Repurposed Kate's Weekly Update #2

Just in time...

Photo by Matilda Alloway on Unsplash

Hello, Amazing Subscribers... all TEN of you!!

I hope this email finds you well as week #2 of 2024 comes to a close. If you have been with me from the beginning of my Substack journey, you know that a short list of intentions created monumental changes for me in 2023 and inspired me to start Repurposed Kate. The ultimate goal for 2024 is to design a life (with limited resources) in which I am happy, motivated, and self-sufficient. If I can do that at 51 years old, anyone can do it. Thank you for subscribing and holding me accountable to living my intentions and sharing my results in real time. 

This is the second installment of Repurposed Kate's Weekly Update, which means it’s time to hold myself accountable. I guess I'll just jump in and let you know what I've been up to.

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Last Week's Intentions and Results 

Here are a few of my achievements and setbacks from last week: 

1. Focus on Finances:

Not much to report in this department. I have given my budget a thrice-over and am confident that I have trimmed the trimmable fat. It’s apparent that I’m going to have to stop carrying my debit card with me unless I am bound for the grocery store. Tiny, little charges throughout the week are bringing me down, and causing me to miss scheduled payments by dollars or even pennies. In case you missed it, I posted a letter about my financial situation, Dear Money, earlier this week.

Paid subscriptions are on… ;)

2. Stop Procrastinating:

With a great rallying of willpower, I was able to ready my home for the houseguest I was expecting to arrive on Wednesday. Then, the guest postponed the trip a day at a time until the opportunity had passed. It’s been nice having a tidy house, though! Going forward, I’ll try to keep it up!

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I put my heart into these intentions. Some were a success, others a learning experience. Each experience, success or failure, is an opportunity to grow. 

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This Week's Intentions 

Looking ahead, I'm setting up new intentions, leaning in on practical, daily living needs: 

1. New Kind of Gratitude:

You may know that I am an avid journaler and that I keep a gratitude journal. Lately, my entries have been getting a little, umm, stale. I’ve decided to shift the focus of my gratitude from the standard “what” I am grateful for to “who” I am grateful for, and to take that a step further by telling them. It makes my gratitude actionable by making a point of sending a note or a text, making a phone call, or just saying it in person. It makes them feel good. It makes me feel good. It’s a win-win!

2. Pay Attention to My Health:

2023 was a year of health issues for me. Whether by luck or the consequences of past drug and alcohol addictions, my liver rebelled against me. Beginning in June, my diet took a severe overhaul when my doctor prescribed a “clean” diet. No red meat, processed meat, processed foods, minimal bread and pasta, minimal dairy, NO SUGAR, no alcohol; high-quality fish, chicken, eggs (from my own chickens, Lucy and Ethel), veggies, and fermented foods became my entire diet.

In October, a pre-cancerous mass was discovered in my colon, which led to a major surgery in December to remove and further examine for cancerous cells. Pathology came back with good news: no cancer! However, during my soft foods recovery (three weeks), I found myself eating quite a bit that doesn’t fit the “clean” profile. I’ve been a bit lazy about getting back into the groove of eating right.

One of the excuses I’ve made has been around my weight. Clean eating caused me to attain an “ideal” weight, but the surgery caused me to lose more. I’ve struggled to get back to a healthy weight and used that as an excuse for sugary snacks and breads (especially donuts a few days a week).

Although I’m still short of my goal weight, I need to be mindful that my diet is the key to my health and get serious about it again.

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I am committed to these intentions and will put all my effort into achieving them. 

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Who I’m Reading on Substack

This is a new feature I’ve decided to include each week.

I never miss

Miriam Rachel

at Miriam Reads Tarot. Her readings never fail to shift my perspective on my situation, even if that shift means that I have work to do.

Time2Thrive author

Tim Ebl

has been nudging me in the right direction toward healthy eating.

Roscoe

is a must-read in Notes as well as his newsletter, AFFathers, for anyone struggling with alcohol addiction or keeping perspective on sobriety.

Finally, I wouldn’t even be on Substack if not for The Middle Finger Project with Ash Ambirge.

Your Turn 

I would love to hear about your intentions and how you're progressing. Please share your thoughts, your wins, and your lessons in the comments. Let's grow together and support each other. We’re all on this journey of growth and self-improvement together. 

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Thank you for being a part of my journey and for walking this path with me. Remember, it's not about perfection; it's about progress. See you next week with more updates and reflections. 

Stay Motivated, 

Kati Kate Katherine

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Remember, your journey is unique, and your story is important. Keep setting intentions, keep striving, and keep growing.