One of my personal missions this year is to take much better care of myself. So when I received an invite from Stacy Brice to 31 Days of Self Care, I joined right up. The assignment: “Every day for the 31 days in January, do something truly good for yourself. Just for yourself—with no one else in mind except yourself.”

Friday, January 1 – My personal mission statement

It’s a daunting task to take stock of your current way of doing and thinking vs what you really value and enjoy, your talents and gifts, your life purpose and journey. Then to decide on exactly what things you will work on and to outline your goals. The online Mission Statement Builder from Franklin Covey walked me right through the process in a question and answer format. After a couple or so quiet, thoughtful hours, the tool delivered my draft right to my inbox for some finishing touches. Now printed and posted at my desk and  a copy in my purse, my personal mission statement is the new measuring stick for everything I do, think and feel. If it’s not in alignment with my mission – it’s outta here!

Saturday, January 2 – Bubble bath with a glass of wine and some magazines (ahhh, so nice!)

Sunday, January 3 – Walk and talk with my honey at White Rock Lake (brrr…but fun)

Monday January 4 – Watched “Men of a Certain Age” with my man of a certain age

They say it takes only 21 days to make a habit – what a great one to start the New Year & New Decade with!

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Took a very nice walk early this evening at Exall Park on the edge of Bryan Place in downtown Dallas. Beautifully green and open, with a pleasant mix of sunny and shaded areas on this perfect spring day. Shared by walkers, joggers, families and pets, it was just crowded enough to feel safe and relaxed.

M and I happened across the neighborhood by accident last year, when what we thought was a through street became a twisty turny route through the well-groomed but unpretentious little enclave. Would love to live there if we get to stay in Dallas when M finishes his master’s.


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They have an active neighborhood association, with lots of social events and neighborhood security monitoring:

Bryan Place, named after Dallas’ founder, John Neely Bryan, began as a bold vision by developer Fox & Jacobs to create an intimate, neighborly community in the heart of Dallas’ inner city. Built in the early 1980’s, Bryan Place was the first of such in-town East Dallas neighborhoods in a half-century of mass suburbanization. Fox & Jacobs sought to recreate a neighborhood of East Dallas’ past, with little traffic, pedestrian friendly streets and elegant homes within an un-walled community. Even at its conception, the builder was confident there would be lots of revitalization taking place around the neighborhood.

On the evening of June 10th, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will hold a free outdoor performance at Exall Park as part of its annual Parks Concert Series.