On Sunday, I ran 26.2 miles for the first time. Finishing a marathon was (is?) one of my cardinal goals of 2026. While it was my first one, it was my partner C’s fourth. We both set this goal, individually and collectively driven. With endorphins still flowing, running a marathon taught me lessons, nearly every…
Category: Goals in Progress
Creating: Intentions, Motivation, and Expectations
My partner’s at a conference all weekend. I’ve spent the last couple of days at work and at play. Not too much has changed, schedule-wise, though I’ve missed our daily hug. Chatter over coffee on intentions is one of our favorite rituals. Despite the temporary 2-hour time difference, he called while I was feasting on…
Creating: Protected Time and Pockets
Developing a creative habit includes having a vision of what you want and how to get there. Enter: Protected time. I try to write 3 pages every Sunday. This is hopes of finishing my book draft, a core goal of 2026. What about balancing consistency with seemingly sudden sparks. Inserting pockets of time and space…
Creating: I want to be…
A committed athlete. At least, that’s what my watch tells me, after jogging running a consistent pace. 4.5 miles in 45 minutes has splendid symmetry. An artist. Scribbling to actually say something. Not just another list. No longer restless. Able to resist pressures. Where stressors are fuel – not just quiet anger – to rule,…
Applying marathon training to other goals
I’m running my first marathon in 3 short months. Training has taught me a few things… about endurance, community, and time. While the marathon itself is an actionable goal of running over 20 miles in 1 go, I am focused on endurance. Not how fast I get there. However, a Garmin helps me keep pace,…
Goals Progress Report: Archiving
I’ve landed a dream role! Combining rural librarianship with community archiving, I am now an archive librarian! Yes, for a new district. I believe each chapter matters. Each experience led me here. Both professionally and personally. Uncovering personal stories, helping make the institution’s history accessible, and building programs for memory, education, and entertainment are all…
Exploring: 1 Day in Sante Fe
I set a goal to visit 3 states this year, making memories from the plan and the lived experiences. Combining curiosity from novelty and expectation management through joyful planning, travels are right in line with my values. Last year, my partner C and I took a road trip from CO to NM and AZ. The…
Goals Progress Report: Joining a Dance Team (and a Grammarian’s Call to Break up with Cliches)
“Do what you love” is an adage. While some perceive this as wisdom, there’s much packed into these 4 words. And yet. I dance. I write. I run. All loves, yes. And now all regular parts of my schedule, thanks to finally doing what I love. It’s the progressive, doing, that makes all the difference…
Lessons from Micro Habits
Life feels large lately. Systems lie and tell us we’re not enough. At the same time, I believe we have far more capacity than we tell ourselves. Instead of feeding into the lie, I’m living my values through doing the hardest, best thing of all: Embracing myself. Inaction causes more internal turmoil. Self-esteem comes from…
Goals Progress Report: Marathon!
My partner and I are going to run a marathon! It’ll be his 4th, and my 1st. It’s a blast having a partnership fueled by shared values. The first step is signing up. Tonight, we did just that. We’re doing one weeks before my birthday! That’s right in time for my goal, running a full…