Time to review my October balanced life goals and list what I intend to do to strive for balance in November.
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:
October 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
- 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, especially the Kathina celebrations to mark the end of the rainy season retreat. I continued with my daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, and I have tried to be positive, joyful, and generous. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Spiritual (10)
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able
October House (9)(8.5): 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 (goal = 31 items)
The house is being maintained, although I haven't been very consistent with following my cleaning schedule, this month. I've had some things (mostly papers) piling up, from time to time, too and, although I did some decluttering, I fell short of my goal of 31 items. I am lowering my satisfaction rating to 8.5, because I wasn't consistent with the cleaning, didn't meet my decluttering goal, and ended the month with a few piles still sitting out!
November House (8.5):
- 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)
- Continue with landscaping the side yard
October Family & Friends (10)(10): The goal is to continue to have a close connection with family and friends.
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (4 scheduled - dentist, ophthalmologist, blood test, oncologist) - DONE
I attended all my medical appointments, this month, and did what I needed to do to get my insurance coverage. I received the Medicare card and am waiting for confirmation that my health insurance coverage will also continue. According to the scales at the doctor's office, I have lost 4 lbs. since my last visit in July. My blood test results were good, too, for the most part. I'm keeping the rating at 8!
November Health & Well Being (8):
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (2 scheduled - dentist and podiatrist)
November Time Management (8):
- Continue to focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully
October 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
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- 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, especially the Kathina celebrations to mark the end of the rainy season retreat. I continued with my daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, and I have tried to be positive, joyful, and generous. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Spiritual (10)
- Continue with daily prayers, meditation, being grateful, positive, and joyful
- Continue to attend Temple prayer/blessing services online
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment by being generous and giving to the extent I am able
October House (9)(8.5): 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 (goal = 31 items)
The house is being maintained, although I haven't been very consistent with following my cleaning schedule, this month. I've had some things (mostly papers) piling up, from time to time, too and, although I did some decluttering, I fell short of my goal of 31 items. I am lowering my satisfaction rating to 8.5, because I wasn't consistent with the cleaning, didn't meet my decluttering goal, and ended the month with a few piles still sitting out!
November House (8.5):
- 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)
October 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
- Discuss the possibility of planting additional fruit trees with M
The garden is being maintained. We've had cooler weather and the rose bushes are flowering. I cleared one flower bed and the self-seeded osteospermum seedlings are starting to grow, there. M and I also planted the moringa plants and he made me a mini victory garden and planted cool weather vegetable seeds for me. I put down more flattened cardboard boxes in the side yard in an attempt to form a weed barrier and have started on a second layer of flattened boxes. I am keeping the rating at 9.
November Garden (9):
- Maintain(water frequently as needed, weed, fertilize)
- Continue with landscaping the side yard
The garden is being maintained. We've had cooler weather and the rose bushes are flowering. I cleared one flower bed and the self-seeded osteospermum seedlings are starting to grow, there. M and I also planted the moringa plants and he made me a mini victory garden and planted cool weather vegetable seeds for me. I put down more flattened cardboard boxes in the side yard in an attempt to form a weed barrier and have started on a second layer of flattened boxes. I am keeping the rating at 9.
November Garden (9):
- Maintain(water frequently as needed, weed, fertilize)
- Continue with landscaping the side yard
October 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 and this month, she shared her daily drawings with me to post on the blog. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November 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
- Be supportive of her and continue to be there for her
Daughter and I continue to keep in contact daily and this month, she shared her daily drawings with me to post on the blog. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November 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
- Look forward to the possibility of her coming down for Thanksgiving!
October 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
This month, I have been blessed with help from both family and friends! My cousin's daughter drove me to my eye appointment and back. Friend S's daughter made some photocopies of documents for me. Friend A's daughter faxed those documents and made both photocopies and scans of other documents. I have also interacted with family and friends through phone calls, emails, texts, etc. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Family and Friends (10):
- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends
October Community (10)(10): The goals is to be involved in my community
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible
This month, I have been blessed with help from both family and friends! My cousin's daughter drove me to my eye appointment and back. Friend S's daughter made some photocopies of documents for me. Friend A's daughter faxed those documents and made both photocopies and scans of other documents. I have also interacted with family and friends through phone calls, emails, texts, etc. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Family and Friends (10):
- Regular phone calls and emails to check on family and friends
October Community (10)(10): The goals is to be involved in my community
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible
In addition to my usual participation in the blogging community, interacting with neighbors, and participating in temple services online, I participated in the larger community by voting! I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Community (10):
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible.
