Sunday, March 31, 2019

Week 13: Article Published and Quarterly Reflections

It's the last day of March and that means we're 3 months into my 60 until 60 project!  This week, my latest article for TechBeacon about Self-Organizing Teams was published, so I'm marking that goal  complete!

Since the "work" part of that goal (actually writing and submitting the article) was done earlier in the month, this was a good week for me to spend on reflections of my project as a whole or in Agile speak do my "quarterly retrospective" and planning for the next quarter.

Summary:

* I'm right on track with completing and blogging about one goal every week! (Marked green below)
* I've started or have a plan for goals that I'll plan to complete next quarter. (Marked yellow below)
* My on-going "individual celebrations" (Marked blue below) have been fun and I've made a Slideshow and Playlist with the first 13 celebrations:


* There's only one goal that I don't think I'll be able to complete (Marked red below) because Matt and Stella won't be able to attend the Albuquerque Balloon Festival after all. I'm going to change that to the most challenging goal I've been working on: Walk 2019 miles in 2019!
* Some items are ongoing or more about mindset (Marked purple below). These will be hard to ever fully "complete" so instead, I may just blog about a particular example and then mark them as done on my list.

What's working well:

* The list of goals and project gives me purpose. Without it, it's easy to say, 'some day I'll do...' but let other things get in the way.  This is helping me make sure I accomplish at least one thing on this list each week.
* Because I'm not working much, I have time to do a lot of other things beyond this list! As long as I get at least one thing from the list done a week, I can explore other things I want to do without feeling like I'm losing focus.
* Overall, I'm changing my mindset in the way I live my life, which is my overarching goal.  I'm constantly working on improving and doing things that are important to me.
* My weekly blog post helps me keep myself accountable.
* I really appreciate my sister, Michele, especially, for all the support she's given me with this project (including housing me for much of the winter!)  I also appreciate anyone who's helping me accomplish any of the goals or joining me in my celebrations! And thanks to MB for the comments on almost every post! (TY, TYVM).

What could be better:

* Some things on my list are very big and others are easy and small. Technically, the big items (features) should be broken down into small things (stories) that can be done in a week.  But I like keeping with my original list of 60 things (to keep to my 60 theme!)
* I know my blog posts are not very entertaining. If you've made it this far in this blog post, give yourself a big 'Yay' from me!
* It would be better if I were doing this project with someone else so we were holding each other accountable.  However, some of the goals, I'm doing with other people, and those are the most fun for me.

  1. Keep doing strength building exercises do at least one unassisted pull-up. Accomplished Week 2: 1/11/19. 
  2. Hike in beautiful spots Including Crested Butte during wildflower season) Record with Map My Hike App.
  3. Participate and dress up in at least one fun race like the Bolder Boulder
  4. Research bone-healthy recipes and make dinner to share with other friends who are working on their bone strength Accomplished Week 6: 2/7/19
  5. Learn a choreographed dance
  6. Try PickleBall
  7. Call 10 friends and relatives who I haven’t seen in a long time to invite them to my 60-week virtual BD party and get a song for my playlist. Accomplished Week 1: 1/7/19
  8. Take a work mentor to dinner.
  9. Every week share a “Cool Thing of the Week” via social media and encourage others to do the same. Accomplished Week 12: 3/24/19
  10. Foster strong and deep communication with everyone I meet. Aim to have at least one positive social connection every day and at least one event every week. 
  11. Write a gratitude letter to the police who helped me during a family emergency
  12. Visit my Mom & brother in Sacramento as well as others in Northern CA who are available (My former in-laws, high school, and college friends.)
  13. Visit my sister in Southern CA and go to this super-cool bookstore (among other things). Accomplished Week 3: 1/18/19
  14. Practice a mindset of kindness and gratitude and journal weekly about reflections
  15. Contribute to any cause that a friend asks me to support
  16. Participate in efforts to help those with ALS and their caregivers
  17. Learn digital photography better with the help of a professional photographer (my sister, Michele) Accomplished Week 4: 1/28/19
  18. Learn how to Meditate
  19. Learn more about poetry and write a poem
  20. Practice the piano and be able to play some of the pieces I used to play well along with some new pieces.
  21. Experiment learning a new instrument - maybe the ukulele
  22. Sing with a group
  23. Explore an acting class or group and try to get a part in a play
  24. Get better at a foreign language (Spanish, French, and/or Italian) and practice with a friend
  25. Put together a playlist of at least 60 songs by gathering songs from friends
  26. Plan and host my 60th virtual/real birthday party
  27. Create slideshows of the celebrations I have throughout my 60-week ‘party’
  28. Host a theme party (Flamingo, Carpe Diem, Wine-Tasting, Murder Mystery, Games, Purple,etc.)
  29. Go to a foreign country and practice speaking the native language
  30. Research and explore snowbird locations
  31. Go to Disneyworld with the Tidds Accomplished Week 9: 2/28-3/1
  32. Go to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival with Stella and Matt
  33. Go to the Meowolf exhibit in Santa Fe with Stella and Matt
  34. Visit New England in the Fall with Rebecca R.
  35. Do some TBD adventure with Scotty Accomplished Week 5: 1/30/19-2/1/19 Road Trip to CA
  36. Visit Minnesota friends in August
  37. Do a roadside altar road trip with Rebecca M.
  38. See all the movies that are up for Best Picture Accomplished Week 8
  39. Dress up and go to a musical at the theater
  40. Read a book that’s on the best seller list
  41. Binge watch a Netflix series with someone
  42. Clean my basement window-wells
  43. Try marble contact paper on an old table
  44. Clean and organize the ‘craft area’ of my basement
  45. Sell, give-away, throwaway and organize what’s left of my games, puzzles, and toys
  46. Sell, give-away, throwaway and organize what’s left of my books
  47. Clean out my wardrobe and get rid of old clothes that I never wear Accomplished Week 10
  48. Put DIY flooring or carpets in basement
  49. Put DIY walls in basement that will allow me to hang pictures, etc.
  50. Refurbish window sills and baseboards that are old and chipped
  51. Label and repair my breaker box
  52. Get rid of or repair floor lamps
  53. Hang pretty lights in basement and bedroom
  54. Fix up den as a potential airBnB room for rent Accomplished Week 11
  55. Buy something at a Thrift store and fix it up
  56. Create a course about using Agile in everyday life
  57. Sign up on sites to get freelance Agile coaching / training gigs: Accomplished Week 2: 1/13/19
  58. Update Website with my coaching / training / writing accomplishments
  59. Create outline for book about Agile in everyday life
  60. Continue to write freelance articles Accomplished Week 13

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"And thanks to MB for the comments on almost every post! (TY, TYVM)."

Y.W.....Y.W.V.M!
(You're Welcome...You're Welcome very Much!)

"I know my blog posts are not very entertaining."
You might be surprised!

"Hike in beautiful spots (Including Crested Butte during wildflower season) Record with Map My Hike App."
Looking forward to it!

"Write a gratitude letter to the police who helped me during a family emergency."
Love it!

mommy's cookbook said...

This is aawesome