My daughter recently turned 40. When I was forty I felt young. Life was busy, mainly because of my children’s activities, since they were 12 and 15. I made a point of attending every sporting event they were involved in, if possible. My daughter at 40 is living a different life with three children ages 3 through 8. In addition, she is living it through homeschooling, Covid-19 lockdowns, and masks. However, I am in my 60’s and life is so different. I am including a list of 7 great things about being 60+.
By the time I turned 50 my children were out of our house. We became empty-nesters, something I have learned to love. At that time I was convinced that living into my 70’s would be sufficient for me. I would have enjoyed a long and happy life.
We recently purchased a used 2015 travel trailer. I’m anxious to start using it. However, every time I mention using it my husband will say we need something else first. The newest thing now is a cover for the back of his pickup to keep items in there that will be able to be locked up. An example would be the generator. We are also still waiting for new tires to be installed.
My sister had told me that I should plan to spend $1,000 to get my trailer ready to go. I thought she was crazy until she started listing some things I never thought about. Yes, I needed dishes and towels, a flashlight and sheets, etc. The basics. Then she mentioned the things I didn’t think about and I began to realize she was correct. So I will share with you the items that have now added up to more money than I originally planned.
Status: Complete our front yard landscaping. This is an absolute must since it’s carried over from last year.
Status: Lose 5 pounds. I lowered this, but since I ended the year up instead of down, I am going to lose 5 pounds from my beginning weight of 2020, not 2021.
Status: Ancestry: Type up the list I already have started on my mom’s mother’s side. Spend time contacting at least 2 cousins. I have reduced this goal to a more doable goal.
Progress: I have finished 4 books. I am on track to make this one. Read 45 books.
Status: Ride my bike. This can be a challenge because of my balance issues that seem like they will be permanent.
Status: Visit three states that I have not visited before. This was a great goal last year and we did it, despite Covid shutdowns. I’ve already picked the states, so I am ready to start planning.
Progress: I’m doing much better than last year. I have one cut out already. Complete 3 quilts. Adult or baby. I might get working on a quilt for my son-in-law and one for my daughter-in-law.
Progress: I’m not as far as I should be, yet I have walked 57 miles. Walk 1000 miles. I have attempted this for 3 years and never reached it. This year it is in writing so I hope I will complete it at last.
In January, I only made progress on three of my eight items. And that progress is not as much as it should be if I’m spreading this out evenly. But I am further than I was at this time last year. Of course, my weight has once again gone up. Too much stress in my life right now is what I blame it on. But it’s really my fault no matter what I blame it on. I’m the one that buys the cookies at the grocery store.
How are you doing on your goals? Please let me know how much progress you have made in the comments section below.
December closes out 2020. But despite it all, I did make a little progress.
COMPLETED: We did it! We made it back from our trip on October 6. So I can now mark off Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri off my map. Visit 3 states I haven’t been to before. I desire to visit every state in the United States in my lifetime.
COMPLETED: I have completed 43 books toward the 30 I plan to read this year. I finally finished the long one I was reading, but that is it. This goal will have to increase next year, or I will have to read longer books. Read 30 books.
COMPLETED: I am continuing physical therapy. However, my physical therapist gave me permission to attempt driving. So on February 19 my husband road along as I drove. We went on the freeway very briefly, mainly driving in town. Since then I have driven several times by myself. This was probably my most important goal since it has given me the freedom that has brightened up my days. Drive by myself.
COMPLETED: I had my BAHA (bone attached hearing aid) surgery on July 22. On August 20 I received the outside portion of my implant. It was with great joy that I realized I could hear my husband speaking to me on the way home from that appointment. I’m still getting used to this, but as time goes on I think I will adapt to it a bit better. I didn’t regain any hearing in my ear, but I have the ability to feel like I am hearing in my left ear. All options have been pursued. To have the hearing in my left ear improved to 30% or all options pursued. Another result of my brain tumor surgery.
FAILED: We got it quite close, but not complete. I could blame this on my mom dying and me losing a lot of my free time, but I had a whole year and I have to accept that we didn’t complete it. We put the grass in the front yard. Sprinklers are in. Some of the plants are in. Have our front and back yard landscaping completed so we can enjoy them.
COMPLETED: Unfortunately, this has been completed. Since my mom died, I ended up with her car, a newer version of mine. My husband organized things so that I can park it in the garage. Clean up/organize our garage so I can park in the garage.
