Goals – Thoughts From The Passenger Seat

2025, Goals, Healthy Living, life

2025 Review / 2026 Plans

Posted on December 31, 2025December 31, 2025 by nancyb422

Here I am, the last day of 2025. 9:18am, wondering if I succeeded in accomplishing anything I wrote about at the beginning of the year.

I had physical goals that I wrote about on January 15th. I know my weight was creeping up to a region I wasn’t happy about. I don’t recall the weight I began the year at, or where I am now, but I know I feel a lot better than I did on 1/1/2025.

In 2024, I hit 14,753 minutes on Peloton tracking and my goal was to hit 15,000 in 2025. I did it! I knocked it out of the park with 17,345. So 2026 I’m shooting for 18,000+.

I also wrote about my 2025 Mental Health Goals. To be mindful, focus on self-care. I had good times and not so good with that. I am a worry wort. I worry about things I have no control over, and about things that are miles down the road. Waiting for that shoe to drop? That’s me! And I keep it all in, all bundled inside of me. Definitely need to work on my self-care in 2026.

Something I did achieve that wasn’t on my radar was working on my faith. I embraced my daily reading of “Jesus Calling” and its bible verses. I attended a Beth Moore workshop with my good friend and have plans for another this year. I took a big step in the fall and headed back to church, and went to confession for the first time in over 30 years. I feel whole and look forward to continuing to strengthen my relationship with God.

I still maintain a love/hate relationship with Social Media. My goal was to “read less what other people say and write more of what I want to say”. Did I succeed? Well, I wrote 90 posts which is 3 more than in 2024. Considering quite a few of the 2024 posts were Hump Day Photos, I think I did much better with writing in 2025. But I did not do better in my quest to lighten up on the social media sites! Recently, I set up a timer to block me when I’ve gone over my limit for the day. Some days I respect it, some days I ignore it. Still working on that.

I’ve already talked about some goals for 2026 here and here. Goals are great but if the habits to achieve them aren’t implemented, what good is it to set them? Here’s to working on those habits in 2026!

2025, Goals, life

Here’s the Plan

Posted on December 28, 2025December 28, 2025 by nancyb422

Yesterday we hiked the road to the tower of our local state park. It has well-marked trails, as well as a road to the tower. We haven’t been there in a very long time, but instead of walking on the treadmill, I said, “Let’s go to the tower!”

While we were walking, I came up with a plan to track what was important to me. In 2026, I want to keep track of hikes, bike rides, and day trips or longer travel events.

It took me three tries earlier in the month, but I have my day planner for the upcoming year. I was like Goldilocks. I ordered one from Amazon and returned it, bought one from Walmart, and gave it to my husband. I finally looked a little harder and bought this one on Amazon.

In the back, it has blank pages, and will keep a list of each event. I’ll likely write it in on the day itself, but by having a list, I can tell with a glance that we need to take a hike! I think I will write about potential places to visit on the Events/Travel page.

This is part of my plan for a more thoughtful 2026.

Do you do anything like this?

2025, Goals, Healthy Living, hobbies, leisure time, life, Writing

Make it – Check it

Posted on April 28, 2025 by nancyb422

When do you feel most productive?

I always think I will be so productive because I get out of bed by 6am every morning. But that really has nothing to do with productivity because I’ve perfected the art of taking my time.

I feel the most productive when I make a list of what I want to do and what I have to do.

I find it amazing that I have so many “things” I want to do, yet I never work on them, because I don’t remember them in the moment. If I have a list, I can look and say “oh, I’ll do a little work on this”.

I guess it’s time to take own advice!

2025, Goals, Healthy Living, hobbies, Home, life, Travel, Writing

More of This More of That

Posted on March 21, 2025 by nancyb422

What do you wish you could do more every day?

By working four days a week, I’m getting glimpses of what retirement will look like.

I have a variety of hobbies that include knitting, ancestry research, writing for this and my family stories blog, puzzles, reading. All my indoor stuff but I also have a new e-gravel bike to ride and a boat that will go in the water next month. And travel!

I wish I had more retirement time every day to find a flow to work on my hobbies and outdoor activities!

