Doubling Down (y02w05)

I’m popping in a day late this week. Between the snow, ice, start of the semester, and everything happening in our country right now, I had a lot on my mind.

I’ve never been one to discuss my politics publicly. To be frank, I don’t feel particularly qualified or equipped to weigh in on politics.

We’ve normalized having loud opinions without the knowledge, context, or facts to back them up. Or worse yet, we ignore those facts and spew nonsense anyway.

My areas of expertise are technology, wellness, cooking, goal-achieving, and the thing I’m doubling down on: teaching.

Teaching digital literacy to my students feels really important right now. We’re living in a time where distinguishing fact from fiction is difficult. Algorithms keep us in digital bubbles and echo chambers, reinforcing what we already believe, and many young people don’t even realize those bubbles exist.

There is more information available to us than at any point in history, yet fewer and fewer people know how to access it, evaluate it, question it, or trace it back to a credible source.

So this is where my energy is going, and it’s helping me stay somewhat sane.

I told my class today that my job is to be their stepping stone. My goal is to raise their intellectual curiosity, help them question what they see, find answers, and give them the tools to navigate the digital hellscape they’re inheriting. I teach them to do reverse image searches to verify photos, check multiple sources before sharing news, and ask, “Is this fact or opinion?” We also examine how social media platforms work and how we, the humans, are the real products.

I honestly don’t know what else I can do. All I know is I’m not checking out even though some days I want to.

Showing up for my students, modeling critical thinking, and staying engaged are how I’m dealing at the moment.

And with that off my chest, it’s time I focus on the other thing that keeps me sane: my goals.

2026 Goal Tracking

Cooking/Food

#SaladTime

Goal: Once a Week ✅ 

I recorded two since my last post:

• A warm Butternut Kale #Saladtime with pork, walnuts, and goat cheese!
• A walnut, apple #saladtime with leftover chicken, dried cranberries, feta, and Balsamic vinaigrette.

The pressure I’ve given myself to record one a week is definitely helping me eat more greens. I didn’t make a salad yesterday, and I missed it!

I’m up to 39 #SaladTime videos! I am trying to keep them all in a YouTube playlist so I can keep track.

Weekly Soup

Goal: Once a Week ✅

This week’s soup is a complete winner!

I roasted a butternut squash, a couple of carrots, and onions on a cookie sheet. Then I puréed everything with some homemade stock, a chunk of cream cheese, and a little turmeric and curry.

Next, I browned some ground turkey, poured the purée over it, and added some white beans.

It was delicious!

Sourdough

Goal: Once a Week ✅

I baked this one today!

Then used it to make sandwiches for dinner. That was fun!

Homemade Pasta

Goal: Once a Month ✅

• January 1/9

I already hit this goal this month, but I am considering making some for a fancy Friday tomorrow. It all depends if I have the energy. Right now, it’s not looking good. lol

Evan in the Kitchen

Goal: Once a Week ❌

I am failing miserably on this one! The snow this week didn’t help. We are all off schedule, and dinners have been mostly leftovers or sandwiches.

Fitness/Weightlifting

Oly Training

I have finally made some progress on my lower back pain! It’s definitely getting better. That said, I’m still not at 100%. Frankly, at my age, I’m not sure I’ll ever be 100% again.

I know that sounds depressing, but I’m trying to be realistic. Considering I turn 50 this year, I want to be smart about my training so I can lift for a long time. That may mean pulling back, and I’m trying to come to terms with that.

Handstand Progress

Same as last week, I got up there a few times. No crazy progress, but I am feeling more stable!

Pull Ups

Again, no progress… BUT I added dead hangs back into my routine. Once I get into a groove with the semester, I’m going to start a two-day-a-week routine.

Jump Rope

This week’s jump rope workout was 25 double unders every 45 seconds for 10 rounds, and I killed it! It was a fun 8-minute workout.

Daily Walks

The snow and ice have put a damper on this. There is nowhere to walk when the sidewalks aren’t cleared. 🙁

However, I did get a short stroll in last night, streetside. It was cold AF! But Marsh was happy, so I’m going to try to get out there again for at least a half mile.

Hikes

• Goal: Twice a month
  • January 1/3, 1/15, 1/23 ✅

I snuck one more in before the storm came through!

Marsh appreciated it yet again. He also enjoyed the view from the overlook. (So stinkin’ cute!)

Hot Yoga

• Goal: Twice a month
  • January 1/4, 1/11, 1/18  ✅ 

I would have went Sunday if we weren’t in the middle of a snowpocalypse. They closed anyway. lol

Pickleball

Waiting for our league to start on February 10!

Creative/Other Pursuits

Music

Since starting this little game with myself, I have yet to miss a day of guitar practice! Here are all my scores to date.

I’m getting more consistent, and even The Husband said it’s already sounding better. (See painting update for how I feel about this)

Painting

I painted twice this week. One was just some practice using flower and bird tutorials I found online. When I messed up on one, I decided to paint over it and ask myself a question:

And that’s really the question I’m asking myself with this year’s goals. What can I accomplish if I just keep at things?

I also painted some fun snowflakes inspired by this week’s storm.

Acting Class

No progress!

Spanish

I just got the workbook I ordered. Planning on reading it this weekend!

Alcohol Reduction

• Goal: No more than two days of drinking a month.
  • January 1/1

Killing this goal. Don’t miss it much, BUT I am planning on some wine this weekend, possibly, 🙂

Looking Ahead

I don’t know. I’m taking it day by day at the moment. Classes have been disrupted, public schools have moved to virtual learning, and I’m frankly just trying to make it to the weekend. Sunday is Bill and my 31st dating anniversary!