Achieving my personal goals (an update) (Patreon)

My latest reads that I really loved:

Try Giving Yourself Away by David Dunn

This book contains the same message throughout and was a really easy read for me. One of the things it suggested that I tried recently was the concept of not taking the closest parking space. At the gym, the cars are so crowded together and its a treasure getting right up close (especially when it's so cold outside) and one morning I watched as there was 2-3 open close spaces and I saw how happy the people were that got them. I parked a few businesses away and enjoyed the walk to the gym instead. 

Its something simple I can do for others, while also being capable of walking from further away unlike some others who are making the effort to move better just by going to the gym. Like my own grandma. This book has opened my eyes to how much others give themselves away too. I really enjoyed it. 

Another concept that stuck with me is how we thank people for things. But I will let you read the book and learn about it on your own! 

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

This one was an audible book recommended by Dave and it's cool because Matthew had a cockatiel growing up and the story about him is AMAZING even though it's a small portion. 

I really enjoyed how Matthew looks at life as red, yellow and green lights. Really cool concept and sooooo true. I remember thinking - not even thinking but being CONVINCED - my broken wrist was a red light. I had no idea it was actually a green light for stability, security, and a clear path to my purpose of birds. 

Just a really enjoyable listen! 

Goals I found a way to achieve: 

One of things holding me back from reading more with Capri was that it felt like there was no place to put this new habit. Well, things changed. Capri recently asked me if she could stop doing Taekwondo and take up more tutoring. When I asked why, she explained to me that her BFF Halle is a better reader than she is and is on 4th grade words (they are both in 2nd grade and Capri was reading 3rd grade words at the time she told me this) Capri DESPERATELY wanted to catch up to Halle and be in her reading group. 

I told her she would need to finish out this month in Taekwondo and then yes, we could put it on hold and take up more tutoring. 

Well, in this same time frame the school gave the kids a goal to read 10 hours at home in order to win Silverwood passes which is a theme park about 20 mins from us. It made it so that Capri was seeking out every opportunity to read at home AND Dave and I had just made a new rule that Capri would not use her iPad to fall asleep at night - which some nights were harder than others with her. She began seeking out the reading time at night and I started the reading as early as between 7pm-7:30pm some nights.

Not only was she falling asleep faster, but she has been getting more quality sleep. Last night I actually said she could use her iPad in the evening as a reward and she used it for about 10 minutes before she came into my room and asked me to read to her instead. 

I. WAS. SO. HAPPY. 

I read to her for about 10 minutes or less before she was fast asleep. So our nightly reading has been consistent and helping her achieve her goals too. She's already in 4th grade words and has almost caught up to Halle. 

What I haven't yet done: 

I still have not set up her Osmo tablet but we do have a trip coming up and I think I will get Dave's help on setting that up for her to have on the trip as my goal. We all need DEADLINES to get anything done and I realize I hadn't set one which is probably why it kept getting pushed off! She has used it in the past but we are all less familiar with it than we need to be. 

Thanks for being my accountability partners, guys! Leave your healthy living and book recommendation tips in the comments if you have any you'd like to share. xo