52 Experiences Check-In: Q4 2024

This year began with a soulful intention to prioritize our well-being, leading to a steadily balanced calendar. Brian and I jumped in with hopeful energy, crossing our fingers for a good year ahead. As Q4 2024 comes to a close, we’ve realized just how much our experiences and perspectives have shaped our health and overall happiness. It’s really been a wonderful year.

Q4 2024

The last few months of 2024 were all about appreciating nature, the changing seasons, and our local community. This allowed us to continue to embrace the slow down. It’s taken us some practice, but as we’ve grown, we’ve learned to prioritize mindfulness in our daily routines. Brian and I have had a relatively low-key year, thanks to a healthier work-life balance and a grateful mindset.

Q4 2024 reflected a continuation of presence and connection, guided by loose plans and a solid dose of curiosity. This quarter, we climbed new heights, babysat our lawn, and ultimately enjoyed a mix of experiences on our own terms.

Travel

1. Take a genuine vacation

Brian and I view vacation and travel as two different experiences, one focused on relaxation and the other on living and exploring on the road. We don’t often take vacations, so we made it a priority to take a real break this year. Ours was a brief experience, more of a long weekend escape than a typical beach or resort getaway. I’m calling it a genuine vacation since we didn’t work, and our only goal was to enjoy reading by the pool! Success!

2. Wander through a cave

When we wrote down this experience in January, we didn’t expect to explore a cave in Hawaii. I figured we’d probably find one closer to home, so it was a thrilling surprise to visit not one, but two, while on the Big Island! Crawling around in the darkness with a headlamp is one of my favorite highlights of this year.

3. Head up north to spend a weekend hiking through fall foliage

Brian and I treated ourselves to a northeastern road trip from Boston to Canada, with Acadia National Park as the main attraction. Three days in Acadia allowed us to discover phenomenal trails, stunning views, and the inspiring calm of nature. From challenging hikes and scenic drives to cemetery strolls and seaside wanderings, we made the most of our fall adventures.

4. Cozy up overnight in a quiet and secluded cabin

What a treat it was to stay in this super cozy hideaway in Edgecomb, Maine. Beautifully constructed with wooden plank ceilings and wood beams, this home sits on nearly 2 acres and features original hardwood and brick flooring, a wood-burning stove, and plenty of thoughtful touches that make it feel like a true retreat.

Finance

5. Create an inventory log of home and personal property for insurance purposes

An inventory log has long been on my mind. I’ve known a couple of people who have lost their possessions in a house fire or flood. At my previous workplace, I’ve had to compile purchase records for clients who have also experienced property loss due to house fires or theft. Unfortunately, disasters can strike at any time.

Creating an inventory log isn’t a glamorous or exciting task, but it’s a crucial element of protecting your assets. It’s a painstaking process that involves documenting each possession, its value, as well as any applicable serial numbers. While it was a bit of a headache to organize, I know it’s going to save us from scrambling in the event of an emergency!

Entertainment

6. Share some laughs at a comedy show

Brian and I originally planned to see a stand-up comedian, but the dates didn’t work out for us. Instead, we picked up some tickets to a couple of comedy improv shows and had a blast!

7. Check out an improv show

Check! So far, we’ve attended two themed improv shows, one inspired by The Fast and the Furious and the other that celebrated the festive silliness of Hallmark Christmas movies. We’re looking forward to catching more improv shows in the future!

8. Jam out to some tunes at no fewer than 4 concerts

COVID-19 put a damper on our concert vibes. We started venturing out a little more last year, so we set a goal to attend at least 4 concerts this year. In Q4 2024, we went to our 4th concert, a lively and nostalgic show by one of my all-time favorite artists, Rachael Yamagata.

Check out this sound bite of my favorite song from her, ‘1963’ :

If you’d like, you can catch the full version of the song here.

Brian and I also enjoyed live performances from Guster, William Fitzsimmons, and Third Eye Blind. All of them took us on a trip down memory lane!

Health

9. Get 8 hours or more of solid sleep each night for at least 2 consecutive weeks

Wow! Brian and I felt so rested after experimenting with our sleep schedule. We had been operating under 5 to 7 hours of sleep most nights, so committing to at least 8 hours of sleep for 2 weeks was a big change. Not only did our focus improve, but so did our energy levels. It’s been a long time since we have felt that well rested!

Unfortunately, more sleep meant less downtime, so we had to be extra thoughtful in how we wanted to spend our evenings. It was sometimes difficult to fit in all of the activities we hoped to do, especially since we planned to be asleep by 8:30 PM!

10. Journal stream-of-consciousness style before bed

I’ve spent the last month journaling each night. Sometimes, I wrote an entire page, and other times, only a few sentences. It’s been a good exercise to help clear my mind and unwind before sleep.

11. Limit screen time before sleep

It’s not hard to disconnect when you have a good book to read! Instead of ending our nights with a little bit of screen time, Brian and I put a pause on our NCIS marathon and got lost in a couple of bedtime stories.

