10 For 2026: Q1 Update

 Here's the 2026 Edition, Quarter One Update: 

1. A completed, working draft of Book 4 by the end of the year. I've got 40K words and it's time to figure out what to do with them. It needs a restructure. I know how it ends. I sort of thought I knew how it begins, but that might be changing, and I need to figure out the rest in between. 

This begins now! I hope to have a more concrete update next quarter.

2. Built-in bookshelves! (Also: fix the gutter, fix the window, privacy strips for the fence, get new doors hung in the back hallway, fix the van bumper.)

Gutter is fixed, window is fixed-- need to get more doors hung and privacy strips for the fence. The van needs new brakes and an oil change, but parts of it are-- at least for now, not dragging on the ground any longer.  Built-in bookshelves are still on the menu!

3. Being Present: I know that's a buzzword these days, but I want to unpack it a little bit. I want to get into the habit of putting my phone down rather than having it with me at all times, so I reflexively scroll. I want to read more physical books and work on having fewer screens-- not just for me, but for the kids. I want to intentionally use my PTO/Sick Time when necessary so I can actually have a work/life balance and not just talk about it. I don't know how exactly I'm going to quantify this, but I'm going to try it and see. 

I think the winter was hard, and this is definitely a work in progress, but for now, I'm working on putting my phone in the bedroom and leaving it plugged in from when I get home until bedtime. That way, it's not in my pocket constantly, begging to be checked. It's a small step, but a quantifiable one. 

4. Declutter and purge! (We've been doing a lot of this already, but I want to continue to do so.)

Probably more to be done here, but I just took another load to Goodwill the other day. So, the work continues!

5. The Random Grab-Bag Resolution: I want to get a t-shirt blanket made, I have a beautiful map downstairs, and I want to find something to do with it. I've got a wood-burning kit I've never used. I want to do some wood-burning this year. And before I do the thing that every male in his 40s does and get a smoker, I want to try and do some smoking with my Weber grill just to see if it's something I can get into in a real way. 

No real action on this front, I'm afraid. 

6. Health: The old chestnut, but expanded to include mental health, physical health, and making sure I'm hitting those 10K steps whenever I can. Be nice if I could end the year smaller than I started it, but I think that's step two. Step one is to integrate exercise and physical activity, and stand wherever I can, so that it becomes a habit. Specific action items: addressing sleep apnea (a CPAP is being ordered), visiting either a chiropractor or a massage therapist to work out the hip, and establishing a stretching routine to reduce daily stiffness. 

CPAP secured.

I also took the plunge and started compounded semi-glutide, so I am smaller now than when the year began, which is a nice win. So far, there have been some bumps in the road to figure out this medicine, but I think I'm getting there. It's forcing me to consider and really think about what and how I eat, which I think is long overdue. 

I need to find enough balance in life to do some activity that could be quantified as 'working out' twice a week and we might be getting somewhere here. 

7. MISOGI TIME: I had to think about this a bit, but decided on the Manitou Incline. I'm going to have to get myself in better shape than I am now before attempting, and I considered things closer to home (like maybe RAGBRAI), but one of my goals is to summit a 14er or a verifiable mountain of some kind, and I feel like this would be a good way to start. I also think the logistics of getting myself to Colorado for a few days in 2026 have a higher potential to be accomplished than, say, taking off for a week somewhere else. A key part of this challenge is: getting myself in shape AND THEN attempting. Not gonna drive out there right now and take a crack at it, because I don't think that will end well. 

You know, I still want to try this. It's still on my radar. Maybe September?

8. Duolingo: The circle has returned around to Portuguese! 2026 will be my year of Portuguese and I'm hoping to get to a 1700-day streak on Duolingo for the year. 

Currently at a 1496-day streak on Duolingo, so I'm on track for this one as well. 

9. Reading: I didn't hit 40 on my Goodreads for 2024, so I think I'm going to take another run at 40 this year. Here's the Official TBR List for 2026 if you want to follow along.

My Goodreads doesn't show it quite yet, but I'm sitting at 8 books completed, which puts me at about 20% of the way to my goal. So I'm on track?

10. The Annual Control Resolution: Have A List of New Year's Resolutions! (Thus, ensuring that I'm not a complete failure at this!)

This is (obviously) complete!