Time to evaluate goals of the past year

 We are rolling into the last part of the year.  Looking back we thought we'd evaluate some goals of the past year.  

• Purging check.  One of us did Project 333.  Check it out so worth doing. 33 items for 3 months. Makes you evaluate what you actually want to wear.  Ended up getting rid of a lot of summer clothes that didn't make the cut.  Didn't miss and felt like enough clothes to wear. 
• Cleaned and purged under kitchen cabinets.  Everything out, cleaned and less back in.
• Cottage rental. So good and needed. Read books, painted and general had days of doing nothing.
• Did some hiking this fall. Weather perfect for hiking in the fall.  Warm but less or no humidity.
• Yeah happy to say made it to a few patios this summer. Felt normal. Even tried a new place downtown which was cool.
• Bought a few artisan gift boxes. This year a major to do was support local artisans. Purchasing gift boxes was an easy way.  More than one artisan in the box. Look for them in your area. Support local.
• Tried a few on-line paint classes. A few of us did one together - very neat. No we won't be showing or work!!!!
• Book club - maybe not as frequent as we wanted but did manage a few.

Overall it was a good year so far. Family and friends safe. Mostly trying to make the most of a pandemic that is still ongoing. 

Live the life you can in the times you are living.  That has been our motto.

Opting out a few of our ideas

One of us has been listening to Cait Flanders Opting Out Podcast.  She wrote two books one about not spending and the more recent The Adventures of Opting Out.  The podcast is enjoyable as Cait is easy to listen to - no drama. She usually tapes it outside so water, wind and her seeing the occasionally animal or one week a proposal. 

So we thought it would be fun to give our list of "opting out" here it goes....

• Drama - don't need or want.  Maybe on the screen but that is about it.
• Negative people and/or conversation.  Yes we need to debrief and that can get negative.  But you know the people we mean. It is all negative. They are victims and nothing is held accountable for them.
• Events we are not interested in. We say yes because we feel we should. That being alone is not an excuse. It is. If not a special occasions we can say no. Our time and needs are important also.
• Book recommendations and books people give us.  If we are not interested say so and don't take the book. Or if you do, start it and it doesn't catch your attention don't bother finishing it.  Yes you heard that right you don't have to finish a book you are not enjoying.  Yep, it is okay you have permission.  Life is short there are a lot of books read one you want.
• Shopping for the sake of shopping.  One of us is doing Project 333 where we wear 33 items for three months. No shopping. It is to see what we have in our closets and what we really want and wear. It is okay to say no to shopping with friends for the sake of shopping. Meet them for lunch later.
• Not to answer the phone if we are exhausted and know that person is just calling to talk. Nothing major just talk (which is great) but not at our expense.  One of us is taking a no answering the phone in the evenings for a bit - leave a message. One friend said she had a phone phobia.  Seriously. Creating boundaries is okay. You do not have to be at people's demand 24/7. 
• You decided what you want to opt out of.  Maybe it is working full-time. Too much over-time. Too many activities on your or family plate.  Keeping up appearances.  Have a look around and see what you can opt out of.