Say Yes – 20

  • Weekly Intention: This week is going to be interesting. I will be at work on Monday and Tuesday with a relatively intense schedule and then I haven’t even looked at Wednesday onward but I expect it’s back to back because of my event early in the week. I also will be climbing extra to make up for not being able to go this coming weekend. So my intention this week is to persevere and to start things on a positive foot.
  • This month’s intention is: May: Yes Just Yes: Time to be bold. Jump in. Dare to go all in and see what happens. What happens if you say yes?! For now I am taking this as showing up to life, to J, to work, to my kids and just in general saying yes to things.
  • One way I will leap this week: I want to lean in more into DYL and to journaling this week. It’s the only area where I haven’t done as well as I would like to.
  • One boundary I will set this week: My boundaries are always about work. Not letting it take over my life.
  • One area where I will go deeper this week: hmm maybe doing the book for week in the life? I think I will do that this week.
  • What do I need to sit with this week?  i still need to sit with all that’s going on at work.
  • I am looking forward to: being at work. getting to work with the new leads. climbing.
  • Focus on Core Desired Feelings (lighter, kinder, enough, magic, wild): i am definitely feeling lighter and kinder and enough lately. I think I need more magic and wild in my life.
  • This week’s challenges: a complicated week this week, let’s see how it works.
  • Top Goals: 
    • Work:  IO, make a list of all the todos, clean email.
    • Personal:  continue journaling plan, week in the life documentation, OLW May.
    • Family: be with J, book painters, help D with course list, find a project for N.
  • This week, I want to remember: one step at a time, it doesn’t all have to get done at once.

Review: People We Meet on Vacation

People We Meet on Vacation
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know many people loved Henry’s previous novel, which I liked too but I loved this one so much more. I loved all the little bits of vacations over the years, I loved the two characters. I loved going back and forth in time. I just really enjoyed my time with this story. Wonderfully delightful.

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Review: Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I did not love Weir’s second book but with this one, he won my heart back! What a fantastic story, great humor, super fun science. I enjoyed every single minute I spent with this story from beginning to its unpredictable end. Love love loved it!

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Review: Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book absolutely blew my mind. I don’t even like reading nonfiction but I could not put this down. It was a completely insane story, told incredibly well, and I have been recommending it to everyone I know. Absolutely amazing. Mind-blowing. Sad. Surreal.

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Review: Early Morning Riser

Early Morning Riser
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What an unusual story this was. It felt like it was about nothing, just a slice of life and relationships and interesting characters that I slowly fell in love with a little bit. I enjoyed the time I spent with this novel but I can’t say I loved it. It was comforting, sweet, and quirky.

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Review: The Finish Line

The Finish Line
The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

This took me the longest to read. I think I was partially done with the series after book two. But once I got into it, it was fast and enjoyable and did its job helping me numb the sounds in my head. I enjoyed all of this series.

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Daily Year of Yes – 136

Year of Yes – 136

Yesterday we went to the movies for the first time in over 15 months. This is what the theatre looked like.

By the end of the movie there were 3 others in the room.

We went to the mall, are at the food court and then went to the movies. It was delightful and weird all at once.

Yes to movies and adventures.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

Weekly Reflection 2021 – 19

  • The Best Part of this Week: the best part of this week was getting to go to work on Friday briefly and getting to see a few colleagues in person.
  • I celebrate: my little boy getting his first shot.
  • I am grateful for:  week in the life that I captured all week last week. I took over 1200 photos and it will be painful to review them all but I am really glad I did it.
  • This week, I exercised: I climbed 4 times a week, rode every day for 10 mins and twice for 30 minutes, did 10 mins of core and 10 mins of arms and 5 minutes of stretching and 10 minutes of restorative yoga daily. I also did week three of strength class which was 1 hour and 20 minutes of strength and 20 minutes of stretching this week. And I did two power flow yoga classes of 10 mins each.
  • This week, I said yes to:  going to the movies with Jake
  • I said no to: working when work hours are over.
  • I honored my values (love, learn, peace, service, gratitude): I am back to feeling serene and having the we will see attitude. i feel grounded in the things that matter to me.
  • Top Goals Review:
    • Work:  i did have convos with P. didn’t fully figure out next steps but working on it. did a chapter in DYL book.
    • Personal:  started journaling plan, did week in the life.
    • Family: spent lots of time with J, called some painters, booked real id and got nathaniel’s vaccine!
  • My mood this week was: better
  • I am proud of: i am proud of showing up for the people in my life.
  • I release: all the email piling up in my inbox, I will do a pass tomorrow and then let it go.
  • Here’s what I learned this week: it is ok to not know what comes next.

Drawing Books – The Soulmate Equation

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren


 

 

Daily Year of Yes – 135

Year of Yes – 135

The last member of our household got his first shot today.

I feel very lucky that little boy has just turned 12 and can now have his shot.

We drove around and waited for some time today to make this possible for him and I am grateful that it worked out. I am grateful that in a month or so he will be able to finally see some friends. He hasn’t seen a friend in person since last year March. Nor has the older one.

We all miss seeing people, hugging people and going on adventures.

Yes to staying healthy and yes to going on adventures again.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

Drawing Books – Brood

Brood by Jackie Polzin


 

 

Daily Year of Yes – 134

Year of Yes – 134

I drove on the freeway for the first time since last year March. I wasn’t sure if I’d feel too anxious but it didn’t feel terrible and I managed to make it there and back just fine.

I get to do it all over again tomorrow and then again Monday and Tuesday. I expect I will have it totally down by then.

I got a tiny glimpse at the life before all this and it was eerily familiar. All the same and yet all a little different. Seeing people. Having conversations face to face.

It felt good.

Yes to seeing people and yes to mk snacks and yes to glimpses of life.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes