Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes. 
It was a pretty low-key birthday ovearall. Tomorrow night NE and I will be going out to a fancy restaurant here (still working on the gift certificate problem ..)
NE stopped by between deliveries to tell me happy birthday in person.
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So ... what are my mini-goals for year 40?
I've been thinking about a lot of the different goals I've had, and how I've managed to do some .. for awhile, and others not really at all. I think maybe part of it was that some of the goals were too big / too much all at once.
So .. I decided that I'm going to try doing mini-goals. I'm going to choose one or two things to focus on for 30 days (or so) and not worry about the rest. Then if those goals are doing well, I'll add something new.
I'm hoping that by doing it this way, the mini-goals will become deeply ingrained habits.
So ... here are some of the mini-goals I'm thinking about:
MG1: Do something for 15 minutes (or more) every day that helps improve my environment. (Cleaning, decluttering, putting up pictures, etc.)
MG2: Say "Oh Well." When someone does something that gets you flustered or upset, or you're thinking that you'd really like something (junkfood) but know you aren't going to have it ... say "Oh Well." That's their problem / I'd rather be healthy / I'd rather have the money for ....
MG3: Do something active for at least 15 minutes everyday intentionally.
MG4: Do something for your spiritual health at least 15 minutes a day (read the Bible, pray, memorize verses, etc.)
MG5: Do something for your personal growth at least 15 minutes a day (play the piano, use Duolingo to practice Spanish, etc.)
MG6: Do something for others at least 2x a week (work on church library, volunteer, etc.)
MG7: Connect with others at least 2x a week (email/letter/phone call) Have at least 1x a week be someone different than the week before.
MG8: Turn off computer/phone by 10 p.m.
MG9 - Floss every day before going to bed.
MG10 - Give yourself a manicure or pedicure once a week.
Others may be added as I think of them.
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Financial Goals:
Main Financial Goal - Make spending decisions based on category balances only.
I have 3 main savings goals for this coming year -
High Priority - House Downpayment. This is where my regular savings, 90% of Windfalls (bonuses, tax refunds, SBs paypal earnings, survey earnings, etc.) will go. I'm hoping to hit $4k by September, and then probably sell up to ten shares of stock to add to the amount. (Goal of house purchase in September. Starting the process in August.)
Medium Priority Car Replacement - This will be getting a set amount of $50/month til #1 isn't needed.
Low Priority Remote Car starter - Leftover amounts in groceries, gas and utilities will be funneled here. (Would like to have $350 by September/October.)
Other Goals/Decisions:
I am no longer going to be purchasing ready made treats/sweets for consumption at home or at work. I can purchase the *ingredients* to MAKE treats for myself (such as chocolate chips to go into cookies) but not store-bought cookies.
Eating out / Fast Food is only going to be something that happens WITH another person.
Soda is an OH WELL item.
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Today I started with MG1 and 2. (My focus for the next 30 days.) When I got home from work, as soon as I changed into something warm, I spent about 45 minutes picking up, putting away, throwing away. The place already looks much better. (It will need several more days of 15 minute sessions to be looking "good.")
I'm hoping I can develop the attitude (in my mind at least) of Oh Well at work in dealing with some of the people that whine and complain. That way maybe I can deal with it for 15 more years.
The Oh Well is also going to be replacing my habit of Coke and Chocolate on stressful days. Oh Well - the day stunk like donkey balls - I'll live another day. (Thankfully there are quite a few short weeks in this coming 30 day period which hopefully will help make this habit easier to form! 
)
Mini-Goals for Year 40 (Not a Mini-Post :D )
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