If you've been following me for a while, you may know that for the last two years, I've done a special type of challenge. Last year it was called 22 in 2022 and this year it's 23 in 2023, I wonder what I will call it next year.
What I do is, for said number of days out of the month (22, 23, etc.), I challenge myself to do something that I would not normally do, something that will make me think, learn, or grow. Some months my challenge is not to do something that is habitual, unhealthy, or unproductive for that number of days.
I could write a post about each of these experiences because it's led to many interesting stories but today I'm going to focus on my current challenge - deleting sweets. Yes, in December - what a silly and hard month to do that in!
However, what I love about these challenges is that it's not every day - so for 23 days out of 31 this month, I am not allowing myself to have sweet treats.
This is a big deal for me, as I have had a lifetime sugar addiction, I come from obese parents, and my sweet treats are not typically just 'treats', they are 'all the times.' I do not feel in control of myself when I am around treats and I don't like that feeling.
Twenty-three days of giving up something still allows me 8 days this month to have a treat, that's twice a week. That seemed reasonable.
Twenty-three days of adding something to my routine typically gave me 7 to 8 days a month not to do said thing; if I was sick, lazy, traveling, if I forgot etc., etc. That also seemed reasonable to me. Yet, 23 days out of the month was often enough to make it habit-like.
This challenge has brought many new experiences, people, and wins into my life. It has grown me as a person and given me a greater understanding of the world at large.
I love to let other people suggest challenges; many are things I never would have thought of, like birding for example. My friend said, "I know it sounds boring, but my walks have never been the same since I started doing it." And he was right!
But back to sugar...
The best thing I did with this challenge was to write down every time I passed on a treat.
I was astounded after the first week how much I would have eaten without even thinking about it...
Sugary treats that crossed my path in the first week that I didn't eat...
Chocolate covered almonds
Mal's brownie
Rotary pastry
Crust bakery from 100 women
Rogers chocolate bar from Insurance place
Bakery - egg nog donut
Gingerbread cookies
Strawberry shortcake
M&Ms
Vendor chocolate bar
Plane cookie
529 treat
Chicago mix popcorn
Gina's After Eights
Air lounge treats
Peppermint Starbucks cake pops
More Lounge treats
Milkshake
Hallway chocolates
Someone, please give me a medal!
What a wake-up call!
I passed up all these things and I didn't die! I didn't crumple into a ball of mush. The world didn't tilt. I just passed, like a full-on grown-up, in control of herself! AND...on the days when I had sweets, I really mindfully enjoyed and savored them!
Some of the challenges disappear at the end of the month and some become part of the tapestry of my life but all have enriched me somehow.
Now...your life, your version, your plan...
As you begin to think (or not think) about what 2024 might look like for you, conventional resolutions are one way to go, but if you are like me some version of 24 in 2024 may really add to your year and help differentiate the months from all rolling into each other.
If you need some inspiration and you care to see what other challenges I have tackled, I've listed them here for you.
If you'd like to send some challenges my way, I am very open to that, but I permit myself to modify them as necessary!
22 in '22
January - 22 of each pushups, squats, burpees, lunges, up/down planks
Feb - meditation
March - polar dips
April - qigong
May - play
June - pride education
July - delete junk food
August - write poems
September - culinary
October - birding
November - writing
December - dance
23 in '23
January - grounding
Feb - barre
March - The Murph (15 min - chin-ups, squats, abs, push-ups)
April - 23 days without social media
May - read 23 minutes - pleasure, actual book
June - run
July - self-care
August - play music
September - zentangle (sample pictured above)
October - visioning 3 x a day
November - tapping
December - 23 days without sweets
Cheering for you, as always, Steph : )
On the Road with Steph... Zentangling Edition!