November Community (10):
- Continue to participate in the various community groups to the extent possible.
October Finances (10)(10): The goal is financial security
- Continue spending mindfully, with purpose
I continued to spend mindfully in October. I stayed within budget for groceries in October, too. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Finances (10):
I continued to spend mindfully in October. I stayed within budget for groceries in October, too. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Finances (10):
- Continue spending mindfully, with purpose
My big expense this month will be my property taxes.
October Health & Well Being (8)(8): The goal is good health
October Health & Well Being (8)(8): The goal is good health
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (4 scheduled - dentist, ophthalmologist, blood test, oncologist) - DONE
- Participate in the phone appointment regarding my application for Medicare - DONE
- Fill out the health coverage applications - DONE
- Continue to work on the same life style changes as before to the extent possible
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight
I attended all my medical appointments, this month, and did what I needed to do to get my insurance coverage. I received the Medicare card and am waiting for confirmation that my health insurance coverage will also continue. According to the scales at the doctor's office, I have lost 4 lbs. since my last visit in July. My blood test results were good, too, for the most part. I'm keeping the rating at 8!
November Health & Well Being (8):
- Attend all of this month's medical appointments (2 scheduled - dentist and podiatrist)
- Continue to work on the same life style changes as before to the extent possible
- Continue to strive to attain a healthier weight
October Time Management (8)(8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner.
- Continue to focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully
On going. I am making my schedule work for me, trying not to procrastinate, and trying to spend my time purposefully and mindfully. I have met all deadlines, both real and self-imposed. I am keeping my satisfaction rating to 8.
October Time Management (8)(8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner.
- Continue to focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully
On going. I am making my schedule work for me, trying not to procrastinate, and trying to spend my time purposefully and mindfully. I have met all deadlines, both real and self-imposed. I am keeping my satisfaction rating to 8.
November Time Management (8):
- Continue to focus on making my schedule work for me
- Procrastinate less
- Spend time purposefully, mindfully
October 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
- Do a crafts project
I have been engaging in daily joyful activities and did quite a few of the activities listed in my October Joys list. I have been practicing the piano, too. I have been knitting a scarf, although it is not the one I was planning on doing in October. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10):
- Do a crafts project
I have been engaging in daily joyful activities and did quite a few of the activities listed in my October Joys list. I have been practicing the piano, too. I have been knitting a scarf, although it is not the one I was planning on doing in October. I am keeping the rating at 10.
November Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10):
- Engage in daily joyful activities
- Daily piano practicing
- Do the crafts project I have in mind
- Do the crafts project I have in mind
October was a bit stressful for me for a couple of reasons, but, over all, I think I was able to find sufficient balance.
How was your October 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 November?
You are doing great and your wheel should be rolling pretty well.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Live and Learn; yes, my life is more balanced now than it has been in a long time, even with everything that is going on. I feel very blessed to be able to say that.
DeleteI think you've done a great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. I am trying. :)
DeleteI enjoy seeing your goals and the great progress you make. You inspire me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. :)
DeleteIt looks like it's only your 'house' category that has a reduced score so all in all it's been a good month for you. I'm sure you'll soon get back to your routines now that the worry of the paperwork and medical card is out of the way.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you both if your daughter does manage to get home for Thanksgiving. How would she travel? Is flying still an option or would she hire a car?
Yes, the house area suffered a bit, this month. Nothing too major; I need to put some things back where they belong, do a little cleaning, and another round of decluttering!
DeleteMy daughter and I are both excited about her visit home! One of her friends is planning to drive down to visit family and has offered her a ride. She was a little nervous about being in a car for 6 hours or so with someone from a different household, but her friend has been working from home and only going grocery shopping, etc., so we thought it would be safe enough.
I do hope everything works out for your daughter's visit home. It will be so good for both of you and will help you to keep going during this awkward time of isolating so much.
ReplyDeleteI do admire how well you keep up with your blog and I have to thank you for it because it is always rather sad to go to a blog and find nothing new for weeks!
Thank you, Bushlady. As of this evening, there is a possibility that her friend might not be able to give her a ride, but, we shall wait and see how things turn out.
DeleteThank you, Bushlady. I enjoy blogging and try to do so daily. :)