5 After 5, Ways you have grown or changed this past year

Do you spend much time in deep reflection around this season? I do...when I slow down enough to give my brain the chance...

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It's time for another round of 5 After 5!  In case you missed it, last week's list was ways to teach children the meaning of Christmas and if you're new to this series, you can read more about it here - then catch up on all the old editions here.

Today I've got my list of 5 to share, as well as next week's topic for you to stew about over the upcoming days.

And this series is a link party, so be sure to scroll down and join in all the fun with us this week!



List 5 ways you've grown or changed over the past year


Okay, I'm going to confess that things have been so busy around here, I have not allowed my brain the space to reflect deeply enough to come up with such lofty things as ways I've grown this year.

 That's the sort of thing that I'll do if we go to the beach for a sunset, or if we take a hike, or while I watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve...

 But what I have allowed my brain to do is think back over my goals for 2017 and come up with an update:


1.  Get back on the bike/get more active


 I don't think I touched my bike once this year, but I did do better at getting more active again. Part of that has to do with the fact that I started work again when a new ice rink opened up closer to us -- if nothing else, I'm guaranteed some activity teaching all those kids to skate on the weekends!

 I also discovered the Nike+ Training App and finally feel like I've found something that's a good fit for me right now. I used to spend every day doing P90X or Insanity or something like that, but once Gv came along, those long, involved workouts just weren't realistic for me and I felt like I was constantly letting myself down just because I couldn't get back into those same workouts like I had before.

 Even though I don't have a smartphone, I got halfway there when I was given a family member's old iphone that I can use around the house (or anywhere else) with wifi. That means that I can take advantage of this exercise app and easily go off to some little spot in the house to exercise. 

 What I like about these workouts is that they're quick and to-the-point (I don't really want someone trying to motivate me, I just want to get in there and get 'er done!) and most of all, free.


2.  Get rid of stuff/get more organized


I'm sure this will pop up on my list again, because I'm just not quite sure I'll ever be as clutter-free as I'd like, but I definitely have made progress in this area and gotten rid of bags and boxes full of stuff pretty much every month this year. What's helped that? Discovering a charity that I actually feel decent about giving to that comes by with their truck once a month to haul it all away!

 We've also been ruthless about trying to sell off some of our library's-worth of books online and have probably gotten rid of four copy paper boxes-full over the past 12 months.


3.  Get back to improving my Italian


 I've been kind of keeping up with it every since Gv was born by using Duolingo, but all it really did was prevent things from leaving my brain as quickly.

 I've made a sincere effort to get through all the levels in it so that I can just maintain them all and hopefully move on to really doing some work in Italian again. I am almost there!

 Also, I finally got brave enough to tell a fellow coach (from Italy) that I was going to try and speak Italian more often and have made the effort to do that with both her and her husband. (It's easier for me to speak it with the husband, because he's in the same boat as me, living with a fluent speaker.)

4.  Make more time to create


I really made an effort to do this one, but it was a struggle. Finally, I realized that what I really needed to do was focus on tackling all those things getting in my way from being creative, so that I could feel the weight lifted off my shoulders enough to get involved with creative stuff again.

 I am not there yet, but I actually feel like I could almost be there soon!


5.  Read more


Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Finally, a goal that I feel I completely achieved.

As I said last year, G and I are always reading, but I still wanted to read more and to set aside consistent times each day to read no matter what.

I'm now in the habit of not only reading in bed before I go to sleep each night, but reading in bed first thing when I wake up in the morning. It even happens so regularly, I think I might actually be able to take it off my daily list!
For next week:


Favorite Children's Books from 2017


Gv and I read a lot of books, so this one will be difficult. While I'm sure some of the books on my list will be newly published, I'm guessing a few will be discoveries that were new for us, as well.

I can't wait to see what you share!



That's right, every post will be read, pinned and tweeted!  

Every Saturday, just stop by one of our blogs to add your own list of five, then pop over and read as many other posts as you're able to each week - treat it like a true party and really mix it up and mingle with our fun little community!

The rules are simple:  just write your own list following the prompt each week (feel free to interpret it loosely - or in a unique way!), follow both of the hosts on the social media channel of your choice, and then get into the spirit of the party by grabbing your favorite beverage or snack and reading the lists of the other party-goers.



Your Hosts:

Lisa, at Syncopated Mama: Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ // Bloglovin'
Samantha, at Motivated Days: Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ 



What's your list?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

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