After three missed family Christmases – two covid lockdowns and a winter storm – (anyone else read that to the tune of 12 days of Christmas?), we were finally able to gather for the holidays, but covid still made an appearance, both before and after. Ray’s mom was on lockdown in her suite until two days before our arrival because she’d been in contact with someone who’d tested positive. Fortunately she stayed healthy and we were able to get together for a pizza lunch on Christmas Eve.
Nick had dinner with Megan’s family Christmas Eve and spent Christmas morning there as well, while Ray and I had a quiet, relaxed morning with Karen and Tom. Well, Karen wasn’t all that relaxed because she was busy preparing turkey and ham with all the trimmings. At one point, she and I were in the kitchen slicing and dicing and we wondered what our mom would think if she could see us. We certainly weren’t the culinary types when she was alive.
Unfortunately Ray’s vegetarian option, a cranberry-nut-lentil pastry dish, got accidentally left behind in the fridge in Brighton. Whose fault that was is a matter of debate and there’s no need to go into the details, but as you can see his plate is still full of food, so it wasn’t a big deal.
It was wonderful to have the family together again, so much so that I had two side-splitting, tears-running-down-my-cheeks giggle fits, one at dinner and one after the others had left, and Karen, Ray, Nick, Megan and I were playing Balderdash. I’d only had one glass of wine all evening so I must have just been giddy with Christmas joy.
On Boxing Day, we drove back to Georgetown, picked up Ray’s mom, and visited our step-nephew Chris and his family, then headed back to Brighton.
Unfortunately, the following day Karen and Tom both tested positive for covid. So far, the rest of us are feeling fine and keeping our fingers crossed that we managed to avoid it.
At this time of year, I reflect on what’s working well in my life and what could be working better. I’m not one to make resolutions as I know they rarely stick, partly because we tend to resolve to do things we don’t really want to do, but think we should. It’s more like wishful thinking – “Wouldn’t it be great if I could eat healthier and exercise more and maybe lose 5 or 10 pounds“, while completely discounting how much you love cheese and hate burpies.
Since I’ll be turning 60 in 2024, I’ve decided to do 60 ‘adventures’ this year. The idea is that I’ll do a 30-day challenge each month. I’ll also do a total of 48 mini-adventures throughout the year, to bring the total to 60. Those mini-adventures can be learning a new skill, trying a new activity, visiting a new place or doing something that gets me outside my comfort zone. I’m not going to decide the adventures in advance – no bucket list of items to check off – but I’ll be on the lookout for opportunities to add something to the list.
I started out by analyzing various aspects of my life. I made a nice little mind map to procrastinate from riding the exercise bike.
The colour coding perhaps needs explanation.
Financial health, mental health, spiritual health and social/fun are areas where the status quo is good – no need to focus on them more than I do now.
Creativity (e.g., blogging), Intellectual (e.g., reading) and Contributing (e.g., working with struggling readers) are going well, but I think I could challenge myself more, maybe get out of my comfort zone.
Relationships are going well, but can’t be taken for granted, so I’ll focus some extra attention there as well.
Physical health is generally good, but I could exercise more, eat fewer carbs and sweets, eat more protein and veggies, drink more water, etc., so some of the 30-day challenges will be in that category.
Adventure is something I’m feeling more need for lately as our life in Brighton becomes more routine and settled. It doesn’t need to be a big-A adventure though, so I’m hoping these little challenges will fill that void.
My biggest vice is spending too much time online and letting inertia guide the unscheduled portions of my day, instead of planning how I want to spend that time, so there will be a challenge or two in that category as well.
If you have any suggestions for my ‘adventures’, feel free to make suggestions (note that karaoke is off the table, for everyone’s sake). What adventurous things have you tried and enjoyed in the past? What would be on your list? All ideas welcome.
*Groan*. Does this mean we won’t be eating ice cream and I’ll be dragged (kicking and screaming) to do long hikes – uphill both ways??
