Pix 'n Prose: January Journal Challenge:

Seemed easy enough. I do love a great numbered list. I wrote out the first four in my journal and then life got nuts, and I never went back. (Although, I think the idea is to CREATIVELY make these list, artistically, using fancy felt pens and and scrapbooking supplies and whatnot.)

Maybe I should try now? To catch up? I am typically not a quitter...

1. Three things I want to start:

I want to start changing my mindset. Embrace the new year, new opportunities, new situations, new beginnings. (I usually don't love "new". I'm happy with 'same-old'.)
I need to start looking after myself better. (My new hip didn't fix my mobility issues; so I need to adjust my expectations and add physio (and other boring things) to my routines.
I'm looking forward to starting a new habit of writing in my new 5 Year Diary every night before I fall asleep.

2. Five habits I want to build:

Become a better flosser.
Stretching. Daily.
Putting dishes in the dishwasher instead of the sink.
Go outside/breathe fresh air EVERY DAY, even in the winter.
Listen to music more often.

3. Three lessons from 2025:

Life is hard.
Bodies wear out.
Relationships are fragile.

4. Four things that help me reset:

A counselling session
Time with my mentor
Dinner/coffee with support group/friends
Journaling/List making

5. Three small goals for this month:

Figure out how to use blood pressure machine
Put pink baubles on Christmas tree so it looks Valentine-sy
Inspired by the books The Correspondent and Theo of Golden, write/send one card/letter in the mail every week.

6. Five things that energize me:

Hanging out with creative people doing creative things
Spending time with my kids
Sunny/non-rainy days
Inspiring conversations about possibilities
Talking about business/marketing/ with people who're excited about their jobs

7. Three routines I enjoy:

Monthly pedicures
Book club nights
Saturday evening church services

8. Four things I want more of:

Time spent with my fam
Summer days
Self-discipline
Savings/Money

9. Three things I want less of:

Belly fat
Arthritic joints
Anxious thoughts about my future

10. Five ways I can care for myself:

Eat more protein
Eat less sugar
Lift weights
Sleep more
Say nice words to myself

11. Three things I'm hopeful about:

Spring always follows winter
God has a plan. It's a good one.
By the end of the year, I'll have two daughters in law.

12. Four things I'm proud of starting:

This blog post
I made 31 entries in my new 5 year journal. (Plus 7 more since I started this blog post.)
I started a colour coded, post-it note, To Do wall to organize myself for February
I started filling up a box for Thrift. Hoping to clean out two closets this week ...

13. Three fears I'm naming:

Poverty
Obesity
Old Age

14. Five things that feel possible:

Living with less
Adding Bingo and Trivia nights to my life
Answered prayers
Getting back to work
Reading 40 books this year

15. Three intentions for my time:

I don't know what this means so I'm skipping it.

16. Four comfort routines:

bubble baths
napping with a heat pack on my back while wrapped in a blanket on my couch
slippers after walking around in boots
sleeping in a cold room with a down-filled duvet

17. Three first steps I can take:

Make an appointment
Write a letter
Ask for help

18. Five things that help me feel grounded:

I'm losing interest in this journaling project
I was planning on doing it all year, but now I'm not sure I'll make it through January's prompts.
Things that help me feel grounded? Life. Everyday life is very grounding.

19. Three gentle promises to myself:

Yeah, I may be done. All this navel gazing is boring.
A gentle promise to myself? That I won't beat myself up if I don't finish everything I start.
And, conversely, I promise to pick up where I left off, if I quit something that I really should complete.

20. Four things I want to nurture:

Oy, had to look up the meaning of nurture. "care for and encourage the growth or development of."
So, I want to (OBVSIOUSLY) nurture the relationships I have with my kids.
And, of course, nurture my relationship with Jesus.
And, nurture the other important relationships in my life.
And, I want to encourage the growth and development of me. I want to be working towards a better version of me.

21. Three things that feel new:

Well. My hip feels new. BECAUSE IT IS.
My family feels new. The addition of two new daughter-in-laws, changes the dynamics of my lil fam ... everything feels different.
This season of my life IS new. I've not navigated these waters before. So many unknowns.

22. Five daily anchors:

This feels like that question of Five Things That Keep Me Grounded. Being grounded is the same as being anchored, yes? Things that keep one from floating or drifting away?
Didn't like this question when it was asked on Day 18. Don't like it now.
Pass.
Next question?

23. Three things I want to learn: