Accountability / Where Are We Going?: January 2021

Goodbye January! How’s everyone doing?

January tends to be a bit of a dreary month during a good year – it’s cold with short daylight hours. When I used to work in an office after New Years was done it was the long march until Memorial Day – the last weekend in May – for our next three day weekend. (One office I worked in gave us President’s Day off – a lovely random extra day off in February to fill our hearts with the will to continue through spring).

My head is a long ways away from being in an office, but it doesn’t mean this January was any easier. I found myself in Scotland in a lockdown, with a newish variant of the COVID-19 virus taking the UK by storm. We found continued uncertainty as to when my husband would go back work, more let-downs on my job application front, as well as increased and slightly changing travel restrictions between countries. While the last item – the travel restrictions – certainly seem to be good and logical planning in regards to slowing the spread of variants of the virus as well as reducing the number of people traveling for frivolity, but it certainly adds a mental stressor to those of us that live, at least on occasion, away from their families.

So, January came and January went. On the scale of accomplishments based on the list that I created for myself I failed horribly. However, there were parts of this month that were so mentally challenging for me that well, I’m going to call getting anything done over the course of the month a huge victory.

I did decide to expand this blog out a bit and started filming YouTube videos. I only have two up so far – although they are long (over a half hour each). I have received my first slightly “mean” comment on YouTube which I have heard is a right of passage. Why is there so much hate in the world? This was the comment: “Great research and video. Just a friendly comment, you should practice not being judgemental about the length of cruises. You should just provide the information.” On the scale of things isn’t not that mean. But, also, I have some follow up questions. First, which way was I being judgmental? Like, was I judging long cruises as being bad or good? I have no idea. Also, why should I just provide the information? If I was going to just provide information without any of my own personal input or opinions I would write out the information on a spreadsheet because spreadsheets are the best. Alas, I do not know. C’est la vie I suppose. Haters gonna hate.

Incase you are interested in watching the videos and haven’t yet:

Alright, to the business at hand:

Where Are We Going?:

Drumroll please… I am writing this from Vermont, not Scotland. Yes, my beloved and I got on a plane and flew across an ocean. Can you understand why the changing travel restrictions were stressing me out? We got tested before we left Scotland, followed all protocols and are currently quarantining at our house with our cat and wood stove.

Now, I am confident, as everyone has opinions about what everyone does right now (and, somewhat rightfully so as if we don’t all work together towards the collective wellbeing of each other and society as a whole we are and will continue to be screwed), that some of my dear readers will have opinions about us flying across an ocean in the middle of a pandemic. I get it. I do. I also realize that putting parts of my life out here to the public like this at least somewhat opens it up to criticism. This trip was not for “fun” or “leisure” or any of those other currently bad words when it involves having to travel at all.

And, what is normally the big topic in the “Where Are We Going” section: my hubby’s work! We now have a bit of an idea when my darling dearest is heading back to work. At present he is scheduled to head back mid-March. While this is great we are definitely aware that a pandemic is still in full swing and plans could definitely change. But, alas, that is the relative plan right now.

Accountability:

This feels a bit like a joke this month. And, while this list hasn’t gone nearly as planned, when I was struggling to even find the ambition to read a book somedays knowing that I could check it off of this list got me through it. I certainly still feel like there is value to this accountability list, even though the struggle this particular month felt real.

• Finish at least one online course per month.
  • Nope. Didn’t happen. I think this is also because I need to figure out some more courses that really interest me. It might be different if I was working towards another degree (that I could somehow figure out was going to provide some later benefit for me). Any suggestions? I am at a complete career impasse, if any of you have a suggestion of something you think I might be good at later in life, toss it in the comments.
• Read one book per month. ✓
  • This month I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time _^(ad) by Mark Haddon on my kindle _^(ad). I realize this book has been around for awhile and made waves when it initially came out. I decided to give it a try after finding Jessie that blogs at Wandererandtraveler.com and has an entire section of her blog for book reviews. Whoever said you need to pick one part of a niche for blogging lied because her blog is lovely and you all should check it out.
  • Anywho, it is a great book written from the perspective of someone that learns and experiences the world differently than most. If you are wanting to see life from another perspective with a bit of a humor, love, and a slight mystery – this book is a great choice.
• Post at least 10 blog posts each month.
  • So, for this month this marks #8. I’m okay with that, as in addition to writing those 8 blog posts I also:
    • Filmed and edited two YouTube videos and created my YouTube channel
    • Wrote my first post using a new affiliate network platform (How to Find Awesome Places to Visit in Scotland)
    • I updated and re-did a ton of posts from last year. Most notably: How To Pick an Alaskan Cruise and What Ship is on the Top of Our Wish List
  • So, while I did not publish 8 blog posts, I am still calling it an overall win.
• Video chat with at least one friend per week ✓
  • Actually succeeded at this! Woohoo!
• Keep in touch with family. 
  • Success…ish. I felt I tried.
• Get a press handstand
  • My headstands are still great, my handstands are still progressing. I have not given up on this! Although, our house in VT is not really big enough for me to practice handstands in. So, looks like I will now be doing these outside. Press handstands outside in snow pants anyone?
• Take a French lesson every once in awhile 
  • Non. Je veux faire plus en Février. 🙁

And, lastly – not technically on the accountability list but I did finish the 2,000 piece puzzle that had bested me for several months. ‘Tis a beast, but I did not give up, nor admit defeat. Just like life! Life lessons everywhere.

Onto February… I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see what it brings! Who has a good book recommendation?