May 2025 wrap-up, what I'm reading and watching, and a few goals for June
also yay, it's now winter
Welcome to Let’s Do This, a weekly newsletter with ideas and inspiration for taking intentional action. This is the monthly round-up where I review the month using gold stars and demerits.
I feel like May has sped by at such a rapid pace. I can’t even blame Vietnam travel because we arrived back home on 1 May at 11:30 am.
What on earth?!
To be fair, I had travel admin to sort out once we were home (card fraud and a small refund from the travel agent) and I have still not even plugged in my big camera to see what the Canon photos look like. I did use the freshness of travel to order myself one of those colourful luggage protectors and reorganise/ simplify my luggage.
I have four (!) medical appointments in June - mammogram and scan, gynae and Pap smear, medical and radiation oncologists. Plus two blood draws. On the bright side, January Marcia made all those appointments so all June Marcia has to do is show up.
Moving swiftly along to the May recap because I did not sleep very well last night and I want to get some more rest before the week kicks off again.
Gold stars
I worked out 13 times this month - 4 Spanish dance, 4 personal training sessions and 5 Zumba classes.
Dion and I are 5/5 for monthly date nights.
Our family is 5/5 for family fun things.
This is really a gold star for Roto Rooter (Jhb plumbing company) but I contacted them at 11:30 and the service was booked, they came and did the work and I paid, all within 3 hours. I was and am amazed at how easy it is to work with them (this is the second time we’ve used their services).
I felt like I had to counter that boring house spend with some fun stuff so I bought Kendra new curtains and they look fabulous.
I bought myself new blue jeans before the old ones completely split. I kept wearing the old ones and wondering, “will this be the day?” and then one day I was like, “this is ridiculous” so I bought new ones and tossed the old ones.
Another gold star goes to the autumn foliage and sunsets in Johannesburg. They are magnificent.
My goals % is now on 48.9% for my 25 in 2025 list.
Demerits
A colleague had a heart attack and died this month. I am still devastated and have not been able to walk into that side of the building. I’m going to put it on my list and just do it.
I mentioned the iron deficiency last month but I’m giving myself a demerit for this reason - I feel fine on a particular day and then take only one instead of two sachets, and then it hits me on the Friday, like this Friday. I now have a post-it note on my bathroom mirror “no matter how you think you feel, TWO sachets daily”.
I did not spend a voucher in May. This month I plan to book a massage (maybe the weekend of the 14th) because I am very tense with the upcoming appointments. I need all the prayers on the 13th as the last time I was there I screamed from the pain for my surgery prep.
What I read and loved in May ——>
I don’t know when I last had such a bad reading month.
My favourite book was:
Romantic comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
See more here from my instagram post.
I am currently reading Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg and once I post this newsletter, I plan to start Sophie Kinsella’s What does it feel like? which should be a quick read and then I have The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl waiting for me.
This month, I also plan to finally read Same as it ever was by Claire Lombardo. I love dysfunctional family dramas.
Which books can you recommend to me in this genre? Also, make friends with me on Goodreads.
What I watched in May ——>
Speaking of dysfunctional family dramas, I finally (finally!) watched The Family Stone and I loved it. My husband thinks it’s a terrible movie but he also has less tolerance for people.
Also finally finished
With love, Meghan
Good, American Family
The Four Seasons (oh how I loved this one; I might have to start it again…)
Modern Family Season 1
What are you watching these days?
Hi. I am sorry to hear about your colleague. I too had to grief the death of someone who worked on our team in our church. She was in her 40's who battled with TB for years. Over the years she struggled more with breathing and lost a ton of weight. On Tuesday I got the news that she died, leaving two adult sons and one high school son behind with her husband. I will always remember her laugh and how she also smiled although she felt terrible with the TB. Life is short and every day is a blessing. I see and hear so many people dying these days in their 40s and 50s.
May was a little crazy. Many unexpected demands leaving me tired and missing out on doing the things I love.
However….
I finally made a start on crossing off one of my 2024-2025 goals: fixing up the study/guest room
I crossed off my goal of getting a few pictures and small shelves hung on the walls ( it’s only been on my list for over 5 years!!!)
My word of the year is “nourish” so I’ve been trying to add in “me” time where I sit, relax and watch tv. I’m currently watching Sullivan Crossing. Yes, it’s predictable but I’m glued to it.
I’ve managed to listen to one audiobook while driving to work and doing housework.
So I feel tired but I’m rapt to have done some things which have been out of reach for a long time.