Goal 10 done!

10. Become an official Unitarian Universalist - DONE

I signed the book at my church Sunday. I am a Unitarian officially now.

2. Read tarot cards professionally (i.e. earn $ at least once for a reading)

I'm working through Mary Greer's book 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card using my oracle deck. I did some readings at my UU pagan group on our divination night, and I've been doing at least a few tarot or oracle deck readings each week since I started using Aeclectic again.

17. Learn conversational Italian or French (be able to communicate at an intermediate level)

I'm still picking. So far, it seems like Italian is winning. I'm been listening to Disney songs in Italian to get my ear used to the language.

37.  Complete The Artist's Way

Just did my second set of morning pages this morning.

38.  Keep a journal with daily entries for a full year.

I'm counting my morning pages and tarot work for Greer's book as a journal.

First goal down! Plus, progress update.

When I checked my goals to get myself motivated for the day, it turns out that I had a lot more blog posts already written than I thought I had when I wrote my

"Write 100 blog posts (over all my sites and including guest blogs I write, not including Tumblr" goal #28, so that was is already complete! I would add another, but I think it's better to allow myself this little unintentional win.

38. Keep a journal with daily entries for a full year

Well, if these entries count, I've been doing well on this goal, but I feel like I'm not writing a "real journal" because I hold back just a bit because this is online and available for all. So I think that I need to not  consider this blog a journal.

6. Complete a sprint triathlon in less than 2 hours

I am going to take today off of working out. My wrists, hips, and back are pretty sore from working out so much the past few days. I'm going to a dance party tonight, so I will get a little mellow recovery in.

I borrowed a Triathlete magazine from the cardio room at the Y, and I looked over the program they have that takes you from sofa to a sprint triathlon in 9 weeks, which I think will work great. I have two potential tri options for 2015, one the first week of June and one mid-July, based on previous years' races.  So I could potentially start "real" training the last week of March or mid-April.

2. Read tarot cards professionally (i.e. earn $ at least once for a reading)

I haven't pursued offering readings for money yet, but I am still going to Aeclectic pretty regularly for reading exchanges. I did 3 oracle deck readings for real people I know, and I have practiced on my husband a few times. Unlike a lot of readers, I think that I enjoy and learn a lot from reading for myself, too.  I've starting consulting the deck a little bit more frequently for "small" concerns and decisions, and by doing that, I will be more skilled and ready to read for bigger concerns and decisions.  I don't want to feel like I have to run to the cards every time I make a decision. I like to trust my feelings, desires, and intuition, but frequent readings are strengthening me as a reader, so I am okay with a little over reliance on the deck for now.

4.  Be initiated into a Wiccan or NeoWiccan coven or group (probably the semi-local ATC group)

I am making strides toward this, in that I am becoming a more public member of the pagan community in my city. I

Italian or French? Hmmmm

6. Complete a sprint triathlon in less than 2 hours

Aqua Zumba tonight! I am still in the improvement phase. I just want to get more fit. I will do my "real" training once my cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength have improved. For now, any movement is good movement. I liked my Zumba class last night. Aqua Zumba is a little too easy and mellow, but moving is moving!

14. Lead an ecstatic dance meeting

Exchanged non-Facebook emails with the coordinator of leader training today! Exciting. :)

17.  Learn conversational Italian or French (be able to communicate at an intermediate level)

Listening to Italian pop songs on YouTube. A lot of my fellow Spanish-speaking colleagues say they learned a lot of their Spanish via songs, so what the heck. It's better than nothing, I suppose, and I can start learning more intensely later. I should really take a class.

Small steps

20. Get my second dream job

Started an online application this morning, but I have to gather more information before submitting it. Just starting the application brightened my mood, though! My job is wonderful in many ways, but I am seeking something I little bit more closely aligned with my skills and passions. This new job would a pit stop of sorts on the way to the dream job. I would like this new job to be a jumping off point for going to get my masters before that dream job. This new job would also make goal 5, home ownership, easier.

Goal 1 may be a no-go and other reflections

1. Become a "certified" tarot reader (after researching the "best" tarot certification organization.

According to the Aeclectic community,  none of the current certifications are all that hot. Might be back to the drawing board on this one.

5. Buy a house

Savings plan is still in place!

6. Complete a sprint triathlon in less than 2 hours

Well, I slowly cycled while reading for 30 minutes and then did a kicking Zumba workout. It's not official training yet, but I am working on getting my overall fitness level up.

10. Become an official Unitarian Universalist

 Meeting with the pastor at 3:30 PM Friday and asked someone to cover for me at work so that I can do it.

14. Lead an ecstatic dance meeting

Messaged the trainer via Facebook yesterday!

28. Write 100 blog posts (over all my sites and including guest blogs I write, not including Tumblr)

Wrote a couple today!

38. Keep a journal with daily entries for a full year

This entry could be day one!

40. Meditate daily for 20 minutes minimum for a full year

I meditated today, but not for a full 20 minutes. Did my hands litany that I wrote for Allec and a modified version of a guided visualization I learned at Pagan Pride Day. I also breathed to the "When I breathe in... When I breathe out" song we sang at church this Sunday.

The List, version 1

I would like to accomplish the following 40 things before my 40th birthday on May 13, 2024.

1. Become a "certified" tarot reader (after researching the "best" tarot certification organization.
2. Read tarot cards professionally (i.e. earn $ at least once for a reading)
3. Skydive
4. Be initiated into a Wiccan or NeoWiccan coven or group (probably the semi-local ATC group)
5. Buy a house
6. Complete a sprint triathlon in less than 2 hours
7. Become a certified yoga instructor
8. Start a local rabbit or rodent rescue group
9. Earn my doctorate
10. Become an official Unitarian Universalist
11. Perform a wedding or handfasting
12. Earn my Masters of Divinity, probably through Cherry Hill Seminary
13. Direct a play
14. Lead an ecstatic dance meeting
15. Publish a chapbook or book of my poetry (self-pub counts)
16. Go to the Reclaiming Spiral Dance in San Francisco
17. Learn conversational Italian or French (be able to communicate at an intermediate level)
18. Visit Walt Whitman's grave. Read him some poetry and leave him some lilacs.
19. Be in Mexico (ideally at la Casa Azul) for Dia de los muertos
20. Get my second dream job
21. Eat food I harvested from my home garden
22. Take a ballroom (or similar) style course with a partner (for at least one month)
23. Get a tattoo
24. Stay in Oaxaca for at least 3 weeks
25. Go to Pagan Spirit Gathering
26. Make homemade vegan ravioli
27. Visit a Hindu temple
28. Write 100 blog posts (over all my sites and including guest blogs I write, not including Tumblr)
29. Go on an international vacation with my husband
30. Make a will and include my church in it
31. Make a delicious vegan creme brulee
32. Throw a giant, insanely fun Halloween party at my own house
33. Create a labyrinth (either for my use or public use)
34. Publish a Cross Quarterly anthology
35. Attend a Jewish service (respectfully)
36. Attend a Muslim service (respectfully)
37. Complete The Artist's Way
38. Keep a journal with daily entries for a full year
39. Be able to do 10 full-body chin-ups continuously with good form
40. Meditate daily for 20 minutes minimum for a full year