40 days until 40

A while back, I posted there were 10 things I wanted to accomplish before turning 40, which is coming up in February!

http://mel-outsidelookingin.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-20-before-40-bucket-list.html

Well, I only made 2 out of 10. I went on a guided weekend retreat, and I got Rene who makes my heart melt every day. While I did get a meaningful job, the jury is still out whether or not I jump out of bed to get going every morning (more on that, later). I never did hike a 14er, go camping, or back to the ocean. After I got Rene, things came to a stand-still so I could train her, feel comfortable about leaving her, etc. I never did get working on that children's book (but remained inspired by stories of authors who took 15 years to write their first best-sellers!). I still have time to try to roast a perfect chicken, so maybe I will try to tackle that one in the next few weeks.

I was walking today with a friend/neighbor and she said, "Why don't you do a list of 40 days until 40, and put on that list everything you want to accomplish before your 40th birthday?" It sounded like a cool idea, but then I got overwhelmed, feeling as though I would have to pack in so many different things in such a short period of time. She and I then got to talking about how we both love the New Year, the possibilities for that coming year, and putting behind us anything that wasn't inspiring in 2015. I came home, picked up my Oprah magazine I got at the store the other day, and was further inspired by the idea of just being a better me, living a better life in 2016. Not a perfect life, but a better, more inspired, more soulful life. So, instead of creating a huge list of 40 things to accomplish, I have made a list of things I want to do each day toward a better me, starting on January 3rd through February 11th and beyond. Heck, starting today, actually! Maybe on my birthday I will think about a new list, maybe add to this one, or maybe do a "year of 40" things to accomplish. But hey, this is a start, and accessible.

• Be expressive. Express who I am-In what I wear, in what I say to others, in who I am in the world…Express myself daily!
• Floss daily (not a few times a week, as is my habit).
• Brush Rene's teeth every day (Greyhounds notoriously have bad teeth, so brushing is a must and I don't always do it for her).
• Do one, kind, out of the way thing for somebody daily.
• While listening to NPR is something I enjoy, I find the stories affect my mood. Especially focusing on all that is happening in conflict in the world. So, cut back on my NPR intake. Listen intentionally, and then change it up and put on some music I enjoy instead.
• Recently, I have found myself while zipping around town for my job stopping to get food that sounds good but isn't healthy. My recent favorite indulgence has been Bruegger's Bagels. But as the week goes on, these choices add up to very unhealthy. So, make one healthy choice daily beyond what I already do. For example, if I crave that bagel get one, but maybe eat half, or get the shmear on the side.
• Pack my lunch daily. The days I don't are the days I often don't make the best eating decisions.
• Walk, daily. Get up a little earlier to make sure Rene and I get 30min in the morning and 30min at night, regardless of weather conditions.
• Every day, reach out to a different loved one-via email, texting or phone. Just a small reaching out gesture can go a long way in continuing valued friendships.
• Take my vitamins, daily. Here is my regimen-Vitamin D, Flaxseed, Cranberry, Milk Thistle. But more often than not after breakfast I forget. Here is to remembering!
• Choose not to be shlumpy, daily. Sometimes when I go for a walk, or let Rene out for the last time at night, I am in shlumpy clothes, my hair is a mess, and thus I present myself to the world as shlumpy. Each day, maybe add a nice scarf or something to make myself look a little less shlumpy! No one wants to be 40 and shlumpy! Not a good combination.
• Clean out something every day. Whether it be my car, my fridge, a really annoying drawer, just take a few minutes to get rid of the garbage, put things away a little nicer and keep things organized and cleaned. If I tackle one thing every day, imagine how much more organized I would be!
• Get 7-8 hours of sleep, daily.

You get the picture. "Sharpen the saw" as Dr. Roger Teel of Mile Hi Church calls it. Then maybe a sharper saw will get me to the top of that 14er or in front of my computer to write my first children's book. It certainly couldn't hurt!