2017 is Halfway Over

June 30th sometimes shakes me up. The year is about halfway done. How am I doing on things I wanted to, hoped to, tried to get done or tried to keep moving along?

What have I surrendered?

Over the years, I’ve learned that periodic self-reflection and evaluation is important for me. Otherwise, I can live a very re-active rather than pro-active life. I try to do a little self-check at the end of each month and looking ahead to the following month. I’m not always good about this. I’ve done it four out of the last six months and I expect to do it this weekend. So, that’s not bad. Yes, I’ve also shed the perfectionist-syndrome which in the past would have had me quitting this practice because I hadn’t done it every single month.

I used to do a Facing Facts on the Fifth series where I would update about my progress on writing goals on the fifth of each month. It helped. And then, I got sick of doing it so stopped. That’s another thing I’ve shed: doing things that don’t make me happy, or at least feel good about getting it done. (Vacuuming doesn’t make me happy, but on those occasions when I do it, I’m glad I got it done.) Surrendering writing Facing Facts on the Fifth eased some needless anxiety for me.

Anything else I’ve surrendered in the last six months?

Boxes and bags of stuff from 31 years in a four bedroom house with attic, basement, garage and too many big closets. Oh, there’s still lots to do but more than a dent has been made! (Have I been “perfect” in my attacking the stuff? Nope. But so much progress has happened and will continue. :-) ) And, I have to thank my daughter-in-law and son for helping me recognize the need to get moving on this project, which I’ve steadfastly avoided for years. Those two have moved countless times in the last ten years and they’ve made it easier on themselves by being minimalists and not becoming attached to too much stuff. I may never catch that attribute, but I can still pare down.

What have I given?

This is a harder one for me to evaluate. I believe I’ve consistently given my love and support to family and friends, far and wide. At least, I have tried to. The work I mentioned above, in terms of the early stages of downsizing, is something I give to me and my husband — steps toward our goal of moving out of a too large home. (Where can I improve in loving and supporting family and friends? In so many ways, but a big one is getting better at managing my snail mail and email. God, I suck at both of those.)

I’ve given time to my writing community — here, with Red Oak Writing friends, online with friends from the Glasgow Writers Group. I’ve tried to promote and share writing I’ve appreciated — here, on Facebook, Twitter and by putting up reviews at Goodreads and Amazon. I reach out to individual writers when a particular essay really resonates with me, in different ways. Often, with a private message on Facebook. Do I do it every time something touches me? Nope, but I try as often as I can.

To my church community, I’ve given time, talent and not enough moola. (Whoops, forgot to get our donation all set. That gets added immediately to the to do list!) I’ve helped with a confirmation class, a task I love. And, I’m serving on a Co-Pastor Nominating Committee which involves a lot of time, but has been the most meaningful committee experience I’ve ever had. Also, in the last six months, in a true stretching opportunity for me, I’ve preached twice. ’Twas a blessing and a privilege, and reminds me of the oft-used-for-a-reason expression that when you give, you get so much more back.

What have I done/accomplished?

I’ve put in good effort in the first half of this year toward attending better to my physical health — I’ve lost almost 10 pounds and I’ve worked out consistently.

My writing life has been singing along — I successfully revised an important query letter and have a very high batting average with it. Am waiting on some responses with fingers crossed. I’ve been out in public more, speaking and reading — the two sermons mentioned earlier, an audio essay on our local public station and reading at the book launch for Family Stories from the Attic. I’ve posted 22 times here and am learning, successfully, to navigate the Medium platform after 9+ years on Wordpress.

I’ve been able to see family and friends and that matters to me tremendously. Some, I’ve only managed to see online, but in real time, and others I’ve been able to see in person, including old friends from grammar school and high school! My husband and I took a much needed trip together to celebrate thirty-five years of marriage.

So, in this mini-halfway through the year self-evaluation/reflection, I am fairly pleased with my forward movement. And, all of this is with a physically challenging month of June — nothing serious, just nonstop — I began the month with a cold that turned into pink eye, then ear infections, then bronchitis, then a sinus infection. I am FINALLY feeling better from all of that, and was just introduced to a new blip, an aggravated sciatica nerve. As I said, nothing serious. The biggest problem for me this month has been poor sleep from all the respiratory gunk and for me, poor sleep, leads quickly to lack of focus and foggy brain. I am happy to finally be sleeping better! My next step is to look at the answers to my questions — What have I surrendered? Given? Done? and begin moving some goals forward and adding others.

If you choose to do something similar, I promise, it will be time well spent!

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