FAILED: The weight roller coaster continues. Honestly, if it were a roller coaster it would be bigger changes. Sadly I have been eating too much. Stress never helps. I am now up 3.5 pounds for the year. Honestly, I was not determined enough to succeed. Lose 10 lbs.
COMPLETED: It feels great to no longer have any house or car payments. Pay off all debt. This was on my list for last year and I came close, but not quite.
COMPLETED/SORT OF: I have finished one baby quilt completely. I have two others at the quilters to have them quilted. I will receive them back in late January. At that time I will need to trim them and add the binding. So honestly, they are not complete. However, I did make two baby blankets that were super simple to make. So overall I think I’ve done enough work, but I should have started this earlier. Begin and finish three baby quilts.
FAILED: I was not very committed to this. In emptying out my mom’s house I found a Bible that my mother’s parents and siblings gave to my great grandmother and a bound book of the family ancestor on mom’s mom’s side. She had told me she had it, but she was unable to find it. I am now in contact with another cousin. We are trying to figure out her upline of relatives. She is adopted and knows her birth father’s name and thanks to 23andMe her great great grandfather, who was my great-grandfather’s brother. I love trying to solve a mystery. This can be so exciting. I have been in contact with a second cousin. This is one of my last things on my mind, hence it is not going quickly. I have started typing up my history on one side. Ancestry: Tie at least 10 more people that are my second or third cousins to my family tree.
December was somewhat productive, but I am ending up with 3 fails. I don’t think I was really committed to the goals that I failed this year. If you have goals set, don’t give up on yourself either. We have the time to do it if we put in the effort. Commitment is so important when you are trying to accomplish anything.
So let me know how 2020 went as far as accomplishing your goals. Have you set up goals for 2021? You can do it! Please comment below on how your 2020 went.
In 2020 I made a list of 10 goals and I completed seven of them. That is what I should focus on, but I tend to focus on the three that I didn’t complete. They are the ones that are nagging me to do better this year. So I have prepared my list of goals for this year with the goal of accomplishing more than 70% this time.
How about you? Did you complete your list? If so, congratulations. If not, let’s both try to improve this year. We can do it if we don’t wait until the last minute and we focus on the goal. Your goals shouldn’t be a list of impossibilities. Instead, they should be things you can accomplish, maybe with a little bit of pushing yourself.
November was a month that fell apart on the 4th. That was the day that I went to check on my mom and found her in the house alone, dead from a stroke or heart attack. My life changed instantly. My youngest sister and I are Executors of her will so that took over our lives. We had to empty, clean, and sell her house. That process is ongoing. We have a middle sister who lives farther away who also has been helping. In the process of lifting and carrying things, I made my hairline fracture worse. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. But despite it all, I did make a little progress.
COMPLETED: We did it! We made it back from our trip October 6. So I can now mark off Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri off my map. Visit 3 states I haven’t been to before. I desire to visit every state in the United States in my lifetime.
COMPLETED: I have completed 38 books toward the 30 I plan to read this year. I finally finished the long one I was reading, but that is it. This goal will have to increase next year, or I will have to read longer books. Read 30 books.
COMPLETED: I am continuing physical therapy. However, my physical therapist gave me permission to attempt driving. So on February 19 my husband road along as I drove. We went on the freeway very briefly, mainly driving in town. Since then I have driven several times by myself. This was probably my most important goal since it has given me the freedom that has brightened up my days. Drive by myself.
COMPLETED: I had my BAHA (bone attached hearing aid) surgery on July 22. On August 20 I received the outside portion of my implant. It was with great joy that I realized I could hear my husband speaking to me on the way home from that appointment. I’m still getting used to this, but as time goes on I think I will adapt to it a bit better. I didn’t regain any hearing in my ear, but I have the ability to feel like I am hearing in my left ear. All options have been pursued. To have the hearing in my left ear improved to 30% or all options pursued. Another result of my brain tumor surgery.
PROGRESS: We put the grass in the front yard. Sprinklers are in. I’m waiting for the heat to settle down to work in the yard again. We have looked for bushes a few times but haven’t found the ones we want yet. We actually bought a few plants on 10/31. However, the winter garden has taken over my husband’s plans. It must be going to happen in November, before Thanksgiving. Have our front and back yard landscaping completed so we can enjoy them.
COMPLETED: Unfortunately, this has been completed. Since my mom died, I ended up with her car, a newer version of mine. My husband organized things so that I can park it in the garage. Clean up/organize our garage so I can park in the garage.
