I’m a latecomer to the world of Gretchen Rubin. I discovered her last summer when I was looking for podcasts to listen to that would lift my spirit and help me develop a positive mindset. I simply typed “happiness” into my podcast app’s search bar and the top podcast was entitled: “Happier, with Gretchen Rubin.” I had no idea who she was or that she had a best-selling self-help book, The Happiness Project (and several others), I just liked the title and I appreciated the simplicity of her advice.
One of her projects last year was “18 for 2018,” a personalized list of tasks one would like to tackle throughout the year. Because I started listening mid-year, I was too late to take on that one, but decided to give it a try this year and do “19 for 2019.” The best thing about the list is that it is low-pressure. The tasks aren’t resolutions and they don’t have to be life-changing. They can be as mundane as finding a new shampoo or they can be as monumental as quitting smoking. At the end of the year, there are no expectations that you will have completed all 19. Instead, you can enjoy the satisfaction found in the ones you did accomplish.
For accountability, I’ve decided to post my 19 for 2019 here on my blog. As the year goes one I’ll come back to revisit the ones I complete.
My 19 for 2019 (in no particular order):
- Watch ALL the Avengers movies in chronological order before seeing Avengers:Endgame.
- Run in 6 local 5ks
- Spend one entire day playing Zelda on the wii
- Finish reading every book club book (1 each month)
- Organize our important paperwork
- Fix our printer
- Organize our address book before Christmas card time
- Get our passports renewed
- Learn to play my dulcimer
- Lose 15 pounds
- Keep a calendar of time spent with friends so I can make sure I’m not neglecting any friendships.
- Visit Valley Forge with the kids.
- Visit every covered bridge in Columbia County, PA.
- Update our wall photography.
- Write at least one blog post per week.
- Get my hair colored.
- Get a professional family photo taken.
- Do three service projects with the kids.
- Get grass to grow in the muddy spots our yard.
If I accomplish even half of these, I will consider it a pretty successful year.
Do you have a 19 for 2019 list?
I didn’t know you had a dulcimer! LOL
Mom bought it for me two Christmases ago. I can sit down and pick out some tunes, but I’d like to learn to play it well.