Soon. I just have to be patient.

2025, Goals, Healthy Living, life, Writing

The Six Week Curse

Posted on March 10, 2025March 10, 2025 by nancyb422

Six weeks from whenever I start a “healthy lifestyle program” it all goes to hell.

2025 is turning out to be no exception. I talked about my plans for a healthy 2025 here.

What happened? Valentines Day happened and I went to Sweet Chocolata’s here in town to buy treats for my family and employees. Of course, I had to buy something for myself and their caramel and chocolate covered pretzel sticks are to die for! That was almost a month ago and I haven’t been able to get back on track. It feels like no matter when I start, six weeks later there is some event or holiday that derails me.

My workouts, of course, continue to be going well. It’s my diet that I can’t get back on track. I start each with with determination, and then slide away.

But, as Truman Capote said, “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor”. Appropriate right?

2025, Goals, hobbies, Home, leisure time, life, thoughts, Writing

Social Media and Me

Posted on January 19, 2025 by nancyb422

Ugh. That is how I feel about this relationship.

I am curious which also translates to nosy. This is why once I start scrolling, I can’t stop. Facebook to Instagram to Threads. I hate Threads the most. It’s filled with complaining.

I deleted them all so many times off my devices during the election season. Then my fingers (and my brain) would itch to see what was going and I just had to reinstall them. And then delete them again.

They are unhealthy. But….

I have accounts for our business and I try to keep those full of content and comment on followers accounts.

I want positivity in my life. I don’t want negativity in my life.

One of my goals for 2025 was to “read less what other people and write more of what I want to say”.

Heading off to delete those apps off my IPad again….

2025, family, Goals, Home, life, Politics, relaxing, thoughts

2025 Mental Health Goals

Posted on January 17, 2025 by nancyb422

In my quest to be mindful in 2025, I’m focusing on my emotional and mental wellbeing in addition to my physical wellbeing.

I know that sleep is important, and in our house it’s always been important to my husband! For most of our marriage, this man has gone to bed at 8pm and would get a good 8 hours of sleep. I would usually make it into bed by 10. Since the first, I’ve made an effort to head up by 9pm, get some reading in and have lights out by 9:30. I also started wearing my Apple Watch to bed so it can record the different stages of my sleep.

Another bedtime ritual I’ve started is a 5 or 10 sleep meditation with my Peloton app. I wear my ear buds, start the program and absorb the soothing music and soft voice of the instructor. I usually discover I’ve fallen asleep! My average sleep time for a week has ranged from 7 hours 15 minutes to 7 hours and 28 minutes. My crowning achievement was a night of sleep with NO minutes awake!

Because I don’t have a set time I need to be in the office, This year I’m learning to embrace that! It’s tough to get used to when for so many years, I’ve been at my desk by 8:30! My alarm is still set for 5:45 but I take time to drink my coffee and complete my workout. I have extra time to read the paper!

There are times at work that cause me and the two people there (one being my son) to start to wallow in frustration and self-pity. It’s specially tough to see it in my son, so I always try to turn it around and cheer us all on! We have so much more going for us than against us!

I’m packing up for the day and heading home at 3pm (to-do lists are vital for me!), so I can walk with my husband and our friends for some exercise and socialization.

I’m not on board with our upcoming federal administration so that has made me anxious when I read stories that seem more fiction than fact. For the time being, I’m averting my eyes because I know there is nothing I can do to change any of it. I hope in the near future I can get involved with an organization that will help make a difference for people in need.

*My mental health is better when I stay positive*

2025, Goals, hobbies, life, thoughts

2025 Physical Goals

Posted on January 15, 2025 by nancyb422

All my life I’ve tracked the numbers on the scale and have a roller coaster relationship with food and my body. The January 1 entry in my first diary as a soon to be 10 year old says among other things, “I resolved will try to exercise every day”. I was 9 years and 8 months old.

Maybe it was because the 60s and 70s were full of the Twiggy models or maybe it was because in my brain, I was not petite, just short. I topped out at 4’11” in sixth grade, never to reach the ultimate next foot.

