It’s a bit hard to put the last three months into words. Somehow, the first quarter has felt both quiet and chaotic at the same time. I attribute this duality to what I describe as ‘startup season’. In Q1 2025, Brian and I set plans in motion for the year. Amidst our daily routines, we’ve taken the first steps towards a handful of experiences and are in the process of planning more. It’s fair to say that we’ve had a steady pace of activity, without much opportunity for downtime!
Q1 2025
Though our minds and schedules were preoccupied with organizing both planned and unexpected travel, we still managed to achieve a few key experiences on our list. Between research-heavy days and everyday to-dos, Brian and I got lost in the music, expanded our knowledge, and reconnected with friends.
To be honest, I’m kind of impressed with what we accomplished. Admittedly, our intentions were a bit more relaxed than usual. We primarily focused on our health and travel plans, so everything else we achieved during Q1 2025 felt like a sweet, added bonus!
Here’s what we got into this quarter:
Entertainment
1. Catch an out-of-state concert
Brian and I took a quick trip to North Carolina to see The Red Clay Strays live. Prior to the concert, we’d only been listening to them for a couple of months. They’re a Southern rock band with blended elements of classic Americana and rockabilly. We enjoyed the music, and they definitely put on a great show, but the crowd was a little too much for us! It’s been a while since we’d been in a crowded concert venue, and while we appreciated the energy, we realized we’re drawn to more low-key, laid-back spaces these days.
Overall, the concert was a fun experience that made for a memorable weekend trip!
2. Hit the dance floor more
We discovered an awesome spot near us that offers a super easy night out! It’s a restaurant with a lounge and dance floor that caters to a wide age range. We love that there are no parking or entry fees.
Oddly enough, we randomly found that a friend of ours visits pretty regularly and is friends with the DJ. So, Brian and I met the DJ one evening and ended up dancing the night away with our friend and her crew. The venue will often feature themed parties, such as Disco Night, 80s Prom, and Sock-Hop Night. We even popped into an Anti-Valentine’s Day event!
Dancing is more my kind of thing than Brian’s, but he’s even begun to enjoy our time on the dance floor! Ages range from mid-20s to mid-70s, and people just do their own thing, with zero judgment or expectations. It’s such an easy way to shake off the week and just enjoy some music!
Intellectual
3. Complete a documentary series on Blue Zones
The international bestseller Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles further influenced my perspective on mindfulness and purpose. Ikigai (ee-key-guy) roughly translates into ‘a reason for being.‘ This concept celebrates the importance of community and purpose, which the book illustrates as central to the values observed in Blue Zone communities around the world.
In light of this, I discovered Netflix’s Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, a 4-episode limited series that highlights the principles and habits of five communities known for their extraordinary well-being and life expectancy. The very first episode explores the concept of ikigai and its role in achieving a fulfilling life.
We found this documentary series both insightful and inspiring. Each episode offered a refreshing reminder of the beautiful simplicity of living with intention, providing actionable ideas for prioritizing what truly matters in life.
Health
4. Complete the P90X classic schedule with at least 30 days of P90X3 doubles
Oh, Tony Horton. You have become part of our family! I am so ridiculously elated that I gifted Brian the complete P90X DVD set way back in 2010. Now, we get to use it practically every day. Who would have known that this program would become a steady part of our lives for the past 5 years?!
We’ve just completed our first 90-day challenge of the year, which included P90X3 doubles! Double workouts for 30 days took a lot of energy out of us, but we did it. Truth be told, we’ll probably add in double workouts over the next few months just for fun!
Home
5. Restore our marble coffee table
We set aside some extra cash and a Saturday to see if we could bring our coffee table back to life. It was so damaged that we felt we couldn’t make it any worse! After 7 years of neglect, our poor marble coffee table was covered in watermarks and deep etching, making it look dull and tired.
After researching how to refinish marble, we bought a corded variable speed stone polisher, wet diamond polishing pads, and stone polishing powder. Using tips from DIY subreddits, as well as tutorials from MB Stone Professional, Brian and I felt our way through marble restoration. It took about 3 extra hours than it should have, but hey…we were learning as we went! Not only was it exciting to see our marble restored, but it was also incredibly rewarding to gain some hands-on experience and learn something new.
Community
6. Check out a local book reading
On a quiet Friday night, Brian and I found ourselves in a cozy theater listening to excerpts of a life journey shaped by Hollywood, worldly travel, and novel experiences. Andrew Meyer, the executive producer of the ’80s classic film The Breakfast Club, entertained the audience with stories and insight from his new book Walking in the Fast Lane: Stories of A Lifetime.
While we learned quite a bit of behind-the-scenes trivia about The Breakfast Club, what intrigued us the most was Meyer’s overall creative process, including his relaxed trial-and-error approach to navigating the film industry. The reading was a nice reminder that life rarely unfolds as we plan and that sometimes it’s best to just take a chance and see what happens.
Connection
7. Schedule more frequent video calls with long-distance friends
Accomplished! We appreciate being able to connect with our friends and see their faces, even when they’re living across the country or halfway around the world. Though time differences require some planning, the effort is always worth it. We look forward to continuing our calls throughout the year!
Q1 2025 Wrap-Up
One quarter down, three more to experience! The last few months have been a mix of tired energy and inspiration. I’m proud of us for learning new skills and sticking to our health and fitness routines, as well as committing to our own personal goals. Though we’ve spent a great deal of time and focus preparing for the months ahead, my hope is that all of the effort will be worthwhile. As we look forward, we’re excited to embrace new opportunities that come our way. You’ll just have to keep tuning in to see what adventures we take on next!
Hopefully, the next quarter will bring some reprieve and more chances for us to find a better balance between new experiences and downtime. As we transition into spring, we look forward to taking advantage of the warmer weather, longer days, and spending time outside!
I hope that this year has been good to you so far. Whether you’re juggling personal goals or navigating unexpected challenges, may you continue to keep going, keep pressing play (as Tony says), and find joy in the little things.
What adventures are you looking forward to this spring?