Home

12. Indulge in a staycation

Brian and I blocked off an entire weekend for a relaxing staycation, where we planned to enjoy scary movies, scrumptious food, and roaming around our fair city. I slow-cooked an entire vat of chili, which took the work out of planning for most of our meals. This weekend, we popped into a concert, checked out our local botanical garden, and spent time outdoors. Our staycation was a refreshing mix of new discoveries and cozy comfort!

13. Start a garden

So, we didn’t actually grow a garden in the way we had hoped. Brian and I had these lofty dreams of starting a cute little garden that would eventually yield lush, beautiful greenery and flavorful herbs. However, life often has different plans, and I’m not just saying that because we nearly killed our indoor plants…!

We put our original garden dreams on pause because we needed to tend to our poor lawn. Brian and I largely spent the month of October and some of November tending to our sad, patchy grass. From aeration and over-seeding to consistent watering and nervous patience, we’ve decided that restoring our lawn definitely counts as gardening for the time being!

14. Have a picnic on our deck

For our picnic, I envisioned us sitting on a blanket, quickly snacking on a few bites, and desperately trying to avoid a bazillion mosquitoes. Dining al fresco isn’t all that charming when you’re swatting away a bunch of bugs! Nevertheless, we committed.

I managed to score a deeply discounted outdoor dining set the week before, which gave us a comfy place to eat! Brian and I set up a couple of mosquito repellers and feasted on hoagies. They might not look very appetizing, but they were delicious! It was a fun break from our routine, though we definitely need to tackle the mosquito problem before our next outdoor meal.

Community

15. Explore more library events

Gah, I love the library! From lectures and art exhibits to neighborhood field trips and more, Brian and I have genuinely appreciated learning and seeing new things in our local community. We can’t wait to join the next local architectural tour and see what’s on the calendar come January.

16. Listen to local musicians in a small venue

Brian and I essentially stumbled on a music festival that covers one square mile in a residential area. Local and traveling musicians perform on front porches all across the neighborhood. How much smaller of a venue can you get than a front porch?!

It is a free event supported by hundreds of volunteers who offer up both their porches and time to organize more than 200 performing musicians. Not only did we get to listen to some incredible talent, but we also got in some exercise! Unfortunately, we weren’t able to stay the whole time, which was a bummer. There’s always next year!

17. Check out a local art exhibit

One of the most unique exhibits we encountered this quarter was an immersive display of scarecrow creations throughout our local botanical garden. This fall-themed annual event brings together local artists and community members to create an extraordinary collection of spooky and imaginative scarecrow characters. We were blown away at the level of detail and creativity put into each display.

18. Stop and smell the roses at the local botanical garden

Sadly, we were a little too late in the season for roses, but we did successfully explore our local botanical garden. Neither one of us had ever been before, so we took our time wandering around the 30 acres of lush gardens and woodlands. Though we enjoyed all of the greenery, we actually took special note of some of the hardscape and design elements throughout the outdoor gardens. Hmm…maybe it’s time we start brainstorming our own backyard?

Connection

19. Host a potluck

We had an impromptu family night that became a potluck! I made Irish beef stew, complete with hearty smashed potatoes and Guinness for those who wanted a pint. We also enjoyed a plate of dumplings, as well as a blueberry loaf cake for dessert. There wasn’t a set theme for the night, which is honestly part of the fun in a potluck meal!

20. Support friends’ creative endeavors

Small businesses make up 99.9% of American businesses. Isn’t that wild?! And yet, the general public typically shops at big-box stores and chain retailers. In an effort to continue supporting our local community, Brian and I looked closer to home to cheer on our friends who’ve turned their passions into creative pursuits. We were excited to buy custom, handcrafted goods that resonated with our lifestyles.

A special thank you goes to Piedmont Peach Designs for creating custom magnets, Christmas ornaments, and one seriously impressive welcome sign. This Bob Dylan quote is a favorite of mine, and I could not be more grateful to have such a cool and meaningful piece that reflects our values.

Q4 2024 Wrap-Up

Well, here we are! It’s the end of the year. With Q4 2024 coming to a close, I find myself thinking about all that we have experienced—the ups and the downs, and all of the simple, ordinary moments that fill each day. In the quiet of this season, I’m reminded of how these experiences shaped not only our year but also our spirits. Intentional choices and grateful perspectives led us to unhurried days that naturally flowed from one to another, weaving together unexpected adventure, planned outings, and the effortless charm of the mundane.

Our society often overlooks the privilege and wealth found in experiencing quiet, ordinary days; yet it’s in the quiet that we discover what means the most. Ultimately, while setting goals and planning for experiences are important aspects of life, they’re not the only part of life. There is true value in pressing pause and appreciating all of the goodness and challenges that exist between your goals and experiences.

It has been a fully lived year, which has inspired us to approach 2025 with adventurous and inquisitive purpose. We explored all but 6 of our 52 experiences this year, which we intend to revisit in the next.

I hope that the last quarter has treated you well and that you’re on your way to a fantastic new year. If not, well, tomorrow is a new day. And January 1st marks the beginning of a new year, presenting us with a fresh start.

Here’s to looking ahead to what tomorrow brings! We wish you all healthy tomorrows and a Happy New Year.

Stay tuned to see what experiences we have in store for 2025!