It’s actually very admirable that you’re challenging yourself. You’ve done it before and met the challenges so I suppose I’m excited to see what “adventures” I might be drawn into.
I’ll start the list with travel to warm countries in cold weather!
I will put you down for warm lazy adventures.
My niece who is turning 40 in 2024 is doing “40 before 40” which includes things like reading certain books (David Copperfield is one and Brave New World is another), visiting a friend who lives in the Yukon, planting a herb garden, etc.
Seems like a fun way to mark those zero birthdays! I went through a ‘read the classics’ phase a while back – Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Dickens, etc. – and ended up deciding that for the most part I prefer contemporary fiction, but it was definitely worth doing.
(not sure if it was intentional, but your comment is anonymous so I’m not sure who you are)
I arranged an IFLY party for my 70th birthday. That, in case you are unfamiliar with it, is pretend parachuting in a high wind tunnel. It was an absolutely terrifying, exhilarating experience, but worth it to get the younger family members interested in getting together with the oldies. And much less frightening than my other choice of a ride in the Lancaster out of Mount Hope where my father flew in the fifties. Having seen that on Rick Mercer, I realised it combined my two main fears of height, and small enclosed spaces! The parachuting had less height, and more space, and still, as I said, an unforgettable experience. Just a suggestion.
Oh fun! Thanks for the ideas. I did the iFLY with my son for his 16th birthday. I just looked up the Lancaster flight and they’re sold out for all of 2024 unfortunately. Hang gliding (in tandem with someone who knows what they’re doing) is on my possibilities list though.
Definitely not on my list!
A number of years ago I did a 52 New Things/Experiences for the Year, thinking one per week. Now I regularly list my new experiences and find that just thinking that I have that list, I’ve easily hit 100 every year. Of course, you can decide what is a new experience or not. I adore checking out new restaurants – to the point hubby says “we can’t go there, it’s not new to you” when I suggest a place to eat out! But I also added in my “tourist in own town” things the past 2 years. Since we now live in a tourist-mecca that list was easy to generate; I have a number of those items still to do – from visit the zoo to kayak the local preserve. I do add to my list exploring new stores – I did a thrift store bonanza this year looking for glass to up-cycle, but also adore visiting new gardens and garden centers. New ones are now slightly farther away, so I make day trip plans to explore areas 30-50 miles around us. I watch the local papers and groupons (coupons – not sure that’s a Canada thing or not!) for new things – just planned an axe throwing gathering for friends and a High tea afternoon. Past new things included Belly dancing lessons, pottery throwing lessons, and wreath making. Some things I tried stuck – cardio drumming and beach yoga are regular activities now. These might not sound very adventurous to you, but I’ve had fun with this list approach for a few years now.
Oh, and there are a number of folks who’ve blogged about this… here’s one for inspirational ideas: https://josiewanders.com/sixty-before-60-the-new-improved-bucket-list/
I think that’s part of the motivation for having a number and tracking the experiences. It makes you pay attention to what you’re doing and grab hold of – or seek out – new opportunities. I’ve tried axe throwing, High tea and belly dancing, but pottery throwing might be an idea. There’s a shop in Brighton that might offer that. Cardio drumming also sounds fun but don’t think we have that locally. Thanks for the ideas and link!
For those interested, this will be my January 30-day challenge: https://do.yogawithadriene.com/flow
… my favourite adventures have been travelling solo to Costa Rica and a night hike in the jungle. If you do that, it will REALLY give you an adventure with a big A with the snakes hanging from the trees and all…🐍
Did you see any? I’m surprised that I managed to do day hikes in the jungle in Costa Rica when we went years ago. I don’t think I’d be comfortable doing it now. Getting wimpier as I age perhaps.
We saw several, as well as a variety of creepy crawlies, all while in a terrific downpour! Our group stuck close to our guide!
Oh yuck! I guess we got lucky not seeing any on our hike. Ray saw one but didn’t tell me until afterwards.