Month-in-Review Highlights: May 2021

A little May 2021 excursion with friends to see a new museum in Montreux, Switzerland, dedicated to Swiss military installations built into the Alps (and disguised). The entrance to the Fort de Chillon reveals the tunnels and rooms due deep into the mountains to protect the mountain passes. (The stone around the entry door is fake, as you can see via the sharp cutaway on both sides.) May 26, 2021.

I postmortem each month shortly after it ends, reflecting on what happened in general and, more specifically, in the context of my goals. Though I don’t share all my insights here, I have made it a practice to share at least one key highlight or insight. (To read previous months’ reviews, click here.)

True confession: As I have my second vaccine injection scheduled for the 31st, and as I hear that the two days or so post-shot can fatigue a person, I’ve decided to do my goals-review and write-up at the end of May, rather than a day or two into the following month.

Given that the month ends shortly and I’ll spend most of the rest of the time ahead frantically working to ensure I’ve gotten everything done I can in case I don’t feel well for two days, plus time spent going through the processing and vaccine at the “vaccinodrome” here in Lausanne (I love that moniker), I think I can fairly say that whatever goals-related ground I’d planned to cover in May has been covered.

In reviewing my 2021 objectives and progress thereon in May, I can say that the positive momentum I mentioned in my April postmortem carried forward into the following month.

Other than items I’d planned to commence in the second half of the year—which therefore cannot ding me for lagging quite yet—I’ve held my ground across most planned activity. I lag the most in objectives that have gotten continually pushed back due to vaccination delays, such as getting more involved in the local community and getting back on track with annual health checkups.

Participating in more in-person activities and groups when you want to follow public-health recommendations around social distancing, mask wearing, and limiting group gatherings? Not possible.

Visiting medical facilities when not necessary (e.g., when I feel perfectly, thoroughly, and fortunately well) during a pandemic? Hard pass.

Here’s to full vaccination and antibody-empowerment by mid-June, after which some of the lagging goals can get a bit more attention.

The trick? Not letting the goals on which I’ve managed to hold the line for progress so far this year slip in the process.

Happy summer, everyone!