Mid-Year Progress Report

What happens to our New Year's Resolutions when the year starts feeling not-so-new?

July 1, 2018. We're officially halfway through the year. Back in January, I made a short list of things I wanted to Keep, Ditch, or Try, and it's probably time to see if this experiment has been a success or a massive failure. After all, what is a plan without measurement and accountability?...I guess it's just a wish.

Even though I'm trying to stay positive, I feel a little like time has gotten away from me. How does this keep happening? I haven't taken any real vacations or time off from work, and I haven't touched my piano in months. I dread my next real practice session, where I know the black-and-white keys will reveal how much I've stalled - or worse, how much of the Ballade I've forgotten after spending weeks learning the unforgiving coda.

There have definitely been some big wins, though. I've tried a ton of great new recipes, and thank goodness for that because I'm currently following the very rigid ketogenic diet. Rather than bore you with the details of what that is and why I'm doing it (hint: it has nothing to do with the Kardashians or weight loss), I'll save that story for another time and just tell you that I was getting bored with eating the same three things every day. Some of the recipes were total fails, like this delicious-looking brownie. It looked legit and the smell was intoxicating, but let me tell you, it was beyond gross. It's made from avocados and eggs, and I know what you're thinking, but I was desperate for chocolate. My bad.

Of the 15 items on my Keep/Ditch/Try list, I'd say we're at 50/50 with a small edge in favor of accomplishing my goals. No, I haven't written a guest blog or kept up with my endless list of home improvement projects. On the flip side, I've been improving on the guitar. Of the three categories, my Ditch list has been the most successful. Happily, self-care and sleep remain two of my biggest priorities which is why blogging and writing have taken a back seat in recent months. I can live with that.

My theme for 2018 was about living with energy, intention, and purpose. I'm not quite there yet, and that's OK. Reflecting on these past six months, I'd guess that over-commitment is the single biggest obstacle standing in the way of success. I have six more months to do something about that. If I've learned anything over the years, it's that persistence and reflection often equals progress. I'm willing to put in the work.

Happy Mid-Year, everyone!

#goals #motivation #inspiration #NewYear