It’s July, right?
Insanity!
This happens every year.
Have you ever seen this chart of time perceptions based on your life?

At almost 49, I couldn’t agree more. I see this as a sort of fractal, where each year also feels like that, except January through April moves at a snail’s pace, then May through August is warp speed, September and October slow down again just in time for the November–December rush. So I guess I see the year like this.

Now that I’m looking at it, I think it’s clear I’m a teacher. lol
Regardless, we are in the summer warp, so time seems to be flying at the moment.
Since I’m halfway through this year of goals, I thought I’d revisit each one with a more detailed update and do a bit of a personal assessment.
2025 Goal Check In
- Blog Weekly.
- so far… ✔️
Setting this goal has made such a positive impact on me this year! I missed the commitment to writing and the online community more than I realized. I’ve reconnected with old blogging friends, and I have lots of little projects happening all over the place, which I love! I post on Substack weekly, I am trying to be more active on my old Facebook page, and I’ve even got more active on TikTok recently. I’m loving it. I’m loving it. I just do what I do when it feels right, and it will be what it will be.
Basically, I stopped overthinking.
- so far… ✔️
- Paint More. Don’t overthink it.
- so far… ✔️
I just painted today! But I can’t share it, as it’s a gift for someone who I know reads the blog. That said, I’ve struggled a bit here, mostly with inspiration on what to paint. So, I made a new commitment to paint all greeting cards moving forward. Now I’m enjoying the challenge of coming up with something simple to paint for the cover of a card, and I love it!
Here’s the first one I did for Ry’s birthday a few weeks ago.
- so far… ✔️
- Make a new handmade pasta monthly.
- Jan ✔️ ✔️
- Feb ✔️ ✔️
- March ❌
- April ✔️✔️
- May ✔️
- June ✔️
OMG, I cannot believe how much fun I have making homemade pasta. It’s not something I have time to do weekly, but making it about once a month is perfect. There’s just something fun about making food by hand for me. I can’t explain it. It’s just a big sense of accomplishment and, frankly, it tastes really freakin’ good!
- Hike at least twice a month.
- Jan ✔️✔️
- Feb ✔️✔️
- March ✔️ ✔️
- April ✔️✔️
- May ✔️✔️✔️
- June ✔️ ✔️
I’m so happy I set this goal because I used to hit the trail weekly during the pandemic, and I think it did wonders for my soul. Now that I’m busier, I need to consciously make the effort to get out there.
- Perform one unassisted dip.
- I’ve made a lot of great progress here by working with bands, and I think I’m close. I have no doubt I’ll be able to do one by the end of the year. I just need to keep at it!
- Perform five strict pull-ups.
- I’ve also been training weekly for pull-ups, but this one may be lofty. I’m still going to do my best. Pull-ups are an enigma for me. I’ll get one or two, but then, if I’m not diligent, I lose them fast!
- Handstand walk.
- Another lofty goal for me. I’m currently just working on a freestanding handstand. I don’t think this is a physical goal for me, as I believe I have the strength. It’s definitely a mental goal! I’m terrified of being upside down!
- Take at least three yoga classes a month.
- Jan ✔️✔️✔️
- Feb ✔️✔️✔️
- March ✔️✔️✔️
- April ✔️✔️ ❌
- May ✔️✔️✔️
- June ✔️✔️✔️
Another goal I’m glad I set, because this hot yoga class makes me feel SOOOOOO good. It’s challenging and hot, but I’ve made great progress in my flexibility over these six months. I can do things I wasn’t able to before and that alone is worth it.
- Make homemade sourdough bread.
- ✔️✔️✔️OMG I did it!✔️✔️✔️
This is probably my favorite of all my goals this year!! Doughbra is going strong, and I make a loaf at least weekly. I also starting getting confident enough to bake for friends and family! This morning I made one of my best loaves yet and shared this video.
- ✔️✔️✔️OMG I did it!✔️✔️✔️
- Take the kids to Iceland.
- Oh boy… this trip is a mere 21 days away! We’re flying out on July 23 and landing the morning of my 49th birthday. I’m stressed but excited!