PROGRESS: The weight roller coaster continues. Honestly, if it were a roller coaster it would be bigger changes. Sadly I have been eating too much. Stress never helps. I am now up a pound for the year. I can’t imagine being successful on this one. Lose 10 lbs.
COMPLETED: It feels great to no longer have any house or car payments. Pay off all debt. This was on my list for last year and I came close, but not quite.
PROGRESS: I have finished one baby quilt. I went fabric shopping again because Joann’s Fabric had a great black Friday sale. There was no actual progress. Begin and finish three baby quilts.
PROGRESS: In emptying out my mom’s house I found a Bible that my mother’s parents and siblings gave to my great grandmother nd a bound book of the family ancestor on mom’s mom’s side. She had told me she had it, but she was unable to find it. I am now in contact with another cousin. We are trying to figure out her upline of relatives. She is adopted and knows her birth father’s name and thanks to 23andMe her great great grandfather, who was my great-grandfather’s brother. I love trying to solve a mystery. This can be so exciting. I have been in contact with a second cousin. This is one of my last things on my mind, hence it is not going quickly. I have started typing up my history on one side. Ancestry: Tie at least 10 more people that are my second or third cousins to my family tree.
November was not very productive. I’m not giving up yet, except possibly on my weight and my ancestry. I don’t think I was really committed to those goals. If you have goals set, don’t give up on yourself either. We have the time to do it if we put in the effort. Commitment is so important when you are trying to accomplish anything. One more months to go!
Goals are things that are achievable. They aren’t wishes or dreams that you know are not attainable. An example of a goal is to pay off a certain amount of debt, to hand-make all your greeting cards for the year, to lose 10 pounds, or to learn how to knit. Some things that would be unattainable for me would be to lose 50 pounds, win $1,000,000 in the lottery (I don’t play,) or become President of the United States.
Goals should be given some thought. Don’t write five things down and think you are done. There is a lot more to it than that. Especially if you plan to succeed.
October we were out of town a lot again. Six days were spent on our trip. Three days we had a joint birthday party for our granddaughters at our daughter’s house. There was a bit of a bump in the road because of the fall I took in late September. After having an MRI I found out that I have a hairline fracture in my right arm. October ended up with five doctors’ appoints, including x-ray and MRI. November starts out with an extra hour in our days. Use it wisely.
COMPLETED: We did it! We made it back from our trip October 6. So I can now mark off Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri off my map. Visit 3 states I haven’t been to before. I desire to visit every state in the United States in my lifetime.
COMPLETED: I have completed 37 books toward the 30 I plan to read this year. I didn’t finish any in October because I am reading a really long one this time. This goal will have to increase next year, or I will have to read longer books. Read 30 books.
COMPLETED: I am continuing physical therapy. However, my physical therapist gave me permission to attempt driving. So on February 19 my husband road along as I drove. We went on the freeway very briefly, mainly driving in town. Since then I have driven several times by myself. This was probably my most important goal since it has given me the freedom that has brightened up my days. Drive by myself.
COMPLETED: I had my BAHA (bone attached hearing aid) surgery on July 22. On August 20 I received the outside portion of my implant. It was with great joy that I realized I could hear my husband speaking to me on the way home from that appointment. I’m still getting used to this, but as time goes on I think I will adapt to it a bit better. I didn’t regain any hearing in my ear, but I have the ability to feel like I am hearing in my left ear. All options have been pursued. To have the hearing in my left ear improved to 30% or all options pursued. Another result of my brain tumor surgery.
PROGRESS: We put the grass in the front yard. Sprinklers are in. I’m waiting for the heat to settle down to work in the yard again. We have looked for bushes a few times but haven’t found the ones we want yet. We actually bought a few plants on 10/31. However, the winter garden has taken over my husband’s plans. It must be going to happen in November, before Thanksgiving.Have our front and back yard landscaping completed so we can enjoy them.
PROGRESS: My husband had made a little progress on this. None since then. Clean up/organize our garage so I can park in the garage.
PROGRESS: The weight roller coaster continues. Honestly, if it was a roller coaster it would be bigger changes. Saddly I have been eating too much and I am now down only 1/2 pound for the year. I can’t imagine being successful on this one. Lose 10 lbs.
COMPLETED: It feels great to no longer have any house or car payments. Pay off all debt. This was on my list for last year and I came close, but not quite.
PROGRESS: I have finished one baby quilt. I went fabric shopping before our governor wanted us to always wear masks, so oops, that was more enjoyable than it could have been. I started cutting out one of the quilts in the last week of October. Really hope to finish it in the next 2 weeks. Begin and finish three baby quilts.
