Taking Time to Reflect on the First Half of 2019
It’s time to reflect on the first half of 2019
Last year I did a monthly series and gave you a glimpse into my planner each month. I’m still using (and loving!) my Kitlife planner, but I haven’t done the monthly series this year.
Why? First of all, I had a refresh of my website. I’m still loving my new website by the way, but while that was happening, I posted less. And then when it was finished, I still had some work to do on my end rearranging some things and uploading new images. I just didn’t have a chance to do a new post each month.
So grab a cup of coffee and let’s take a look back to what was in my planner for the first six months of 2019. I’ll share the highlights as well as workouts, faith, and some things that were on my gratitude list.
One of the reasons I love this planner is that it not only has room for me to write down appointments but it also has a section where I prioritize my daily activities, a section where I can track my workouts, and a section for my daily gratitude list. Then there is plenty of room for me to write notes that I take when I listen to a podcast or when I have quiet time and want to remember something the Lord spoke to me through prayer or His word and the study I’m currently doing.
Highlights from the first half of 2019
My word for 2019 is Breathe. I’ve been trying to carve out time to rest and create space and margin in my life. I feel like I’m doing fairly well with that by unplugging in the evening about an hour before bed and doing minimal work on the weekend.
Refreshed website. I connected with the perfect person to do just what my website needed. I’m so happy with how it turned out.
New book. I put my next book in the hands of a couple beta readers who have given me some valuable feedback. I’m applying some of their suggestions and plan to get it to more readers within the next month to help with editing. I plan to publish my young girls’ version of 40 Days of Faith and Fitness sometime this fall.
Faith and Fitness Membership Community. I am no longer offering three or four week stand alone accountability groups. Now you have the opportunity to be in an ongoing support and accountability group. Why? Because this is about establishing a sustainable healthy lifestyle. When I simply offered short term groups, I felt like I was following in the footsteps of diet culture that leads us to believe we are either “on” or “off” a plan, program, diet, etc. But this space is about finding a way to eat and move and simply live that is sustainable. The membership gives you the opportunity to stay for a month or as long as you’d like. It’s completely up to you.
Book edits. I made a couple minor corrections to my original 40 Days of Faith and Fitness as well as my Christmas devotional. As many times as I’ve read through, and have had others read through, my books, things still get by. Making changes to books isn’t always easy, so I’m thankful that I got the updates complete without much trouble.
Looking back at the first half of 2019 and what's on tap for the second half. #goals #justbreathe Click To Tweet
Speaking. I spoke to a couple of groups and had some local meet ups.
Spring Break. Kent, Ethan, and I enjoyed a spring break trip to Philadelphia with stops in Pittsburgh and Hershey.
Continuing Education. I completed my Continuing Education Units for my Mental Health Counselor License.
New car. Ethan turned 16 in April so next comes driver’s license. We needed to add a car and decided I’d pass down mine to Ethan, and I would get a new car. The car has made it to my gratitude list several times as well, because I absolutely love my new Camry. God worked it out beautifully and it was the exact car I wanted.
US Senior Open Championships in South Bend. A year ago I got tickets for Kent and Ethan to attend this golf event that was held the end of June. They love golf, and this was a unique opportunity to see some great golfers. It was all on or near the Notre Dame campus. We had a really good weekend.
Wellness in the first half of 2019
I went to the doctor recently, because I just haven’t been feeling myself during my training runs. I’m not doing near the mileage I did just 2-3 years ago because of arthritis in my knees. Three years ago that diagnosis made my mileage come to an abrupt halt. I have since learned what is appropriate mileage that my knees can handle so I can stay sane! (Running is my therapy for sure. lol!) But also over the last few years, I’ve noticed that even during shorter slower runs I have trouble breathing. I’m fine otherwise, but when I run, I feel like I just can’t breathe well and my effort is way more than what my pace and distance is saying. So I went to my doctor for a wellness visit and to get labs done. All the labs came back within range. She also sent me for a pulmonary function test. And that came back okay as well. So I’ll continue to adjust for heat and humidity and listen to my body.
