April was a busy month. We had weekend plans three weeks in a row for various reasons and did a bit of traveling for family engagements. I’ve also been dealing with some family medical issues, so a lot of my hobbies/routines took a back seat, for better or worse.

We’re already halfway into May, and I can’t say much has changed to this point.

Last Month’s Goals

1. Finish three books.
2. Small acts – Exercise.
3. Small acts – Writing.
4. Continue daily meditation/affirmation.

Finish three books?

I finished one book in April, the previously reviewed A Closed and Common Orbit. Otherwise, I’ve continued picking my way through two longer reads.

Manda Scott’s Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle is a fantastic historical fiction, and I’m relishing every moment of it. I’ve found myself rewinding (the audiobook) to ensure I don’t miss any sections.

I’ve also been watching Andor season 2 after binging a season 1 rewatch in about a week. There is tons of great analysis about Andor happening all over the place, so I will just say that this is one of my favorite shows of all time. No question.

Exercise?

2 decent workout sessions, 4 shorter workout sessions. I feel like I’ve been stretching fairly consistently, although I haven’t been tracking that. Stretching is now as much about working stiffness out of my legs as anything else, so it’s much more of a habit.

I’m finding ways to get different types of exercise, like chopping wood/moving logs, yard work, playing soccer with my sons, etc. I definitely enjoy doing activities like that outside, so the exercise is just a bonus.

Writing?

I didn’t do much writing in April, and my posts on this site give it away: four total in April, and this is my first post for May. Part of it is that I haven’t had any new book reviews to post.

I’ve been thinking about my duology a bit recently, as a piece that I feel deserves to see the light of day. I just haven’t come up with a publishing plan. At this point, I’d like to have the goal in sight as I’m working on it, and that just hasn’t been a priority. So, I will return to it at some point. I’m just not sure when right now.

Meditation/affirmation?

I fell off this routine quite a bit in April for no real reason at all. I’d like to get back to it, so I’ll start tonight.

Goals for… the second half of May

1. Finish three books.
   • Current reads: Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle by Manda Scott; and We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates
   • I will definitely continue with the Boudica series once I finish book 1. I’ll also pick up something shorter and more digestible in addition once I finish We Were Eight years in Power.
2. Small acts – Exercise. Bare minimum: stretch and meditate every day, and if I do any of the following in addition, that’s ideal.
   • Bronze medal: short yoga session
   • Silver medal: longer yoga session and/or resistance training at home
   • Gold medal: 1-hour gym session
3. Small acts – Writing. Bare minimum: get back to posting here every Wednesday and Sunday, and not just haiku. Achieving some combination of the following throughout a given week is ideal.
   • Bronze medal: basic admin for this site, my email, my imprint, etc.
   • Silver medal: take notes, or organize older notes
   • Gold medal: Revise/rewrite my duology in, at least a 15-minute focus session
4. Continue daily meditation/affirmation.