November 1. Wow. Does it ever feel to you like time is both slow and fast?
Some months seem interminably long and others fly by. October was a mix of both, and now that it’s November, I find myself feeling more reflective. This month, I’ll hit the six-month-mark from when a pulmonary embolism sent me to the emergency room. That event kicked off this Substack journey after I’d had some recovery time.
In the last month, we’ve had some new subscribers here (welcome!) and I thought maybe it would be a good time to recap where we’ve been and where we’re going. (I say “we” because I consider you a part of this journey. I’m the one writing, but I hope you feel like you’re part of something here.)
The List
After my major medical event, I started to think again about all the things I still want to do with my life. I never call it a “bucket list” because I’m uncomfortable with the term, even as I’ve grown more comfortable with the reality of death.
I just want to live in such a way that leaves nothing behind. No regrets, per se.
So, I picked 10 things to attempt over the next year(ish) and that’s some of what I’m documenting here. I’m revealing the list items one at a time, as I either accomplish them or work on them.
Thus far, here’s where we are with the list:
I’m writing a novel that I plan to finally finish. And I’ve shared some excerpts of this novel with plans to share more. The first one was a level of vulnerability for me that I haven’t experienced in a while.
I’ve started running again so that I can participate in a fun 5K that features one of my TV series obsessions.
One step at a time
Progress on my list has been slow. Fall is a busy season for our family with sports and activities that fill up our weekends, plus just the regular life stuff and I continue to have follow up medical appointments. I don’t like to feel pressured to do things to the point that I’m stressed out, but I do like to challenge myself to do things that I would otherwise easily put off because “I don’t have time” or “we can’t afford it.”
I’ve got a couple of list items in progress that I’m not quite ready to share about but will be soon. In the next month or so, I expect we’ll reach the halfway point—5 list items shared and in progress or completed. That feels monumental.
You can expect more novel excerpts as well. November is typically a month where fiction writers make big progress on a new story or an in-progress one with National Novel Writing Month. A writing group I participate in online hosts an annual challenge in November for all kinds of writers, and I’m using November as a time to get back into a regular habit of working on my novel. I like what I’ve done with it so far and where I’m going with it. Now I just need to carve out the time to work on it.
And I am.
If you’re a free subscriber here, thank you. This journey is more meaningful to me because I have people to share it with. I hope you gain some inspiration for your own life, to be brave in whatever way you need to be.
Share with a friend if you find something you like here.
And if you’re a paid subscriber (or want to be!), thank you for supporting my writing in a monetary way. You’ll continue to get bonus and/or early access to some behind-the-scenes moments on my list journey. (What else would you like from me that would feel like a bonus for being a paid subscriber?)
I’m grateful for you all. And I look forward to continuing the journey.