If you are one of the 0-3 readers of this blog, you may have caught my recent posts about how I fared with regard to my 24 in 24 list. Quick summary: the results were just so so. I did some things. I rolled a few things over to 2025. I changed my mind about several things and ended up just not caring about doing them. You may be wondering, "Well, Megan, why bother to make a somewhat arbitrary to-do list for 2025 if the Megan of March of 2025 or August of 2025 ends up shaking her head at Megan of January 1, 2025?" Well, why not? Why not give myself a little extra motivation that might lead to a little extra fun, a little extra joy, a few new experiences, and/or some bonus good habits for the coming year? So, in the spirit of why not? I offer you my 25 in 25 list.
1. Reflect often on this mantra: I have all that I need, and I am grateful for all that I have.
2. Meet my Peloton minutes goal of 15K. I got to 13,650 in 2024. Not that you care about the nitty gritty of this, but I do track outdoor walks and playing tennis (cardio workout) through the Peloton platform in addition to Peloton content.
3. See three movies in the theater with Diet Coke and generously buttered popcorn. Repeating this item from 2024 because it motivates me to do something I really enjoy.
4. Stream three documentaries at home. I have seen (almost) nothing of late.
5. Make three new recipes from cookbooks on my shelves.
6. Make three new recipes from those saved in the Paprika app. Great app, btw, for saving recipes you find online. More efficient than screenshots.
7. Read two Agatha Christie books. The only one I've read is And Then Were None and that was in 1989 Honors English when the book was still titled Ten Little Indians.
8. Try the Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie mystery series. First book in the series is Case Histories. Atkinson's Behind the Scenes at the Museum is one of my all-time favorite books, and I don't know why I've never tried her mysteries.
9. Try a little harder with my finger nails. I realize "try a little harder" is not easily quantifiable, but I want to make more of an effort.
10. Finish transforming our playroom/family dumpster into an organized storage space.
11. Work out five times at Courts Plus. I rejoined this past August when I felt brave enough post-ACL to start playing tennis again (very proud of myself for that). If you add up my tenure at Courts Plus, it's got to be about a decade of membership. And in that decade, I have collectively done a non-tennis workout there less than five times. So, even though this goal seems pathetic, it would be a big step forward.
12. Clean out the bottom half of my china cabinet.
13. Clean out the bottom half of the family room entertainment center.
14. Get a new rug for the family room. My husband has authorized and encouraged this purchase for three years now, and I just haven't gotten it done.
15. Log the clothing items I purchase. I have a very full closet. I "treat myself" often. I'd love to say, "Megan, you are not buying any new clothes in 2025. Won't that feel great?! LFG!" Realistically though, restriction doesn't work for me, except for in 2016 when I stayed out of Target for the entire year!!!! I think logging my purchases will make me more mindful.
16. Walk the Steps at Swallow Cliff.
I heard about these when my son was preparing to go on a scout high
adventure trip at Rocky Mountain National Park. Some scouts walk these
steps with their packs on for practice. My son never did, but I have
been meaning to visit the Steps at Swallow Cliff for over five years now. **Rollover from 2024**
17. Take a walk at Lake Ellyn. Twenty minutes away, and I've never seen this lake. Actually, had never even heard of it until a dogsitter told me how much my dog enjoyed walking there. My dog is not an enthusiastic walker so I gotta check this place out. **Rollover from 2024**
18. Visit the Art Institute of Chicago. I have not been there since my freshman year of college. What?! I took a screenshot of the "free days" as motivation, but it wouldn't kill me to pay either. I'd love to get one of my kids to go with me, but it may be a tough sell. **Rollover from 2024**
19. Visit the National Museum and Shrine of St. Therese in Darien. There is daily mass there at 11:30 am. I can easily fit this into a weekday. **Rollover from 2024**
20. Encourage/Force family to watch a comedy special as a family. Mom's choice and snacks provided.
21. Clean out linen closet.
22. Clean out upstairs hall closet.
23. Find a series to stream with my husband. Our tastes our different so we haven't watched something together in years, but we totally could.
24. Try food at Aunt Tina's Kitchen, a newer restaurant Elmhurst.
25. Take walks with 50 different people in honor of my 50th birthday. Deadline for this is 3/15/26.