A Year of Manifesting Wellness
In the first newsletter of each month, I'll be doing a review of the previous month's theme in my year of Manifesting Wellness. I’ll also share a little bit about the project overall and what I plan to do in the current month to manifest wellness.
It’s Halfway Day
Happy Halfway Day! Today is officially the midpoint of 2024. One of my favorite authors and podcasters, Gretchen Rubin, often says, “The days are long, but the years are short.” That has never been more true for me than in 2024. Treatment days and the waiting periods surrounding treatment were so, so long. But, how in the world is it already the halfway point of 2024? This is a good time to take a few moments to pause and reflect - and to focus on gratitude.
Looking back on the year so far
I’m so incredibly grateful for all that has happened this year. Here is a portion of the gratitude list I made this morning to celebrate halfway day:
I’m done with cancer treatment and there is currently no evidence of cancer in my scans!
We will welcome two new babies to our family this year. Overall, our family is happy and healthy. Where diseases are present they are being well managed.
Gayle, Kona, and I are settling in to some wonderful rhythms at the Bestie Bungalow. It feels a little more like home every day. Kona even prompts us to go for a loop some evenings! He’s doing his job as Chief PAW (Chief of Peace and Wellness) very well.
It’s an Olympic year. We’re having so much fun watching the trials - including seeing the Swim trials live in Indianapolis.
We got to swim with a dolphin in April in Florida!
Monarch Strategies LLC is going really well. I’m doing great work with partners and clients I love so much.
I’ve spent at least 20 minutes reading and done at least one DuoLingo lesson every day this year.
We’re planning for an epic trip in April of 2025 to London and the Netherlands to see the tulips!
That’s certainly not all of the awesome things that have happened this year or the amazing things I have to look forward to. However, just taking 10 minutes this morning to make a gratitude list was a real happiness and energy booster.
July’s Focus
Let’s review the monthly themes as they currently stand:
January - FinancesFebruary - SpiritMarch - EnergyApril - Outer Order ← Tax time is always a good time to get things in orderMay - Play Creativity← Cancer treatment should be OVER!!June -RestBody ???← My body has been through a lot. Time to give it some focus.July - Family & Friends ← I’m headed out on vacation with the family at the beginning of the month and Gayle and I
mayWILL host some friends in July.August -
HealthBody← This is the normal time I do my “project health” month, so I’m going to focus on my body.September - Work ← Labor Day is a nice reminder to focus on work
October - Celebration ← I’ve got a big birthday this month
November - Awe and Wonder
December - Onward
What's Planned for July?
I opted for the theme of rest in June. I think rhythm would have also been a good theme as I reflect on the month. I’m getting back to the point where I can work about 5 - 7 hours a day on the days I work. I haven’t done all that much of that since we moved here so I’m still discovering what working from home feels like at the Bestie Bungalow. I’ve tried to focus on those rhythms, particularly the last couple of weeks. I need a decompression time between work and leisure that I haven’t needed in the past. Identifying the problem and finding a way to address it has been a real happiness booster.
July is going to be all about family and friends. I’m heading out next week on a family trip to Michigan - and so there won’t be a newsletter next week! Our family has been going to this same area in Michigan for five generations! A couple of the littles who have never been there will get to go for the first time on this trip. I love introducing the littles to all the things that this area has to offer.
Gayle and I also “pulled the trigger” last night and officially decided to have a gathering towards the end of July. We had planned a big house warming party when we first moved in. I got diagnosed with cancer and all that went on hold. So, a year later, we’re combining a house warming and a celebration of kicking cancer’s a**! It will be fun to finally host friends and family in our new home.
How is your year going so far? How will you mark halfway day? What are your favorite ways to celebrate with family and friends?
Some Things You Might Find Interesting
What I’m hosting: LAST CHANCE! The FREE Getting Started with AI workshop is today at 1 p.m. eastern time. To join me, visit https://iwannabemewhenigrowup.circle.so and click on Free Events.
Simone Biles “Rising”: Swimming, Diving, Track & Field, and Gymnastics trials are over. What in the world are we going to watch until the Opening Ceremony? One thing on our list is the Simone Biles docuseries “Rising” that releases on Netflix just before the Opening Ceremony. (P.S. We won’t watch the women’s gymnastics final until tonight so - no spoilers!)
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Enjoyed your halfway day check-in. Joined your free community. And this - "... Our family has been going to this same area in Michigan for five generations! ..." sounds AMAZING!
p.s. update/correct the "check out courses" button.