ten on the tenth (1/2026)

 

Happy Saturday, friends! I'm joining in with Marsha for this month's ten on the tenth blog party. When I saw the prompt for this month, I knew I had to play along. Without further adieu, here are ten things I probably won't do this year!

1. I probably won't exercise everyday, or even as much as I want to. As much as I'd like to, I really hate exercising; I'm okay with hit or miss, honestly. I count work as exercise a lot, because I walk nonstop during the day. I do hope to take more outside walks in every season, but exercise as in go to the gym and do that? Nope. I don't foresee me doing this at all this year. 

2. I probably won't paint my bedroom like I'm wanting to do. (I hope I surprise myself on this one, though!) I was in my room Thursday night, and I was struck with the fact that it's the only space in the house that hasn't been redone since my ex-husband left. I do have new bedding and a new headboard, but I got to thinking about how much I'd like to repaint and rearrange. But realistically? I hate painting, and I probably won't get around to this.

3. I probably won't get engaged this year. I'm laughing, because duh! Who gets engaged so quickly after being divorced for only nine months? In all sincerity, I am seeing Chris and have been for the last six months. He's wonderful! But I am not looking into getting remarried anytime soon, or maybe even ever at all. I'm enjoying my independence and living on my own. And honestly? I don't miss having a man's things around my house, although I do see traces of him here, like in the pantry with snacks that I know he likes and the sweet tea that I keep in the fridge for him when he comes for dinner. 

4. I probably won't pick back up with my love of reading this year. This actually makes me very sad, and while I do hope to read some on occasion, I don't know if it'll ever be what it once was in my life. I used to read about 60 books a year, and last year I might have read ten. This is circumstantial, I think, because I can't seem to focus for too long on one thing. I am always hopeful that I will do this, but being hopeful didn't help me the last six months. 🤣

5. I probably won't get new carpet upstairs this year like I'd hoped to do. It's expensive! Maybe someday, and as much as I'd love it to be this year, it probably won't be. 

6. I probably won't travel as much as I'd like to this year. I do have some trips planned already, but will that ever be enough? I am not saying I'm not going to be traveling; I am, trust me. I have my first trip planned for February! I'll have one in March, and another in April. That's what I'm saying, though: I don't think I could ever travel enough! 

7. I probably won't be pleased with the numbers that the scale shows me this year. I'm not saying that I want to weigh a certain number or that I want to lose a certain amount of weight, but I'd be content to have the numbers go down even marginally. I definitely don't want to see the numbers creeping back up! I saw that after Christmas and was a little intimidated by that. It's not quite as easy to do so good when you work at a school. I don't want to come off as griping here when I say this, because the weeks are filled with such good things for us, but I'm way more likely to eat sweet treats this year than I was last year when I had a non-school job. Our first teacher treat day is coming up next week at work; these are always delicious, and I do try to make better decisions when faced with a table full of delicious snacks.

8. I probably won't continue with my promise to keep staying home more at night. It's acceptable for the moment, because it's January and because I've been getting over a sickness, but I know this won't continue. I can't take too much time at home! I'll be ready to start getting out again soon, especially as the weather gets warmer and patio nights become a thing again. I skipped my Wednesday night tradition this week because Kendra had a date, and though I needed to be home because I didn't feel well, it made me sad. I've come to love our Wednesday nights at Rotolo's and am more than ready to start doing that again with her and Marilyn. 

9. I probably won't accomplish all the things on the winter bucket list that I shared about last week. While it was a great list filled with things that are pretty easily attainable, I am sure that I won't get around to all of them. I also probably won't get around to any bucket list that I share in the coming year, honestly! I'm okay with this, because it's still fun to dream. 

10. Last, but not least: I probably won't ever get my house as clean as I want it to be. This is a hard task to accomplish with dogs in the home! I'm okay with this, too, though. I will keep on dusting, keep on vacuuming, keep on being content with my current living situation, because it means that my son is at home with me. I count this as a blessing, even though sometimes I think how ready I am to live alone, completely on my own. I know that day will come, though, so I don't want to rush this part of my life. There will be a day when Jonah will have to communicate by phone call or when he stops by for just a visit, much like Graham did this week. All too soon, I won't have him here for companionship, or his dogs here for entertainment. So for now, I'll keep on glimpsing at the little clumps of dog hair on the floor, and I'll be grateful for them, because it means that I have someone here that is living and breathing with me in my home. 

This was a fun post to write! What is something you probably won't get around to this year? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my Saturday bonus post. Love to all, friends.

Jenn