To Do and Ta Da

And just like that, the first half of the year is over. 

I'm taking stock today of what I have left to do in 2011 and figuring out where to focus my energy now. It is a good time to reenergize and prioritize and determine to make the next half even better than the first. It feels like there is so much left to do.

To Do 

• Find a realtor. I want to find someone who knows the area I am thinking of buying in because while I want to find a house I love, I also want to find a house that will be a good investment. This has been a bigger struggle than I imagined it would be but I have some new ideas to try later today. Hopefully I can check this off within the next few weeks.
• Continue eliminating possessions. I have gone through every closet, drawer and cabinet but I can do that again. The clearer the vision of my new house becomes, the easier it is to look at something and know if it will or will not work in the new space. I would like to get rid of 90% of my furniture, too, but that will have to wait until after the house is sold, I'm afraid. I need it for staging the house for potential buyers. (But if any family members or lovely locals need furniture, I can probably hook you up in a few months.) 
• Start packing the non-essentials. Last month I happened across an ad on our company's notice board that a fellow employee had moving boxes to sell. I now have a huge stack of boxes and five boxes of packing paper sitting in my garage, waiting for their next gig. 
• Sell, buy, pack, move and unpack. Seems easy enough, eh? Good golly, Molly.
• Incorporate a regular exercise routine. While I have been eating really well and exercising a time or two a week, I really need to step it up. This whole moving situation is going to be stressful, work isn't getting any less so, and I'm going to need a consistent exercise regime to help me face each day. I am worth it.
• Start accepting those social invitations. Ugh, let's not even talk about it. It might take me another month or two to brave this one. Talk about stress.

But as a good friend told me the other day, I can't just focus on what is left to do. I need to also take a moment to celebrate all that has been accomplished. And, go me, I have done a lot of what I intended to do this year already and my touchstone word INVEST has been at the heart of it all.

Ta Da

• Find creativity inspiration. Oh my stars. I have spent countless hours in writing, photography and painting courses the past six months. I have loved learning the technical aspects as well as just letting go and playing. It's been great. And I have more photography workshops and writing fun lined up for the last half of the year, too.
• Prepare the house for sale. Done, inside and out. And it feels good. You should see the perennials outside my front door. And my new kitchen counter. Gorgeous. 
• Pare down the possessions.  I used to need two closets to hold all my clothes. Now everything is hanging in 3/4 of one… and that's summer and winter clothes! I've taken so many boxes and bags of books, tchotchkes and dishes to Goodwill, the volunteers there know more about me than you do. The sense of freedom and light that comes from a good unburdening is immense. I highly recommend it.
• Focus on healthy living. I wanted to adopt a more holistic approach to living this year and I'm making progress. I did everything from taking up yoga and Tai Chi to packing a healthy lunch for work every day the past six months. I also wanted to do something about my sleep issues and attended a sleep seminar (sponsored through work) to learn what I needed to change to get more rest. I bought light-eliminating shades for the bedroom, started running a fan for white noise (and to keep the room cool for the best sleep) and started meditating before I turned in. Though it took a few weeks to readjust, I am happy to say I'm sleeping again. I feel great. 

How about you, dear reader? Have you made changes this year? Have changes you'd like to make? I would love to hear about them and cheer you on. 

Happy July and the best of 2011 to you.

Comments

[Ronnica]

"The sense of freedom and light that comes from a good unburdening is immense."

Absolutely. I really thought I only had the essentials in this last move (I really don't have a lot!). But I've cleaned out at least 6 large boxes of stuff...and I'm not done.

[Debra]

It's a great feeling, isn't it, Ronnica? In a lovely way, having less makes me feel more secure and more free at the same time. It's been eye-opening.