Resolution Update- February

 1. Put more away towards retirement - Big medical bills to start this month and knowing I have dental work this month and a vacation that I wanted to be able to treat myself on, meant this month felt tighter, but I still paid my future first and I'm proud of that.  

Tax season is the time of year I realize just how expensive it is to be me- and by that I mean disabled. My medical expenses exceeded 10%  of my net income in 2025.  

2. Travel more  2 More national parks this month: Joshua Tree and Death Valley. Check out the Vacation blog for specifics 

3. Don't cry over men Cleaning my home means finding things that are hard to find. The lipstick I got married in, the journal entries I wrote as my marriage fell apart.  2 years ago when I moved out I wasn't ready to get rid of any of them.  I was this month and that felt good.  But also brought tears as my wedding dress is still in the closet, I'm not sure what to do with it, letting it go still feels like too much of an ask; not because of any care I have for my ex-husband, but similar way to my Engagement ring I picked it out because I love it. Having the wrong Husband that didn't change that.

4. Find joy in my work again I put in my transfer request this month. I've been at my current school for 9 years. And if my transfer isn't approved I'll happily stay another, but I also know that I'd like to try something different and now feels like a good time to try to do that. 

In addition to that, I'm teaching graph theory this month in my math class and for the first time in five years of teaching it I feel like I'm really getting through to students on a complex topic and that's really enjoyable.

5. Get rid of things I haven't worn or used in the last year. 

Last month I got rid of 102 items and used up 2 and increased my goal from 300 to 500 items out by the time I plan to move in early fall. Its important to note that I do not include found trash, paper, or boxes on the list. This month I did get rid of a lot of things I've used or worn recently. Because I don't need over 60 pairs of socks, or 2 dozen bras. I don't need every sweatshirt when I really only reach for 4-5. I also used up a lot this month which felt good to not have so many nearly empty containers laying around. Still have a lot of work to do on that front though. 

• Given to Charity/Friends (150)
• 11 Beauty Products unused/new
• 31 housewares
• 13 technology related items (lots of cables and cords)
• 19 pieces of Costume Jewelry 
• 11 Books
• 54 articles of Clothing - 
• 7 Bags
• 4 Pieces of art
• Thrown away (93)
• 59 Items from the bathroom 
• 3 From the kitchen
• 5 single earrings
• 15 pieces of clothing - some things cant/shouldn't be saved - 
• 10 Writing tools dead (markers, pens, highlighters)
• 1 used up book (one of those self help things)
• Used up (22)
• 5 Hair Care items
• 3 Make up items
• 10 Skin Care items
• 4 samples

Total really gone: 265

I also took a lot back to work because that's where they belong- Should I move schools, I'll just have them moved to a new building and will do my best to not bring them back into my home

• Took back to work
• 45 Writing Instruments (pens, Pencils, Highlighters, board markers, Sharpies) 
• 4 Binders
• 4 Chargers - and I still have 1 at home. Ooops
• 5 pieces of art 
• 3 small lotions and 1 hand sanitizer

Total back to work: 62

Total out in February: 327

Running total for 2026: 432

In looking at my home I'm glad I increased from 300 to 500.  I do think 500 is still reasonable, but probably low- though this month I did go through a lot of my clothing and actually threw things away and gave away more than I had expected to. I found a whole pack of socks never opened in a brand and style I don't wear- WTF? So now they aren't taking up space in my home any more. Its easier to keep less clean. I wont ever be a minimalist, but I'm glad to be in a place where I have more control over my home. 

I think it's also important to talk about things coming in. You see the dishes I use were my wedding china, and they are NOT microwave safe. So I found a set of microwave and dishwasher safe simple glass dishes that were on clearance that will be coming into my home. I am really trying to not buy things unless there is a need, but I don't want to keep wasting resources on paper plates. So 12 new items did come in. 

6. Do more learning- Goal of 1 hour a day. 

So between the Olympics, the Super Bowl and a week of vacation, I found I didn't necessarily listen ever day, but did listen for longer stints on the days I did. Especially long travel days. 

These are the courses I currently have in progress or complete during February- If I finish a course it goes in a blog I will post at the end of the year. So the ones below are only the ones I watch during the month I'm in. 

This month I watched 58 episodes over 35 hours

• National Parks - By National Geographic Jan. This is my special interest- so I am very knowledgeable on this content already and I still learned new things though I've been to 7 of the 12 parks discussed. I strongly recommend this series. Also it will make it easier for my friends and family to talk about my special interest with me- so shameless plug. I listened to 8 this month  Feb. I really appreciate the focus on the indigenous peoples who were moved and impacted by the founding of the national parks.  Completed this month   5/5 cannot recommend enough
• Music as a Mirror to History Stared and Completed in February 3.5/5 There are 24 lectures in this series. This is a Listen rather than have to watch series. Many that I watch are essential that you are actually WATCHING them, this is not the case, this can be listened to much like a pod cast. Maybe a little bit more history than I care for in my music lessons, but not so much I don't enjoy listening. These were great to download so I could listen on my flights this month. 
• 12 Women who shaped America 1619-1920 Started and completed in February 4/5 It's important that we know the strong courageous women who came before us so we can be loud and force change as we push progress forward. While there are 12 specific women highlighted in this series, they are far from the only women mentioned.  I tried to keep track of the additional women they mentioned but simply couldn't keep up. 
• America's State Parks- By National Geographic -  JAN: The man lecturing claims to be an expert but as someone whose been to a lot of these places, his pronunciation sounds like someone who has no idea what he's talking about as he is saying words phonetically that I promise you no local would every say that way.  They also don't include any MN state parks when talking about the Great lakes, which is nothing but a disappointment. Certainly good to learn about potential travel opportunities for my cross country drives, but has several short comings. Listened to 3 this month. FEB:8 more this month Made it through the ones that currently interest me- things along drives I will be doing this year. Got good ideas for trips I already have planned. I may circle back to the rest of them at some point, but for now I feel good about what I've learned and that I can actually use it in the next 12 months. 
• The Geology of the National Parks- By National Geographic New for February. I am not doing these in order I am doing them based on upcoming trips, So I started with Joshua Tree and Death Valley and moved on to summer trips though I find it all very interesting.  There are 36 lectures in this series and I have currently done 7.
• The History and Archeology of the Bible  Jan. really wanted to like this, I find the subject interesting, but the lecturer was not very exciting and I found myself falling asleep during most lectures and needing to go back an re-listen. I listened to 11 this month. FEB: I watched 1 this month and struggled to not fall asleep, so I focused on other topics more interesting to me this month.