Well if it isn’t September already!

I was just looking over my goal list for this year, realizing I’m completely behind the curve, as usual.

1) Draft Secret Project and pitch it
2) Read every day
3) Read one work of fiction a month–most of what I do read lately is non-fiction–Failing…but again, I’ve read more fiction this year than the past few combined.
4) Get plugged into a writing group–Going back to my RWA chapter this fall!
5) Attend a writing conference or retreat–I’m looking for one nearby this fall, but I’m prepared for it not to happen this year. It’s definitely time to start budgeting for it to happen next.
6) Have author photos taken–Scheduling this now!
7) Clean out and organize the bedroom closet
8) Clean out The Dreaded Filing Cabinet
9) Walk daily–I don’t take advantage of my breaks at work–15 minutes is better than no minutes for sure
10) Eat less meat, more veggies–Yeah, I somehow became a carnivore this year…not cool because this was more about giving up being a vegetarian because it was too much effort than liking meat…there must be a better solution to the struggle of living with meat-lovers.
11) Reinstate Family Game Night–Totally forgot about this one.
12) Go hiking and camping with the family

Oh, and one thing I can add to this list that I didn’t plan on: I kicked my Pepsi Max/diet soda addiction. I did it for my health! This is a disgusting confession, but I was drinking a diet soda, sometimes two, every single day for years now. Even though I knew it wasn’t good for me, I would develop these terrible headaches if I tried to quit. I knew it had to be affecting my health in other ways, but I couldn’t be sure how. My husband and I started juicing this summer, and we both really like veggie juice. That’s what helped me. He went cold turkey on all caffeine for several weeks, and I slowly reduced the amount I was consuming, replacing it with carrot and green juices, until now I can enjoy a small cup of half-caf coffee or an occasional diet soda without feeling like I NEED it. In fact, I would much rather have the vegetable juice. You know? It’s a great feeling.