- Fix the holes in my house (long story, lots of plumbing issues this year).
- At this point, I may just live with these drywall issues. Ugh. But in all seriousness, I need to reach out to a contractor for some of them—they’re over our pay grade.
- Continue my Spanish Streak on Duolingo (I’m on day 1,231!!).
- so far…✔️ day 1412
My streak here is strong, but I’m starting to get frustrated. I don’t feel like it’s translating into being able to speak it one day. See below….
- so far…✔️ day 1412
- Take a Spanish class in person.
- I know I need a class, and I’m still mad that the one I registered for was canceled. I’m setting my sights on a private class this fall, since the college options aren’t working out for me.
- Plan something special for The Husband’s 50th birthday!
- I’m between three different ideas for this, and one is winning. I just need to commit and start booking things!
- Snatch 125lbs.
- Honestly, I set this goal in hopes it would renew my love of weightlifting, because I was starting to get frustrated. I recently hired a new online coach who is really helping with the mindset stuff, and I’m starting to see that this is possible! It will take a lot of work, but it is possible.
- Compete in at least one weightlifting meet.
- Registered for this one! (Two weeks away!)
I’m looking forward to this event next weekend. I don’t have any goals except to have fun and hit all my lifts!
- Registered for this one! (Two weeks away!)
- Walk a minimum of half a mile daily with Marsh and, preferably, with the Husband, but I can’t base my goal on him.
- I feel like my count is off on these. I’ve missed a few days due to rain, but we go out (weather permitting) every day after Jeopardy. And if The Husband is being a wimp about the heat (or cold), I just go alone.
- Track my movie-watching on Letterboxd.
- so far…✔️ Click here to see!
I missed a few, but I’ve definitely tracked more than I ever have. And it’s helping me remember movies that I can recommend to friends.
- so far…✔️ Click here to see!
- Keep my citrus trees alive!
- so far…✔️
They’re still alive!! No fruit yet, and my lemon tree needs a year or two to recover from last year’s root rot, but they’re both alive and well!
- so far…✔️
- Host an extended family dinner monthly.
- Jan ✔️
- Feb ✔️
- March ✔️
- April ✔️
- May ✔️
- June ✔️
I’ll be honest, I might put this goal on hold. I’ve come to realize I’m getting bitter about hosting family events, because no one else in the family ever hosts any. At all. I feel like I make the effort, but if I didn’t, I would never see anyone.
- Clean out and organize my closet and drawers.
- DONE!!!
Still reaping the rewards of this goal! My closet has stayed fairly organized. The drawers are already getting messy. lol
- DONE!!!
- Thrift more and purchase no brand-new clothes.
- so far…✔️
I broke this streak of buying nothing new on hiking socks because I need them for Iceland. Other than that, I haven’t purchased anything new, and I don’t plan to. I would like to hit the thrift store soon, though, as I’m getting bored with my small wardrobe.
- so far…✔️
- Take daily supplements more consistently.
- so far…✔️
I’ve really upped my game here, and I’ve been very consistent over the last few months. I’m not taking anything crazy, just Omega-3, Vitamin D and K, and magnesium for the most part. I also take collagen nightly.
- so far…✔️
- Reduce alcohol consumption to once or twice a month.
- Jan ❌ 1/18, 1/23, 1/31 (close!)
- Feb 2/1, 2/15 ✔️
- March 3/22 ✔️
- April 4/25, 4/26 ✔️
- May 5/3, 5/10 ✔️
- June 6/7, 6/19 ✔️
Out of all the goals, this one has probably affected my health the most positively. During the pandemic, I started drinking more than I ever had, and the habit stuck with me. I’m glad I finally broke that cycle.
- Cook one new recipe/dish a month.
This one is probably the easiest of all my goals, as I’m always cooking new things. That said, I like tracking the recipes I use for inspiration.- Jan ✔️
- Feb ✔️
- March ✔️
- April ✔️
- May✔️
- June
I’m still nodding my head in the disbelief that 2025 is halfway over. I’m really looking forward to how the second half turns out!
And, even though I think you already know this, I’m so glad I did this and if you are reading this, please know I appreciate you. 🙂
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