New Year's resolutions at the halfway point:…
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New Year's resolutions at the halfway point: Our 6 goal-setters are still at it
Stephanie Schempp of West St. Paul with some of the houseplants she purchased as part of her 2019 resolution to buy one plant a month.
By Molly Guthrey | mguthrey@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press
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Turns out, it is possible to keep a New Year's resolution.
At least, that's been the case for Stephanie Schempp of West St. Paul, one of the resolution makers the Pioneer Press began following at the start of the year.
Back in December, Schempp resolved to buy 12 houseplants in 2019 — a green resolution, she said, that she thought would keep away the winter blues while also having a positive influence on her home.
Some of the houseplants that Stephanie Schempp has purchased in 2019.
"The plant resolution is going really well — better than expected," said Schempp when we checked in with her at the year's halfway point. "Since December of last year, I've added 11 plants to our house."
Although Schempp will still buy a new plant every month, her friends and family are part of the reason she's almost at 12 plants in July.
"I've been struck by how much people want to share in this experiment," she says. "I've gotten cuttings from people's spider plants, $5 from a friend of my husband's who wanted to contribute to my resolution and my aunt gave me three house plants to take care of when she moves to Wales. Getting plants from friends has been fun, because now when I look at the plants, I think of them."
So how does this indoor garden grow?
"I've stuck to easy things so far — a couple of cactuses, a spider plant, a snake plant, an ivy, a fern," Schempp said. "I really want to get a fiddle leaf fig next, and I think I have the confidence, after not having killed any of my new plants, to try it! Oh, and I put a reminder in my calendar to water the plants, which has been really helpful in keeping them alive."
Jason Bryan: To learn modern, conversational Hebrew
On a recent trip to Israel, Jason Bryan of St. Paul photographed this meal of shawarma in Herzliya.
Jason Bryan's 2019 resolution is focused on learning: He has been taking modern, conversational Hebrew classes at the St. Paul JCC.
His resolution is part of his efforts to embrace the heritage of his partner, David — and to prepare for their trip to Israel to visit David's daughter, who is currently living in the country as part of a gap year.
The family vacation took place in the spring — and made Bryan realize that there is much still to learn.
"I had some brief conversations, but found the hardest part understanding what others said, both because of speed and my still somewhat limited vocabulary, not knowing tenses and slang," said Bryan. "But people speak English almost everywhere, and they were very nice. Israelis are quick to correct you and teach you more Hebrew if you are trying it out, and they are constructive — not mean about it."
Meanwhile, his efforts to embrace his Jewish family's heritage has opened up a new world.
"The trip was amazing!" Bryan said. "Israel was so beautiful."
Back at home, he wants to keep learning.
"I'm really enjoying the class and have a good ways to go to feel fluent," said Bryan. "I feel like I'm just scratching the surface."
Brittany Hall: To make her professional bodybuilding debut
After making her professional bodybuilding debut, Brittany Hall celebrated with a doughnut.
Brittany Hall's 10-week fitness challenge at a gym a few years ago has lasted a lot longer than 10 weeks: It led to a health and fitness journey that culminated in making her professional bodybuilding debut in May.
"I took fourth place in my pro debut!" Hall said. "While it was just a bit off from the third place I had hoped for, I have to say, with the women I was up against, I am so pleased and happy. I earned it!"
She also earned her favorite indulgence.
"The first item I always eat immediately off stage is a doughnut," Hall said. "This time my very favorite doughnut on Earth was brought back for me from New York City by a girlfriend of mine — a blueberry cake doughnut from Doughnut Plant. Such a wonderful moment. Best thing I ever ate."
"I'll be taking a significant amount of time off competing and plan to jump back in late 2022," said Hall. "During my time off it's a time to build more muscle, let my body recuperate — and enjoy eating!"
Her health and fitness journey continues, it just looks different now as she rests and recovers.
"I have one cheat meal every week, and the six remaining days I'm really dialed in on nutrition," said Hall. "My coach, Aaron Callister, and I are still working together on nutrition and I visit his office monthly," she says. "I still train on my own six days a week."
