Monday, June 29, 2026

Monday Moods June 29, 2026


Don't panic, but the year is almost half over.  Time flies when we are having fun, and this year has been fun. This is a good time for me to  review my goals for the year:

  • Walk 60 minutes or more, at least 6 days per week. 
  • Read at least a book per week, 52 for the year. 
  • Travel, I expect travel nights to be between 35 and 40 this year. 
  • Go to Mt. Vernon at least 25 times in the year.
  • Publish at least three articles in the ABA Senior Lawyers Division Voice of Experience Journal (I have already committed to four topics.) 
  • Paint, take photos, explore new media. 
  • Organize the greeting card box, and send out 20 or more cards. 
  • Pause at least once a week, to take stock of everything that works in my life. 
I am easily exceeding the walking goal, many longer walks, and many weeks when I walk everyday. I feel strange if I miss a day. This is a strong habit. 

I have finished reading 36 books so far this year. I am on pace to far exceed this goal. 

I have already traveled 38 nights this year, with another 11 nights already booked.  I expect I will be just over 50 nights by the end of the year. 

I have only been out to Mt Vernon probably 10 times, and it is the peak of summer heat.  I am probably going to miss this one. 

I will publish 6 or 7 articles by the end of the year. I have one partially written. 

I have had more fun with painting than expected. The portraits experiment was fun. I led a small group in color block painting - my first time trying to teach art.  I have archived about 10,000 photos so far this year. I just did a display of digital transparencies, a new media for me. 

The greeting card box has been organized, but I am behind in sending cards out. 

I am pausing more than I had in the past, but still not as often as I should. 

My thoughts on this:
This is a reminder to go to Mt Vernon, send those cards, and pause to be thankful more often.  

I have a good life. I am engaged in doing things that bring meaning to my life, and make the world a better place.  I am learning and exploring.  

What about the shoes? Martha Washington wore them to dance. I think the last time I went out dancing, Martha might have been there. As Zorba urged, "You gotta dance boss!" 

There is an instant flashback for me. My first semester at Rollins College I read the book, Zorba the Greek, and the professors screened the film. It was a life changing experience for me. That one class an introduction to interdisciplinary humanities changed how I think about the world and my role in it. I was so lucky to be there, at that time, with that wonderful group of explorers. I hope Professor Hoyte Edge is out there smiling at the memory of teaching that class, knowing that he made a difference.  

14 comments:

  1. I hope you’re not walking those shoes for your 60-minute walks!

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  2. I hate to tell Martha, but I have the same pair size 11.5!

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    1. Perfect for a night out on the town.

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  3. I'd say you are doing quite will on all these goals. I need to walk more.
    Do you think Martha had sore feet after that dance?

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    1. I imagine there were a lot of sore feet in Colonial Times.

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  4. Once my son and I kept walking to and fro across a bridge over The River Tweed. For much of its course, that river marks the boundary between England and Scotland. That afternoon we visited Scotland twenty times. I was thinking you could apply the same principle to your Mount Vernon visits target. One day - just keep driving on and off the property and you will soon hit your target.

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    1. It easiest to cheat ourselves.

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  5. I don't set goals. Life seems to decide what I'm doing most days...
    You are an organized person and your goals sound like good ones!

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    1. What works for me, is another person's worst nightmare.

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  6. Those are good goals, and I'd say you're doing a darn good job of meeting them! Very fancy shoes, Martha!

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    1. I just came back from a walk at Mt Vernon.

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  7. The year is half over...yikes! Talk about time flying. Good for you on your goals. You're an inspiration.

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  8. How many days until Christmas?

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