In 2022 I set forth on a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined. I supposed I conquered a few things last year, like the back yard. In 2023, I’m on a different quest.
It’s been tricky to narrow down what missions I want to make public. So in 2023 there are a few public goals, a few more secret goals, and some other odds and ends like a word for the year.
On to this year’s mission!
Move More Sit Less
I sit all day for work, then I stand and make dinner. Then I sit to eat dinner and I sit to read books. And sometimes I putter around my yard and call it gardening, but most of the time I sit.
I March I walked more than 80,000 steps. That translates into a wee bit over 33 miles – and that’s an amazing thing given that I started the year at nothing.
I’m writing this on April 2 and am still working on the Conqueror Virtual Challenges. The Cotswold Way challenge is 97 miles. I thought it would take me three months to finish, but that’s just not the case. I started this one on February 6 and will definitely finish it sometime this week or early next week.
I seriously thought it would take me all year to finish 175 miles. But here it is APRIL and I’m almost done with the three I started with in January. So I signed up for another three challenges: Rome, Paris, and London. I really need to increase my year-long goal of 175 miles, don’t I?
All Things Writing
Last year I finished the first draft of a novel. This year I want to finish the second draft. I also enjoyed posting twice a month here, so let’s see if I can meet or exceed that one in 2023.
- I wrote two posts in March: Mission 2023 March and The Ultimate List of Goodreads Alternatives for 2023.
- I published another brief newsletter in March – yeah me!
Finish All The Projects
If you’ve owned a home, you know that the list of projects never end. And to be honest, I don’t think I’ll finish ALL of the projects. But this year, I’d like to knock a few of those things that I’ve been thinking about for a long time right off the list.
This part of the mission is more about consistently making an effort to do the things…all the things…even the little things like take that pile of things to the thrift store or break down the boxes and put them in the car and haul them off to the recycling center.
Not much activity on this one in March. But spring is just getting started, right?
Secret Things
There are a handful of other things I’m hoping will happen, and this is the month that one of the secret things happens:
I’m marching in the New York City Tartan Week parade with a huge group from Bay City Rollers Fan Events!!!!!!
Tartan Week celebrates Scottish culture and heritage and the whole week culminates with a parade up Sixth Avenue.
The parade begins at 2pm on Saturday, April 15. Last year I watched live streams on YouTube, so I’ll bet you can find one or two if you search for Tartan Week parade live stream.
Bay City Rollers Fan Events encouraged us to wear “RollerGear” – that iconic tartan-trimmed look that the Rollers had. I’m diverting from that a bit, but still wearing a ton of tartan. Here’s a sneak peak at the main components of my parade outfit featuring the Wallace “Red Modern” tartan.
Year In Books
This year I’m a Bookshop affiliate. Bookshop actively supports local, independent bookstores and has even given more than 80% of their profit margin to independent bookstores. I even have my own store on Bookshop!
I’m making an effort to buy some books from Bookshop, and others from Sleepy Dog Books, my local independent bookstore.
(Disclosure: All of the links to books are Bookshop.org affiliate links. If you click through the link and finalize a purchase, I earn a commission.)
Here’s what I read in February and March:
- The Dream Keeper’s Daughter by Emily Colin
- Beach Trip by Cathy Holton
- The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
- The Unwilling by Kelly Braffert
Word of the Year
Action is the word of the year. I want to accomplish, do, go, make things happen.
March was not a “make things happen” kind of month. It’s a “darn it all my allergies are here so I can’t work outside” and a “is that snow?” kind of month. Once the leaves are out on the trees, my allergies will be done and I shall make ore things happen. No, really, I will.
Guiding Thought
As I went through the process of thinking about my mission for the year, the one thing that I kept returning to was: what was life like before the internet? Do more of that!
That did not happen at all in March. Nope, not one bit. I used the internet a LOT. I bought stuff for my upcoming trip. I surfed all sorts of websites. Star Trek: Picard started and I will not miss an episode. And then I just happened to start re-watching Babylon 5 on Tubi. Sigh.
Quote of the Month
Did you know there is a collection of thought-provoking quotes up at the top of the blog? Once that page displays and you’ve absorbed the words, click “Next Quote” to see another and another and another.
Once she told me she was an ocean person and when she combed her fingers through the seaweed she heard the songs of the mermaids and it was easy to believe all the old stories.
Brian Andreas
Your Turn
Tell me how your “missions” are going this year. Read any good books lately?
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