January Progress Report

We are nearly three weeks into the new year, and I am still going strong. Writing my goals down and how I am going to accomplish them has been a game changer for me this year. I know exactly what I want and I know what I need to do to accomplish them.

Let's consider this an update of sorts, a mid-month progress report.

Writing: I've maintained my blog posting to every day, even on days I absolutely did not want to write or look at a computer screen. A great example was last night. Let me tell you, even the idea of opening my computer was off putting to me. But I had made myself a promise, and I deserved to hold myself to the promise of writing. I'd only be disappointing myself otherwise, and I'm worth more than that.

Novel brain storming has been a little slower than I would like; however, I did give myself 75 days of planning so official novel writing won't begin until the middle of March. My plan; however, is to have a full outline before the focused writing starts.

I also have a drabble about Bucky Barnes to complete before my friend's birthday in May. That one should be interesting. She'll appreciate seeing it in writing that after two years I'm finally committing to writing it AND I've given myself a deadline. What have I gotten myself into...

Reading: I've been kicking ass at reading. As of today, I've read 17 books in 19 days. I have one that only has about 50 pages left too. I've added a few unplanned reads along the way, but I'm still pushing to get to the rest of the to be read list I created for January.

What do I have left? I have the three remaining books from The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton. Four books is totally doable. I think I will also throw in the three novellas that are attached to The Selection series if I can manage it. I know this is a lot, but "The Hazel Wood" by Melissa Albert is also looming in my mind. I've heard mixed reviews about it, but I am still interested.

I haven't even begun to think about what will be on my February TBR list aside from the BBC (Badassery Book Club) read of The Count of Monte Cristo. We have a three month time limit read on it since it's massive... but part of me wants to do it all in one month. If I do that though, I might not read anything else.

Health/Wellness: I've changed my eating habits yet again. Well, not changed... just refined. I'm getting better with my portion sizes and I'm very pleased to be eating very clean. My body seems to like it for the most part. I've also got a daily vegan chocolate and banana smoothie with unsweetened vanilla almond milk that I adore! Eating can still be fun even when you eat healthy.

Fitness: I am still going strong on my 75 hard journey. It's mentally gotten tougher as I feel exhausted all of the time. Two work outs a day is a lot when you don't have a ton of spare time. My pup; however, is enjoying her longer walk in the evening. I'm also doing a Barre Blend workout everyday as well. What I'm loving about this is that it's reintroducing me to ballet. I haven't danced in about 25 years, and I didn't realize how much I miss it. It kicks my butt each and everyday, but I love how quickly my balance and strength is improving (I have a LONG way to go). I'm in the middle of my second week of that.

Planting Flowers: Positive self-talk hasn't been 100% over the past three weeks, but I didn't expect it to. I am; however, greatly improving in that department. I am an intelligent and capable woman and can do anything I put my mind to. See y'all, I did that with a straight face! Progress.

Ultimately, this year is starting out so incredibly strong. I have had some really good boundary work with some of my closer relationships and I'm learning to open up more and allow vulnerability into my life. I'm excited to finish this month off strong and head into our leap year month.

I'm not really a sports fan... but... TITAN UP!