100 Days of Sketching – 18

18/100

Time to talk with my feet.

#the100dayproject

Daily Joys – 60

Daily Joys – 60

 

Much joy today hanging out with good friends and going climbing.

100 Days of Sketching – 17

17/100

Go ahead, take crazy chances.

#the100dayproject

Reflecting – February

February went by in a blink this year, as it seems to every year.

This months intention was to List the JoysSee what’s bringing you joy this month. Make lists. Pay attention. See if you can find patterns.

Interestingly, I did find patterns, I found that the things that bring me joy often have an element of my pushing limits/boundaries so I am growing or learning or things that give me a sense of awe. Also sometimes small things but often because they help me connect with a space of awe.

Here are some goals I had for February

  • Start OLW book and journal if it arrives
  • Go back to nourish plans/list
  • do all of HCOTF
  • Start 100-day project
  • Journal
  • Do art
  • Step away from sugar and gluten for a while
  • Continue documenting the joy
  • Do the stitching quilt fun
  • Read Beth’s books
  • Connect with friends at least 2 times, ideally 4
  • Love my people
  • Find something to learn
  • Go to SoCal and visit at least 3 schools for D
  • Read more books (I ready very few in January)
  • Find a fun documenting plan
  • Get organized and find a schedule that works at work
  • Help N with SSAT
  • Go climbing
  • Go on at least 2 dates with J
  • dive deeper into ease, release, equanimity, space, possibility and see what you might want to do for each.
  • Celebrate D’s birthday.
  • Setup D’s desk and contents.

On the positive side, I did many of these goals. I started (and am still doing) my 100-day project, read both of Beth’s books, visited colleges with my family, read more than January, journaled but only a little bit, exercised but did quite terribly on both nourishment and water. I did help my folks with their particular journeys and I feel mostly good about that. We celebrated D’s birthday and we did setup his new desk. I also did the values exercise with Brene. It was quite eye opening.

The end of February brought some twists which potentially imply some major changes for my life so that will make March an interesting month and I am grateful for the practice of release and ease I’ve been building into my life for over a year, now that will hopefully be instrumental. February was a profound in what I was able to do and what I’ve learned. I’m grateful.

Here’s to hoping March is full of joy.

Daily Joys – 59

Daily Joys – 59

 

The last day of February. Grasping to small joys like walking around the neighborhood today. Grateful.

100 Days of Sketching – 16

16/100

Take the moment to wind down.

#the100dayproject

100 Days of Sketching – 15

15/100

Look for the light. It is there.

#the100dayproject

Daily Joys – 58

Daily Joys – 58

It’s ranunculus season. Biggest joy ever.

Review: Under One Roof

Under One Roof
Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

Fun cute novella of two roomies thrust together. Hate to love trope. I enjoyed my time with it.

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Review: Feel Your Way Through

Feel Your Way Through
Feel Your Way Through by Kelsea Ballerini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are many trigger warnings in the book. This is not a light and breezy book but it’s also full of hope and love. Such beautiful poems. I don’t know her music but now I will have to go listen.

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Review: The Swimmers

The Swimmers
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent, excellent read. What an incredible writer. I loved every single minute I spent with it. This book starts with a collection of swimmers at the local pool. It’s interesting and funny and then it gets deeper and deeper to become an incredibly moving story about family, love, aging, dementia and even immigration. I cannot recommend it enough.

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Review: Upgrade

Upgrade
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When it comes to writing a story that will both blow your mind and get your pulse moving, with a lot of deeply interesting science thrown in, there’s no one like Blake Crouch.

We’re in a dystopian world where the study of gene science is not allowed by scientists. In fact, all the scientists are rounded up by the government for even trying. This is due to an apocalyptic event that went wrong where thousands of lives were lost. Logan Ramsay works for a government organization that finds illegal gene labs/activity and shuts it down.

As a result of a raid gone-bad, Logan Ramsay is now a super-human. He got the brain he always wanted and his body is operating at an extremely high level on all counts. He’s strong, smart and fast. But, like all good things, all this comes with plenty of caveats. And his live soon turns into a cat and mouse chase on multiple levels.

I loved Logan Ramsay the moment I started reading the book. As with all Crouch books, the pace at which things happen here is fantastic, it’s fast-moving, exciting and there’s so much twisting and turning that you’re not always sure who to root for. And of course there’s a deeply-interesting social discourse underlying this whole plot. I won’t give it away here, but there’s a lot to think about and no clear answers as with all of life’s big questions.

Another great read from Crouch!

with gratitude to netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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