Missy Montgomery: To create a scrapbook of her grandmothers' recipes
Missy Montgomery, who is working on compiling a scrapbook of family recipes, recently received a cake recipe that was a family favorite.
Missy Montgomery is almost ready to start scrapbooking again.
Her resolution — to bring family recipes together into one scrapbook — got packed away last spring during a move. The dust is still settling for this busy mom.
"I misplaced some of my bookmaking craft supplies — markers, scissors and stickers," Montgomery said. "I recently found them again."
A new job is inspiring her to keep going.
"I just officially started at the White Bear Lake Historical Society as an event coordinator," she said.
She has some great material to work with — because of this scrapbooking project, her aunt and her mom have sent along some treasured recipes, including Aunt Polly's Black Forest Cherry Cake, written out by hand on an index card.
"The Black Forest cake was a well known 'Polly' recipe," Montgomery says. "It was a special occasion cake. While it was simple and not really from-scratch homemade, there was something about how she did it that was perfect. Served with vanilla ice cream, it was the best dessert. I made a very large sheet cake of it for her funeral in her honor. Every piece was gone."
Mary Jo Dircks: To continue losing weight
Cousins Katharine Barr (left) and Mary Jo Dircks attend WW meetings together as part of their 2019 resolution to lose weight and get healthy.
On July 4, Mary Jo Dircks posted a WW (Weight Watchers) version of the Pledge of Allegiance on her Facebook page:
"I pledge allegiance to myself," it read, "in quest of my weight goal, and to the healthy habits for which it stands. One body … under control … indisputably, with confidence and new clothes for fall."
So far, it's looking like she'll definitely need new clothes for fall.
"I am now down 117.4 pounds," said Dircks. "I have not weighed this weight since junior high school — over 40 years ago!"
As of the start of July, Dircks has 33 pounds to go before reaching her goal of losing 150 pounds — a goal she started working for at the start of 2018.
She attributes her success to God (the power of daily prayer) and Weight Watchers (the power of weekly meetings).
"I give God a lot of the glory in this," she says. "I pray a lot. And he guides me. More so when days are really hard. And I just have to trust him to see me through. I also try not to miss any WW meetings. Like my WW leader Tammy Gardner says: 'Either you need a meeting or the meeting needs you.' By sharing our struggles and non-scale victories."
She can also thank her own efforts: "I try to stay away from a lot of high-point foods (in the WW system) and eat lots of chicken, veggies and some fruits. And I am either walking every day or riding my stationary bike."
She's also enjoying life more.
"I am allowing myself to spend more time with my friends and family," Dircks said. "Because before the weight loss, I was so uncomfortable with myself and really had no desire to go anywhere. I just wanted to stay home and eat my loneliness away."
Katharine Barr: To be healthier, more active and lighter
Katharine Barr is not letting getting off track derail her 2019 resolution.
First, her treadmill broke. Then, she began feeling unwell (turns out, it was a side effect of a prescription medication that has now been changed). She has also been in physical therapy for a shoulder issue. And, in addition to working, she is busy caring for her family, including her aging parents and a newly adopted rescue dog.
It all added up to not always meeting her goal of 10,000 steps during the week, or formally tracking her eating through WW (she and Dircks, her cousin, participate together).
"It's been a tough year," Barr said. "I haven't given up, though."
Now that she's feeling better — in fact, her shoulder feels better than it has in in years — Barr has reset her goal to 5,000 steps a day; as she slowly ramps up to 10,000 again, she has been trying to take walks outside with a colleague on the days her schedule allows.
"It really helps to break up the steps," said Barr, "so you're not facing so many steps at the end of the day."
She's also going to WW meetings with Dirck most every Saturday and feels ready to focus on getting back to her routines on the treadmill and the food tracking. In addition to the two or three pounds she's gained back, she still wants to lose those 30 pounds she initially set as her 2019 goal.
For now, it just feels good to finally feel good again. She's savoring the moment, as well as the summer.
"Life is good!" she said.
Molly Guthrey
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