We're halfway through the year and it's time for me to reflect on my intentions for the new year. I have to admit that I haven't consulted my list much since the first couple of weeks of 2023, so this should make for an interesting experiment.

Here is my list for 2023:

1. Read 23 books

I've been a consistent reader and also consider perusing coffee table and home design books as "reading." So far, I'm confident that I will reach my goal this year. Here's my reading list so far.

2. Do the crow pose

I recently remembered this goal and gave the crow pose a try. It was a success. I've been working out with Maddie's Youtube videos and have invested in a set of weights over the last few months, which has helped me gain some arm and core strength. This goal aligns with my one-word theme for 2023, which is "Center." (Read more about my one-word theme for 2023.)

3. Get an MRI and follow up

I can't believe I had forgotten about this goal and the fact that I reached it so early this year when I traveled back to France. My life has been changed for the best since then and I am getting emotional typing this. It's so easy to forget such a big accomplishment since we tend to take our health for granted! No need for a follow up really, the issue was identified and solved in a matter of days

4. Go to the East Coast

I wrote a birthday card to a friend last month and mentioned a visit to NYC in the fall, this means I have to do it, right?

5. Try kite surfing

I love how confident beginning of the year Chloé was in her physical skills. I hear Hood River is a hot spot for this activity, maybe I can tie it with a trip I have scheduled for mid-July...

6. Spend a night in a fire lookout cabin

I cannot believe I'm typing this, but it's booked! I struggled so hard to beat the bots every morning, waking up super early to grab a spot as soon as the reservations opened, and eventually gave up, until I decided to randomly have a look at the openings maybe 2 months ago and there had been a cancellation! Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a fire and smoke-free summer!

7. Design and sell digital products

I recently remembered this goal when an artist mentioned digitizing their work and selling it in a podcast I was listening to on my morning walk. I've been keeping a list of products I'm considering creating, so that's a first step.

8. Get a new tattoo

I can say that the stars aligned on my birthday. I suddenly decided to be in touch with a tattoo studio the night before my birthday, to ask whether I could stop by and have a look at their flash book. They replied that yes of course, and that they actually had had a few cancellations for the next day, in case I suddenly got inspired. I never thought I would, but unsurprisingly, I did, I chatted with Mac, it clicked, and I came back a few hours later with a new design on my body!

9. Relax in a hot spring

I'm saving this one for the winter, Octave mentioned our trip to Summer Lake last winter and I'm looking forward to repeating it this fall or winter.

10. Relaunch the Zero Waste Challenge

This one has been carried over a few times and I think I need to admit that it will not happen. It's OK.

11. Celebrate the full moon

I feel like I haven't done anything really special, like baking a full moon cake like my friends Jessie and Maren used to do. Octave and I do go outside to stand under the full moonlight, so it's something. I already have the moon schedules on my calendar but need to really schedule an activity. I'm going to start a group text!

12. Try paddle boarding

I feel like this one is going to happen sooner rather than later since I am at Suttle Lake every Monday night. I just need to head over there a little sooner for a paddle session.

13. Give blood

Everything seems to be going full circle, I scheduled a donation earlier this year since the restrictions have finally changed and I'm able to donate in the US, but, once I got there, we realized that my iron level was way too low. This led to some blood work during my trip to France, getting a diagnosis for my longstanding health issues and a cure! You also know that I pretty recently got a tattoo, so I have written down the date in my calendar for when it will be safe for me to donate again. I cannot wait! If you're able to do so, please donate blood and give life!

14. Swim for the solstices

One done (the easiest one), one to go!

15. Make kefir water

I did it, or more accurately started doing it. I don't know whether the grains I got are bad or need more time to rehydrate, but there's a jar of kefir water brewing on the top of my fridge as I type these words! I'll report back in a week maybe.

16. Learn a new language, get a certification

I was going so well at the beginning of the year, brushing up on my German, starting to learn Portuguese again, and even giving Navajo a try on Duolingo. But I eventually realized that French, English, and Spanish might just be enough for me. Learning a new language is too close to what I do for a living. So I switched to taking courses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals learning platform and have been feeling like this is a greater use of my time. I started with a short Inclusive Communication module to ease into it.

17. Quilt something

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is coming up, that would be a perfect time to sew my first quilt square!

18. Send cards or letters

I mentioned I sent a friend a birthday card above, so I'm considering this goal reached!

19. Learn block printing

I've experimented on tea towels with a kit Octave got me for Christmas. the experiment was very successful until we used said tea towels and I realized that I had been using ink meant to be used on paper rather than paint meant to be used on fabric. That explained why our hands were suddenly black without us having manipulated the pizza oven!

20. Buy nothing

I feel like I did this in January, but don't we all after a season of celebrations and gift-giving? I'm saving up for a big purchase so I might do a Buy Nothing month again.

21. Make suncatchers

My friend Sarah and I had a Skype DIY session and make suncatchers together. We had mixed results and I noticed that the maker whose instructions we followed eventually updated her recipe, so it might not have all been our fault, I'm still considering making more suncatchers around Christmas time. I need to think about harvesting and drying flowers this summer.

22. Start a breathwork practice

I completed a 30-day free challenge in January and loved it, but the way my brain works makes it so that when a challenge is completed the job is done and I pretty much always abandon the practice right after. Maybe I should sign up for a one-year challenge?

23. Bonus goal

I've been thinking about this bonus goal many, many times, as I've completed new tasks or tried new activities. Of course, none come to mind right now. I was not thinking of one in particular that I was keeping secret from your all, I simply thought that a big project might pop into my head later in January. It's not always easy to think about everything you want to accomplish in the upcoming year right when it starts. I think I'm going to keep this bonus one free and reflect on my accomplishments at the end of the year, let's rename it the catchall goal or the goal catchall.

Wow, I've loved reflecting on my progress so far. Completed: 7, In progress: 7, Scheduled: 7, Abandoned:1, Bonus: 1. That sounds about right.

How are things going for you?

Did you already tackle a big project or accomplish a smaller, but necessary task? I'd love to know

If you're looking to start a list now for the second half of the year or want inspiration for a bonus goal, you can check out my previous lists!

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