Last month I started Looking Back with a slightly broader lens – encompassing not only the daily photos, but also a few reflections. This month I’m making a few more tweaks:
1. What am I celebrating?
+ first signs of Spring, another beautiful amaryllis season, and 41 years with the same Valentine.
2. What worked well? what didn’t?
+ our cookbook club – two meetings in and I think we have a plan that’s going to carry us through.
– the planning for our women’s service was at times both stressful and frustrating; this was my 4th (or 5th?) year leading the preparation and it was the first where I didn’t even have final liturgy by February 1 (let alone March 1). Once Easter is behind us, I need to plan a meeting with our pastors and PW leaders to agree on how next year will work.
3. What surprised me?
+ how easy it was to settle in on a “daytime uniform” once I started paying attention to what I really like to wear and what makes me feel good about myself (also limiting my choices).
+ 45-60 minutes a day is plenty to get a balanced workout (cardio, strength, stretching) and doing it EVERY day makes it easier to stay on track.
4. What were the best conversations?
+ every single one I had with the attendees and presenter at the Still and Still Moving conference.
5. What was a discovery?
+ The StyleBook app.
+ taking a week away from the blogging world is ok.
6. What voices am I listening to?
+ Sarah and Beth on Pantsuit Politics. They are keeping me sane with everything that’s happening in our country right now and I cannot recommend their podcast highly enough.
7. What was the best thing I watched? read?
+ I watched two great shows on Netflix – The Spy and Rocketman – and enjoyed every minute of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Bookclub discussion (a Zoom meeting) with Alix Harrow, author of Ten Thousand Doors of January.
+ Murmur of Bees. (“best” was a tough choice this month – I finished six books and rated 4 5-stars and 2 4-stars … embarrassment of riches!)
8. What am I leaving behind?
– ALL the beige sweaters and shawls and most of the gray ones.
– sharing all my book reviews on Instagram. I might share a few, but more than that was just stressful!
9. What do I want to focus on in the month ahead?
+ the Women’s Service (thankfully now past!)
+ a Spring/Summer making plan
I know February probably seems like ages ago (yikes, March did get off to a sneaky, quick start!), still … how about you? is there something from last month you can share? I’d love to hear!
mere-et-filles 
Wow, you’ve shared lots here and learned a lot in February also. Learning so much sounds like a successful month! I don’t think I can even remember February since March has been a pretty big month in so many ways.
Sounds to me like February was a particularly productive month—lovely collage of photos to help document it! I’m most impressed with the daily workout routine. I get to the gym three days a week–first thing! Once it gets warm enough, I’ll walk regularly, but my cardio really takes a hit during the winter.
It sounds to me like your February was about balancing your life and letting go things that weren’t working for you. I hope that you’re finding those decisions are making for a better March!
Hi, Mary–I found you last summer while trying to find a Summer Book BINGO to participate in, and I really enjoy your blog & photography! This post is such a great way to re-cap. I’m with you on the ‘uniform.’ It’s not at all boring, as it may sound. I find it to be liberating, actually! It’s funny, I started getting so many compliments after I culled my closet and started doing Courtney Carver’s 333 project (which I admit to keeping a loose hold on the ’33’)…wearing what’s right for me–and not overthinking it!–feels so much better than putting something on simply to justify keeping it in my closet!
Let’s hear it for the uniform! 🙂
It looks like February was a great month — filled with learning and love! Thanks, Mary.
Good things, one and all! (although I do miss your presence when you miss blogging!)
I am stunned at how rapidly March is “marching along”!
That’s a whole lot of good stuff right there! I think Feb was a great month for you. And…congratulations on 41 years with the same Valentine – that’s awesome! I’m curious about your “daytime uniform” – hope you post about that. And (see that “and?”) here we are in mid-March already!
I think adding words to your monthly pictures is brilliant and gives us all a much better idea of what your month was like.
your February reflections are pack full of insights. I love how you are embracing some parts of your wardrobe and letting go of other parts! Such a nice process.
You have a beautiful way of describing what is/has happened in your life over a month. A view of what your routines are like, where you spend the most time, and what is on/in your mind comes into focus. Thank you for sharing who you are and what is important to you. I am now celebrating the signs of spring and listening to the beginnings of the dawn chorus. We’re in the back and forth time of spring-winter tug o’war.
February- so long ago! I HIGHLY recommend The Green Book-Steve and I really enjoyed this movie and it’s one I’d watch over and over.