Lol, no they really don’t. People know when they make progress. This is a personal list, not job-performance goals.
^^^ @“Youdon’tsay” , I liked your recent post in the New Years thread. 
And Venmo is GREAT. I have it, H doesn’t. I feel like I can take care of $$ obligations or owed so much smoother and quicker. My kids like it and it feels good.
Yes they do. This one was born outside of corporate boardrooms.
Thank you for this thread! Over the past few days, I’ve been thinking about and sketching out things to do in 2020. And I even just booked the cabin rental for October. Not sure if I’ll have 20, but here it is thus far.
- Starting Jan 1 - Do a strict 12 week diet reset plan so I can be a few # lighter for...
- Race (not complete) a 5K in April. This assumes my ATs can hold up to fast stuff
- Go to H's favorite beach motel during his spring break in March - just the 2 of us.
- Continue to seek and do 1 fun thing/month with H that we didn't use to do.
- Attend older S' graduation May-June
- Send younger S to study/intern abroad in May
- Pick-up younger S and do a European summer vacation in Jun-July.
- Help older S move into apartment in the summer
- Run a half marathon in the fall in the western part of the US, visiting friends (with H) in the process.
- Book a cabin at a state park and hike with the family in October.
- Finally hike McAfee's Knob at some point this year. The 2 Ss are on board.
- Go up to the top of the Washington Monument and/or
- Do the the White House tour
- Repeat last fall's cleaning process.
- Read 20 books
Re: 13 - I grew up near there and have visited DC tons, but I have NEVER been inside the white house. However H doesn’t want to go if the current person is still in office, so we shall see.
Re: 14 - After the Ss both left for school, it felt like everyone/everything was dying and/or breaking. We don’t have $$$ for renovations, so for 6-8 weeks, I took 1 room/week and cleaned it top/bottom - walls, windows, gutted and sorted everything. I didn’t get through the whole house, but it made some things feel new again.
Wow @BunsenBurner thanks for taking the wind out of my sails…
I think I will ask each person to choose a country/city and be in charge of it for our upcoming trip. I think it will be a lot of fun and I want others to help with the planning and research. It will help each be more invested in this family trip rather than more passive.
Anyone should feel free to tweak - or not! - their list as the year goes on. This is not an homework assignment, it’s a happiness assignment!
@abasket I’ve shared this idea with several friends and family members and it has resonated with many.
I have a date with my D on Saturday to spend time together. I would have not articulated that to her without the push you gave me to put it on paper. Working on a couple of other items on my list. I want to put the list at several spots in my paper calendar so I can keep my January enthusiastic attitude throughout the year.
Adding- I added one more thing to my list which is to plant a vegetable garden this spring at my D’s house. I shared this with my H who didn’t get it. He said for what you’ll spend on soil I could buy all the tomatoes I want at the farmers market.
<3 <3 That makes me happy!!! 
^^^^^^
I’ve knocked EIGHT things off my list already! My arm hurts from patting myself on my back.
And I’ve also encouraged others to do it.
I’m rocking my list as well 
Made 2 doctor appointments, bought a gratitude journal, have been taking my vitamins daily, created a list of books to read and movies to watch this year, have been using a weekly meal plan, used one of my gift cards, and created a daily cleaning schedule in order to keep my house clean. It feels good!!
So far…
First 1/2 Marathon training session was today. I have already registered for the race and will be volunteering at packet pick up the day before.
Have not touched anything in the candy bowl at work.
Made a big salad with Farro last Sunday for lunches this week.
Limited the wine last weekend. One glass.
Bought new bath towels today.
I have been rowing every 2-3 days.
Didn’t plan a cultural event yet, but bought tickets to see Jimmy Buffett this summer with some friends ( bucket list item).
Attended a program on meditation taught by my yoga teacher/ friend.
I’m pleased with what I’ve done so far.
I’m going to spend the day with my D. Yeah. I’m feeling good about where I am headed in 2020.
I’ll review my entire list at the end of the month but did attend one of two planned pottery classes this morning!
I’ve already knocked eight things off my list!
I love reading about everyone’s progress.
Let’s try to keep up the posting as the year goes on.
Love reading these lists. I agree that we all need to do what works for us but I’m with @BunsenBurner on the importance of measurable goals for myself. I really need that specific thing to check off as well as a bit of deadline pressure, even for things that are meant to make me happier instead of just chores or duties. Perhaps ESPECIALLY for happy things, since generally I will get around to my absolute responsibilities at some point.
Instead of “get more exercise” I wrote “strength/resistance training at least 2x/week.” (In addition to what I was doing before, which has now become a habit! Yay!) Instead of “dress better” I have written down “wear good clothes at least 3 times a week” “Good” might be a little vague but I know what it means, not high heels and fancy things, basically not looking like I am going to walk the dog, comfortable low-heeled boots instead of sneakers, a wool coat instead of the quilted LL bean jacket, a scarf…even just going to the store, it helps lift my mood a little. And I have to say I got compliments the first week of doing this.
I’m working on revising the way I keep track and review.
I have my 2020 list but like the idea of adding a summer-focused item as well. Gretchen Rubin did a “Summer of Proust” last year (“Summer of Virginia Woolf” this year), but that doesn’t appeal to me! Any ideas for a fun “Summer of” that is not about reading one author’s work?
@kbm770 Are you looking for other reading ideas or something not related to reading?
If it’s reading but not one authors work perhaps you could try a “Summer of reading (a different genre)” whatever that is , or “Summer of Reading Classics”.
Not reading? How about a “Summer of Concerts” or “Summer of Cultural Activities”?
“Summer of Movies”, “Summer of New Adventures”, " Summer of Weekend Road Trips" , “Summer of Connecting with Old Friends”?
I am guilty of putting myself last and not really “living my life” but just existing for the past few years. The “dread of the new year thread” spoke to me and this thread has inspired me. I made my own list - I only came up with 10 to start. I am so happy to say that I have accomplished several already. If nothing else comes of this I am still ahead and I feel better than I have in a long time! Thanks for the thread.