we have been inundated by stuff. Thanksgiving and Christmas is not the time to bring a bunch of stuff in.

[Twins' Mom]

I'm back from my two errands. Post office and pick up of dh's gift. It's in a gift bag and stashed out of the way. I also just wrapped his other gift. So I'm set there. I'm glad he wasn't home when I got home so I had a minute or two.

Before I left I washed up some of the things that need hand wash. Still have some to do. The DR is back to order. I need to empty the dishwasher too. Never did that this a.m.

I need some down time too. We're due at six p.m. at the dinner restaurant. I told dh I'd drive tonight.

[blessedw2]

hello d twins! I am glad those 2024 experiences in the past for you!
downtime sounds like a good idea for reflection! Space for yourself is a great idea for all of us!
oh happy belated birthday to your dh!!!!!
take some time for yourself! enjoy dinner tonight!

hi d Nancy great on finding those cottage cheese individuals
yay on finding your note cards
praying for your family member

hi d French Fly bebe!

hi d cathy yay on emptying dw and washing pots and pans!
how sweet of your d kitty sleeping in your laundry basket - I miss that now that we don't have cats anymore.

hi d lady so happy you enjoyed the loose schedule! yay on jumping back into structure of the hourly path. When I follow your suggestion; I feel less stress.
what a great idea - what gives you joy list!

d mystery 30 lbs is amazing!!! good for you!!! so happy you found an ADHD meds that worked for you as well!
good for you on finding a way to discuss what you need! it's a good thing!!!
those waves are large too - I will say 30 is something else though!

hi d harriet! waving - can't wait to see you again!

hi d Lucy!

[Nancy]

Family member is out of surgery it went well says thanks for the prayers.
Walked with ddoggo saw code enforcement officer yea hoping he can make the house with too many ski sea doos move em out of the
way on the street. Saw two deer too, and house with two loud German shepherds that bark loudly have moved out dogs are gone.
For sale sign is gone too. Lovely sunny day 41* F. out a noonish.

Got quite a bit of reading done.
My orders came yea!
Changed out discs on a happy planner & looked over my work book.
Other Planner is a bit bent do i\I've weighted it under books for now.
Might take discs. off and have it get more flat with out them and just as refill pages and parts for other planners.

[Lady Maverick]

Making incremental changes...... Some things that have worked have seemed almost silly

Mystery - I am so very happy for your successes and discovering changes that are helpful.

I am thinking through the 9 items that are on my "What brings me joy" list. I want to find tiny changes related to those 9 items that I can implement. I do better with consistent tiny changes, or I can easily overwhelm myself. I don't care if the changes seem unconventional or considered silly by others as long as they bring success and joy.

[Twins' Mom]

Kitchen is back together. Dog is walked. I have a little more than an hour before we leave the house. We're invited tomorrow night to one of the neighbors that we were with last night. If I go, I won't stay long or late. We're going to A and V's around 11 for brunch on New Years day, and to dneighbor M's around two on New Years Day. Dcleaning lady is coming on Friday morning instead of on Thursday. Friday is quiet for me, and weekend is quiet. I'm going to try to keep it that way!

[blessedw2]

we are still working on laundry - dd younger - oh my - has so many cloths - while she is gone some will go in the crawl space

hello d twins yay on kitchen being done
hello d lady
hi d Nancy
hi d everyone

mom wants the computer

see you soon!