I’ve done four 5K races since January 1 and have run 523.5 miles so far. I’ve biked 370.5 miles as of the end of June. Bike mileage is down a bit due to cold weather early in the year and all the rain we’ve had since spring. I’m still doing yoga and strength training regularly.
Faith in the first half of 2019
I’m in the middle of my fourth Love God Greatly Bible study of the year. One of the notes I made from the first study of the year “Choose Brave” was: We can enter into a special rest when we are brave enough to trust Him. This really hit home because my focus for the year is to create space in my life. This is a challenge for me to let go and not always being doing.
Affirmations. I’ve worked a lot on what I’m thinking about and the words I speak about myself and my circumstances. I’ve even set reminders on my phone with positive statements and truth from God’s word.
Lent. I followed another Love God Greatly study. It was all about God’s faithful love to us. I also shared excerpts from my own devotional “40 Days of Faith and Fitness” across my social media channels. I made several notes from a study I was following by Matthew Kelly on Dynamic Catholic website during this time.
Breakthrough in April. I found myself getting caught up seeking and striving for better, for more when it came to my life…my healthy life, my business, everything. But over the course of a few days and events in April, He showed me that I am good. Just as it says in Genesis when He created you and me, He said we are good…very good. I don’t have to make things difficult. I can stop striving. He wants me to let Him love me. And He wants to love you just as you are as well, because you are good.
Currently I am studying the book of Joshua in a study called “Walking in Victory.”
Glimpse into the first six months of my planner. Highlights, wellness, faith, gratitude, and what's to come. Click To Tweet
Gratitude List from first half of 2019
Every evening I list at least 3 things in the Daily Gratitude box of my planner, so that means I have nearly 200 things I’ve been grateful for so far this year. I won’t list them all, but I’ll give you a glimpse at a few of the entries
- Target (who isn’t thankful for Target online and in store shopping?!)
- Time with friends
- Day out with Ethan
- Sound of rain
- Football
- Snowflakes
- Nap
- Two-hour delay
- Kroger pick up (this shows up quite regularly on my list!)
- Haircut
- New computer
- Dinner with my husband
- Warm house
- Hallmark movies
- Coffee
- Flip-flops
- Blankets
- Venison
- Washing machine and dryer
- Friends I’ve made online
- Financial provision for our necessities plus extras like vacation
- Klove
- New running routes and Shelby Roadrunners
- Bike rides
- Sunshine
- Yoga class
- Today Show
- Family and friends
- End of school year
- Clean house
Benefits of looking back
Whether you do it at the end of each month, each quarter, half year, or year it’s important to look back.
During this process, I recognized wins I hadn’t celebrated. My heart swelled with gratitude as I reviewed my daily gratitude list and it refreshed those happy moments I had experienced. Looking back also encouraged me to press forward. It gave me a positive outlook for what’s to come as well as anticipation that many things will happen that I’m not planning or may not even have on my radar yet. The possibilities are endless.
The possibilities for the next six months are endless! Click To Tweet
What’s on tap for the second half of 2019
The Serial Method. I’ve invested in a mentorship to help me hone my message and grow so that I can help more women start living fit and free.
Publish new book. I’m working on a young girls’ version of “40 Days of Faith and Fitness.” It will be ready this fall.
Grow Membership. I love the Faith and Fitness Membership Community. It’s a safe place for women to start living fit and free.
Improved running. I’m hoping to get through this slump and start feeling better on my runs and clock some improved finish times.
Fall and Christmas. These are my two favorite times of the year. But I’m not wishing away summer. Still working to simply breathe and enjoy the present and what God has for me each and every day.
Cheers to the second half of 2019!
Feel free to reach out to me any time if you’d like to talk about any of the items I’ve discussed above. I’d love to connect with you. (marsha@marshaapsley.com)
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