Over the years I’ve used tracking methods like Weight Watchers and Fitness Pal and worked out to the all the Jillian Michaels and The Firm Workouts in existence, and a couple of times over the last four years, I’ve worked with Jennifer, a nutritionist at Evolved Nutrition in Wallingford.

Working out, has never been an issue for me. I’m using my Peloton in one way or another for up to 45 minutes 6 days a week. But what do they say? Losing weight is 80% diet and 20% exercise…..

This January 1st, as the weight crept up from vacations and general not paying attention, I knew I had to get serious. Is it the impending 65th birthday around the corner? Probably! But more than that, I know, because I’ve done it, that when I lower my weight, I feel better. I have more energy, my arthritis doesn’t bother me (as much), my hip pain disappears. It’s a no-brainer. But sometimes so hard to just take that first step.

So, I’ve started up the Fitness Pal app and really started using it. I’m more aware of how I feel after each meal, what works and what doesn’t. I’m becoming more aware of how I feel emotionally. I’m drinking more tea, and doing more meditation.

I’m looking at the different strength workouts on Peloton to work on lighter weights and more toning, like Barre workouts instead of trying to life 20 pounds.

I achieved my first 1,000 minutes only 14 days into the new year! That’s because my husband and I and another couple in the neighborhood join up in the afternoon when we can to take a walk to the center of town and back. 2 miles, 46 minutes and a great break in the late afternoon. The first year I was in the challenge I completed 13,000+, and last year was 14,000+ so it’s my goal to hit the 15,000 this year.

Here’s to a Happy and Healthy 2025!

*Hubs and I at the Shops at Hudson Yard in December 2024*

2024, family, Goals, life, thoughts

Big Business Decisions

Posted on December 7, 2024 by nancyb422

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

In the past year, we’ve begun the process for our son to purchase our remodeling company. He’s been with us since 2012 and for the last 2 years, has worked in the office estimating and running projects. We’ll start the buyout as the calendar turns to January 2026.

My husband and I have owned the company since 1999. It’s been 25 years of hard work building it from the ground up starting out in our basement to now in an office with nine employees.

When you work for yourselves, you wonder as time passes, “will I be at work until the day I die?” Terrible thing to think of but, it’s your business, not some corporation that you hit retirement age and leave. What option is there other than to find a buyer or close the doors. My husband has retired from the office and I’m starting to work four days a week and come and go a little more freely because I know our son and our client manager have everything under control.

It’s a remarkable feeling to know that our son is incredibly capable of owning the business and he’s already running it. I picture my 3 year old with a plastic hammer in his hand pounding on a piece of sheetrock with dust on his nose and marvel at how accomplished he is today.

2024, Business, family, Goals, life, Memories, Writing

Creating A Business From Nothing

Posted on November 28, 2024 by nancyb422

What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?

I left a full-time with benefits job to start up a remodeling company with my husband.

12 year prior I had moved cross country to live with my soon-to-be husband, so I know about making a big leap of faith. But now we’re talking about income, and we have a mortgage and a son to provide for!

For him, he was not happy with the new home builder he was working for, and as an “independent contractor” (really, just a carpenter that back then a company could get away with not putting them on payroll), the builder could make his own rules for paying for their work.

For me, our son was turning 9 and would be heading into 4th grade in September. I had had the week between Christmas and New Year off and Oh Boy, I had a taste of time off, just being home and I wanted more of that!

We got him licensed and insured, he worked on and off for the home builder and, we advertised in the local weekly newspaper that got delivered to homes.

I left my job in early June and we worked out of our unfinished basement. I took care of business and set up appointments during the day for him to go on after his work day. I also picked up a part-time job at our son’s school in the library! I worked from 9 to 1, worked the school schedule, and was in our office in the afternoon. It was a dream setup!

Over the 25 years, we built a garage at our home with office space above where we worked for 12 years, and in 2018, we bought a unit in a business complex for our office. We went from my husband working alone to present day, he’s retired, I’m semi-retired, our son runs the business, we have a great person in the office, and we have 5 employees out in the field.

It was a tough decision, but I had faith that we would succeed. There were a lot of hills and valleys over those years, but we did what we set out to do.