PROGRESS: I am now in contact with another cousin. We are trying to figure out her upline of relatives. She is adopted and knows her birth father’s name and thanks to 23andMe her great great grandfather, who was my great-grandfather’s brother. I love trying to solve a mystery. This can be so exciting. I have been in contact with a second cousin. This is one of my last things on my mind, hence it is not going quickly. I have started typing up my history on one side. Ancestry: Tie at least 10 more people that are my second or third cousins to my family tree.
October was a disaster as far as completing any goals. November has to be productive. I’m not giving up yet, except possibly on my weight. I don’t think I was really committed to that goal. If you have goals set, don’t give up on yourself either. We have the time to do it if we put in the effort. Two more months to go!
September seems like it was a short month, with grandkids visiting, doctor appointments (6 plus one for my mom), smoky skies, and high temperatures, and being out of town five days. Even though I made some progress I am looking forward to October. And I hope it doesn’t disappoint. At least the weather should be better and the skies clearer. And maybe no doctor appointments. I guess October 31 will be the day I’ll know.
COMPLETED: We did it! We made it back from our trip yesterday. So I can now mark off Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri off my map. Visit 3 states I haven’t been to before. I desire to visit every state in the United States in my lifetime.
COMPLETED: I have completed 37 books toward the 30 I plan to read this year. This goal will have to increase next year, or I will have to read fatter books. Read 30 books.
COMPLETED: I am continuing physical therapy. However, my physical therapist gave me permission to attempt driving. So on February 19 my husband road along as I drove. We went on the freeway very briefly, mainly driving in town. Since then I have driven several times by myself. This was probably my most important goal since it has given me the freedom that has brightened up my days. Drive by myself.
COMPLETED: I had my BAHA (bone attached hearing aid) surgery on July 22. On August 20 I received the outside portion of my implant. It was with great joy that I realized I could hear my husband speaking to me on the way home from that appointment. I’m still getting used to this, but as time goes on I think I will adapt to it a bit better. I didn’t regain any hearing in my ear, but I have the ability to feel like I am hearing in my left ear. All options have been pursued. To have the hearing in my left ear improved to 30% or all options pursued. Another result of my brain tumor surgery.
PROGRESS: We put the grass in the front yard. Sprinklers are in. I’m waiting for the heat to settle down to work in the yard again. We have looked for bushes a few times but haven’t found the ones we want yet. October is the month. I can just feel it. 🙂Have our front and back yard landscaping completed so we can enjoy them.
PROGRESS: My husband had made a little progress on this. None since then. Clean up/organize our garage so I can park in the garage.
PROGRESS: The weight roller coaster continues. Honestly, if it was a roller coaster it would be bigger changes. I was out of town at the end of the month, with no scale available. I’m roughly down 2.5 pounds. I finally hit 500 miles walked in September. Since my goal has been 1000 miles a year for several years, and I’ve usually come close, this year, with three months left isn’t going to happen. If it did, I’d come closer to my 10 pounds lost. Lose 10 lbs.
COMPLETED: It feels great to no longer have any house or car payments. Pay off all debt. This was on my list for last year and I came close, but not quite.
PROGRESS: I have finished one baby quilt. I went fabric shopping before our governor wanted us to always wear masks, so oops, that was more enjoyable than it could have been. I have purchased more fabric, which does not get a quilt completed on its own. Begin and finish three baby quilts.
PROGRESS: I have been in contact with a second cousin. This is one of my last things on my mind, hence it is not going quickly. I have started typing up my history on one side. Ancestry: Tie at least 10 more people that are my second or third cousins to my family tree.
September was a big month, in that we visited three states, which results in completing another goal. I think October will be very productive. I’m not giving up yet. If you have goals set, don’t give up on yourself either. We have the time to do it if we put in the effort. Three more months to go!
Pinterest has been around since 2010. It was created for people to share their ideas for projects and interests. Projects can be anything from how to build a potting table for your yard to how to clean your house in 15 easy steps. There are also businesses that use Pinterest to promote their products, so you may end up finding things that you would like to purchase when you are perusing through Pinterest. I use Pinterest for my blog, but also for myself personally. It’s the personal use that we will be focusing on in this training in Pinterest for Seniors, Beginners, and everyone else.
Do you have a Pinterest account? Would you like to learn the basics of using Pinterest and have it make your life easier? That is what I will be teaching you today. Get ready to start pinning.
