Lesson 682: I Promise

Hello, Readers.

If you are anything like me,

the weeks seem long,

the seconds on the clock tick by

like I walk across my icy driveway,

s   l   o   w   l   y.

Yet, 

here it is another Friday night,

and I feel like last Friday night was yesterday.

It must be a result of the strange times 

we were living in.

We are in the depths of an Erie winter.

Not that much snow

but it has been warm-you-hands-by-the-woodstove cold.

And yes,

I do wear these gloves around the house sometimes.

Eloise can't stand to have cold hands or feet!

We ventured out for a masketball game tonight.

2 guests from the same house per player,

and no lingering around after the game.

Get in and get out.

The away games are kind of nice.

We get to watch like this from the couch.

The couch has been getting more use this year.

The kids do their schoolwork from it on at-home learning days.

I don't blame them.

School desks are uncomfortable.

This was the scene I came home to on Wednesday.

Sam, the fashion plate,

donning his Hawaiian shirt

paired with Scandinavian print pajama bottoms,

was sprawled on the couch.

How are the dogs? I texted just a few minutes prior.

Good.......

Let out a sigh because I promised not to yell at anyone that day.

I try my hardest to make things fun.

Clark School Meat Stick Sale

Buy one of every kind and have a blind taste test.

Winner gets to pick the next dinner out.

Natalie wouldn't touch the meat sticks.

She's a fruit and veggie girl.

Look at her handiwork!

She washes,

chops,

and bags it all up

every single week!

I found this oldie but goodie a couple of months ago.

I liked it so much that I decided to make

my word of 2021.

I, like many others,

used FOCUS for word of 2020.

I had to adjust the lens in March

for my 2020 Focus,

but it really kept my goals on track.

I decided to choose another word for this year,

and PROMISE, it is.

Promise fits perfectly with a new planner I decided on for this year.

It's the first time using the Commit 30 journal.

It's one part bullet journal,

one part goal tracker.

The process of using the journal walks you through choosing 12 goals,

one to accomplish each month,

and hopefully work into your life.

On Sunday I'll finish my first goal and I am pleased with my own progress!

What's really nice about the planner is that it encourages balance,

something I'm always mindful of.

It's probably the single most important lesson I'll pass on--

I no longer seek balance in my life,

I create it.

I've chosen some nutrition and fitness goals.

As with most people, those top the lists every January.

But there are many other promises I'd like to keep--

for myself and for others.

Promises in regard to finances,

and travel,

and spoken words,

and giving,

and spirituality,

and connection.

Since February is the month of love,

my goal

is to not speak the words I HATE

for the entire month.

Seems simple,

but I bet it will be difficult.

I can't even say that I hate separating the coffee filters

and finding the end of the tape that stuck back to the roll.

One of my year-long goals is to read with more diversity.--

genres and authors.

So far,

I've been nailing this goal.

I just started this one,

and it's really good!

I'm really looking for this one for my students,

so if you happen to have a copy,

I'd love it for loan.

I'll be sure to return it when we're done.
I promise.

--Eloise