Let’s chat 2017.

So 2017 ends in four days. Not sure how that happened, but either way it is time to discuss how I did on my New Year’s Resolutions.

Accountability is extremely important to me, and I love using FromBrownEyes as a tool just for that. Six months ago, I checked in on my 2017 NYE Resolutions, but it is time to round out the year as a whole.

Final thoughts on my 2017 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Meditate – I completed a 10-week meditation class right at the start of 2017 and didn’t stick with it once the class ended. I bit off more than I could chew with the class ( 50-mins of straight meditation twice a week – talk about jumping into the deep end before learning how to swim). Needless to say, this method did not work long term. I have been able to commit to meditation through Headspace, where I spend just 10 minutes a day on the app. It has been a very effective way of practicing mindfulness and I highly recommend giving it a shot!
2. Keep Up the Travel – I checked it off before, but let me check it off again! In 2017 I went to Singapore, China, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand! State side, I went to Hawaii, Washington, and Utah. It has been an amazing year travel wise and I have a great feeling 2018 will bring something similar.
3. Backpack – Ugh. I still have not been able to check this off in the two years I have been putting it on my resolutions list. We will see what the Spring brings (hopefully nicer weather).
4. Don’t Waste Time – I am feeling great about this. I have never been busier than I have been in 2017, and because of that I have become an efficiency machine. I have been very intentionally about the tasks that I take on and am sure to ask “why?” before making commitments. Definitely moving this habit forward into 2018.
5. Submit an Op-Ed to the New York Times – Honestly, I am not sure this is a goal of mine any longer. I was looking at being published in the New York Times to validate my story, but I have realized that my journey doesn’t need any validation. I own my experiences and this blog is a great way to share my story (especially without the influence of an editor).

So what I have really found this year was the importance of flexibility. Life happens. And just because you set a goal doesn’t mean you should feel guilty if it isn’t completed in the expected time (or if ever at all). Personally, I like the strategy of having an idea, over having a plan. Plans are linear. You execute on A and if that fails you move on to B. Ideas, on the other hand, are tangential. They come and go, they are improved upon, and sometimes you realize you just don’t have the resources to execute on a idea at the time.

Overall, I’m really happy on my resolution wrap up. Although I only completed 3 of 5 goals, I also did some other really cool things – like travel solo internationally, vocalize my desire to move abroad, ran my first half-marathon, and started learning a new language (Swedish). 2017, thank you for all of the memories and lessons!

-TM

What are your 2018 resolutions? Let us know below.