July Balanced Life Goals Review

Time to review July's balanced life goals!  This month had a lot packed into it, I think.

Spiritual:  The goal is to live a spiritually meaningful life.

- Continue with daily prayers and gratitude - On going; daily prayers are being said; have been listing 5 things for which to be grateful, daily.

- Continue to focus on blessings, joy, and abundance - Have been trying to do so.  All it takes is a look at my fabric stash to know what abundance is!

- Take time for meditation(doesn't have to be an extended period of time;  even 5 minutes of intentional, mindful meditation is good) - Have been trying.  I am finding that sewing and watering the garden are good meditative activities.

- Cultivate non-attachment and patience! Trying!

- Attend the monthly prayer gathering if possible - Attended the monthly prayer gathering and gave a ride to a cousin, as well.

Environment:  The goal is a clean, tidy, uncluttered house and a well-maintained garden.

House:

- Do some regular house cleaning in order to maintain what I have been able to achieve - implement cleaning routines to the extent possible - House is being maintained, more or less, but the cleaning is being done in "fits and starts", so to speak; a bit here, a bit there; nothing as regular as a weekly cleaning routine, I'm afraid.

- Declutter -  Cultivate non-attachment to things by decluttering at least one item a day during the month of July - Ha! Didn't happen, but, I have decluttered some.

- Do some organizing  - Not much.

Garden:

- Plant the poor succulents before they die! - Even my gardener said it was too hot to plant them!
- Plant the grape vines and get a trellis for them - They are still in the pots!  But they are alive and seem to be doing OK.
- Continue to weed and mulch - Gardener friend has been weeding; we used up all the mulch.

Daughter:  The goal is to continue to have a close relationship with her. 
- Daily texts, phone calls, emails , and video chatting!  There is no plan for her to visit this month - We have a routine: we text good morning when we wake up; we call each other when we get home from work (she usually gets home before I do, so she texts me to say she's home and I call her when I get home); we video chat in the evening.  Occasionally, in between, we send emails, or pictures, etc.    

Family & Friends:  The goal is to keep in touch with various family members and friends.

- Communicate regularly - phone calls, texts, and emails - Have been doing so.

- Wish two friends for their birthdays - Called and wished them both; took one friend out to both lunch and dinner (on two separate days) to celebrate!

- Go out to lunch or dinner with a friend - Did both with one friend!

  
Career:  The goal is to continue to do work which I enjoy (for the most part) and which enables me to support myself.
- Celebrate my 34th anniversary!- I completed 34 years of service in July!

Finances:  The goal is financial security.
- Continue budgeting and spending mindfully, with purpose - Have been doing so; also, spoke with my financial planner who called to touch bases and give me an update.  

 
Health & Well Being:  The goal is good health.  This will continue to be the focus, this month, as my longer than anticipated recovery continues!
- Attend the appointments with my various doctors - 4 scheduled, so far, in July, there might be at least one or two more!  Have been doing so. 

- Continue to go for additional screening tests, as needed - Had an ultrasound and a mammogram done

- Continue to monitor blood pressure, sugar levels, and weight (now that my taste buds and appetite have returned!) - Have been doing so.

- Continue to focus on a healthier diet (more vegetables!), drinking enough water, exercising regularly, and getting sufficient sleep - A work in progress!  I started out the month well, especially with the exercising, but it all sort of petered out towards the end of the month!

Time Management:  The goal is having enough time to do all what I want to do!
- Organize myself and put routines into place so I have a more regular schedule - Yet another work in progress!

 

 Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time:  The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.
- Put together a succulents planter to take to the office - Nope!
- Do a few things from the Summer Joy list - I did quite a few things including: daily prayers, drinking my tea from my favorite cups, interacting daily with my daughter, going out to lunch/dinner with a friend, doing crafts projects (tote bags and baby quilt), playing with fabric, and visiting the farmers market.

 

My life wasn't very balanced in July; I had too many medical issues for that, but, I think I did OK, all things considered.  There were a lot of positives to balance out the negatives, I think.

How was your July?  Did you achieve what you wanted to accomplish in July?