Balanced Life Monthly Goals: August Review and September

It seems it was just yesterday when I was looking forward to August and here it is, almost at the end of August, looking forward to September!  Time to do a review of how well balanced my month was and what I intend to do to strive for balance in the month to come. 

As I've explained before, my monthly balanced life goals are similar to the spokes of a wheel, with the length of each spoke representing my satisfaction in that area of my life, from 1 to 10, with 1 being most dissatisfied and 10 being most satisfied.  Ideally, all the spokes are of equal length and the wheel will roll along smoothly.  If the spokes are of unequal lengths, then, the resulting wheel will be lop-sided and wobbly.  My ratings for each segment are shown within the parentheses, with the beginning of the month ratings in black and the end of the month ratings in blue.

Balanced Life Goals: August Spiritual (10)(10): The goal is to live a spiritually meaningful life.
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Participate in the August prayer gathering if possible
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able

I was able to attend online blessing services at the Temple, in August;  the monks continue to post it on a daily basis.  The August monthly rosary prayer gathering didn't take place, even online (it didn't take place in July, either).  I spoke with a friend who also participates in the prayer group and she commented about it, but, no one else has said anything.  As the only non-Catholic in the group, I am not going to say anything, either!  I continued with my own daily prayers (even found a new prayer tucked into a storage container, when cleaning!), meditation, being grateful, and I have tried to be positive and joyful.  I am keeping the rating at 10.

September Spiritual (10)
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Participate in the September prayer gathering if possible/if there is one
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able 

August House (9)(9): The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming.
- Clean - Clean as needed
- Organize - Continue to find a place for everything and keep everything in its place
- Well maintained - Keep "erasing the evidence"; implement daily and weekly cleaning schedules
- Decluttered - Continue to declutter

I have been cleaning, organizing, and keeping the house tidy and maintained; I deep cleaned and rearranged some shelving units and, while there is much more to be done, I am happy with what I was able to accomplish.  I decluttered more than 31 items (my unwritten goal for August), including a pair of scissors (handle broke!), a book, 5 magazines, catalogs, old user's manuals for appliances I no longer have, and glass jars.  I am keeping the rating at 9.  

September House (9):  
- Clean - Clean as needed
- Organize - Continue to find a place for everything and keep everything in its place
- Well maintained - Keep "erasing the evidence"; implement daily and weekly cleaning schedules
- Decluttered - Continue to declutter (goal = 30 items)

August Garden (9)(9): The goal is a garden that is productive, yet drought tolerant.

- Maintain (water frequently as needed, weed, fertilize)
- Continue with landscaping the side yard

The garden is being maintained, although the heatwave we had took its toll on the plants as usual.  I was able to harvest a few more tomatoes and a mystery melon from the volunteer plants and that was both fun and exciting!  I continue to pick lemons and oranges from the trees, although they are coming to an end.  I put down more flattened cardboard boxes in the side yard in an attempt to form a weed barrier; that is an ongoing project.  My plan is to get several bags of pebbles to put down as a path with some stepping stones in between and plant some drought tolerant plants there.  I haven't decided on the plants, yet, but, I've taken some cuttings from the oleander tree and am rooting them.  I also have some gazania plants that can be dug up and planted there (in fact, I planted two and they seem to be doing well, even though the garden cats keep trampling them!)  I am keeping the rating at 9.  

September Garden (9):
- Maintain(water frequently as needed, weed, fertilize)
- Continue with landscaping the side yard

August Daughter (10)(10): The goal is to continue to have a close relationship with her.

- Daily texts, phone calls, and video chatting, etc., to keep in close touch with her
- Be supportive of her and continue to be there for her

Daughter and I continue to keep in contact daily.  She continues to work from home and shelter in place.  She hasn't left her apartment building since mid-March, other than the two times she had to evacuate due to the fire alarms (false alarms, both times, thank goodness!) and stood outside on the sidewalk!  I don't know when I'll see her in person next (there is a slight possibility she might be able to get a ride down with a friend for the holidays; it would be lovely if that happens), but, I am grateful that we get to see each other during our nightly online chats.  I am keeping the rating at 10.

September Daughter (10):
- Daily texts, phone calls, and video chatting, etc., to keep in close touch with her
- Be supportive of her and continue to be there for her

August Family & Friends (10)(10): The goal is to continue to have a close connection with family and friends.

- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends

On going.  I have been interacting regularly with family and friends through phone calls, emails, texts, etc.  I was able to help out a couple of members of the family and a friend with some items they needed and I am glad that I was in a position to help.  I am keeping the rating at 10.  

September Family and Friends (10):
- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends

August Community (10)(10):  The goals is to be involved in my community
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible

I participated in the blogging community, continued to participate in the online group, exchanged weekly phone calls with neighbor T, interacted with other neighbors, and participated in temple services online. I am keeping the rating at 10.

September Community (10):
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible.

August Finances (10)(10): The goal is financial security

- Continue spending mindfully, with purpose

I continued to spend mindfully in August.  In fact, other than regular household bills, etc., and buying my daughter an air purifier, I didn't spend a lot.  I am keeping the rating at 10.

September Finances (10):

- Continue spending mindfully, with purpose

August Health & Well Being (8)(8): The goal is good health

- See if I can reschedule at least one of this month's medical appointments, too

- Schedule another blood test

- Continue to work on the same life style changes as before to the extent possible
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight (lose 5 lbs)

I rescheduled a couple of my medical appointments - one for later in September and the other for October.

I scheduled and went for another blood test that was required.  My favorite lab technician attended to me; it was her 25th work anniversary and we chatted a bit.  She half jokingly asked me if the trip to the lab was my outing for the day.  I replied very seriously that it was actually my only outing for the month, as I stay home the rest of the time.  She was surprised and asked me how I get my essentials.  I said I either had stuff delivered or I do a curb-side pick up for groceries.  She immediately wrote out her work phone number and gave it to me, saying, if I ever needed something or maybe didn't want to do a curbside pick up for just a couple of items, to give her a call and she would be happy to get it for me and leave it on my doorstep!  Such a generous offer and a kind heart!  I am not very likely to take her up on that offer, of course, but, still, it touched me that she would offer to do that.  She has been checking my blood, etc., since my cancer diagnosis and she told me that she didn't want anything to happen to me!  The last time I went to get my blood test (in July), she had admired my face mask made with a kitty cat fabric; this time, I made another one with the rest of that fabric and gave it to her before I left the lab.  As I left, she said to me, "Call me if you need anything, I really mean it".  I don't know the results of the test, yet, though.

As for losing 5 lbs., I didn't, unless I stand on the scales my daughter gave me (she bought herself a digital scales and gave me her old scales) - I consistently weigh 5 lbs. less on that scales!  LOL.  On the other hand, I didn't gain anything, either, so, I am taking that as a positive!  Also, my toe has healed sufficiently to the point where it is no longer swollen and painful (still can't bend it, though); I should be able to resume walking for 20 minutes, in September.

I'm keeping the rating at 8!

September Health & Well Being (8):
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (3 scheduled - dentist, mammogram/bone density scan, podiatrist)

- Continue to work on the same life style changes as before to the extent possible

- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight 

August Time Management (7.5)(8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner.
- Keep to a more regular schedule
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully

On going.  I have decided that I will not fret about my schedule because it is not the early to rise/early to sleep schedule that most people have!  I have a night-owl's schedule, often going to bed after 4:00 a.m. and then, waking up usually around 9:30 or 10:00 a.m.  As a retired person living by herself, this schedule works just fine for me.  I have decided to accept it!

I still procrastinate, big time, but, I do get everything I need to do, done and that's what matters, isn't it?  Of course, it would be less stressful if I don't procrastinate, but, that's when I accomplish a lot of cleaning!  I've been known to wash walls and scrub floors when I am procrastinating on paperwork!

My goal is still to spend my time purposefully and mindfully.  But, on the strength of accepting my schedule for what it is and not what I think it should be, I am raising my satisfaction rating to 8.   

September Time Management (8):
- Focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully

August Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10)(10): The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.
- Engage in daily joyful activities

- Daily piano practicing
- Pick on unfinished crafts project and finish it!

I have been engaging in daily joyful activities and have been practicing the piano.  I picked a quilt in progress with the intention of finishing it (all it needed was to be sandwiched and bound), but, didn't finish it because it got too hot to work on a quilt!  At least, that was my excuse and I am sticking to it!  It was definitely not because this is the part of making a quilt that I dislike the most!  LOL.  I am keeping the rating at 10.  

September Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10):

- Engage in daily joyful activities

- Daily piano practicing
- Pick one unfinished crafts project (quilt in progress) and finish it!

How was your August in terms of maintaining balance among the different areas of your life?  How do you plan to achieve or maintain balance in your life in September?  What are your monthly goals for September?