Just like that 2016 is over. In some ways this year went by so quickly, but when I look back and think of all I did and accomplished, maybe it wasn’t that quick after all. This year has been life changing. I have grown as a person. I have accepted who I am and what makes me happy, and I’ve clung to it. I’ve learned that I can do things on my own. Or I can find people/groups that enjoy the same things I do. I’ve gone out of my comfort zone. I’ve spent time on myself. I’ve paid attention to how I spend my time. And I’ve found that I can be happy, even when life tells me I shouldn’t be.
As I sit and reflect on the year I’ve had and the year coming up, I’m happy, content, and excited. I wasn’t able to accomplish every goal this year, but I came pretty dang close! My biggest goal was to be happy and to find happiness and I can honestly say I’ve been able to do that. Other goals I’m especially proud of accomplishing: getting a job that uses my master’s degree. I love teaching for BYUI! It doesn’t feel like work to me and has made me realize that’s how all jobs should be. Also, I love that I’ve become a better runner this year. I set such small goals (but big when I set them in January) only to far surpass what I thought I was capable of. I ran a marathon. I honestly never thought that day would come. I ran over 800 miles this year after setting a goal to run 200 (and I thought that would be hard!). I’ve realized that running is my stress-relief and it has become essential in ensuring I feel good. I consider myself a better, more rounded reader after reading 52 new books of various topics this year. And I feel close to my Savior as I’ve been to the temple this year.
My two goals I didn’t accomplish were buying a house and becoming foster parents. Unfortunately, those two things just weren’t in the cards for this year. And honestly, that’s okay. I don’t know if we’ll buy a house next year or not, but I know we’ll have a roof over our heads. I don’t know if we’ll foster or not, but I know we will actively move forward to becoming parents. And someday, when the timing is right, both of those things will happen for us.
And until then, I’m going to live my life purposefully…which is my theme for next year. And I can’t even begin to say how excited I am. Let me explain: to live purposefully means to do things intentionally, not letting the moments pass before you. It means spending less time on the couch and more time doing. It means making every single moment count and living a life you love. It means you don’t work at a job just to earn money. It means you try new things and have new experiences. It means you live. And you do it on purpose. How liberating, right?
I started thinking up my goals in October/November-ish and I have been so excited for them! Making goals should be exciting. They should be things you want to do/accomplish, not something you feel obligated to do. If you’re not excited about your goals, nothing is going to change and chances are, you won’t get anywhere with them. I have learned that by creating a theme and planning my goals around that theme, I am most successful. As I thought about how I wanted to live a more purposeful life, I realized my goals for 2017 will be (mostly) loosely structured and all about taking opportunities that come my way. Learning not to be scared and saying yes.
When I began writing out my 2017 goals, my header was: “how to have a bomb year by:”... and I decided I’m going to keep it that way. A bomb year is a purposeful year which will turn into a purposeful life. So, without further ado, here’s what I have planned thus far.
· Re-read all of the best books (my favorites) and for good measure, read some new favorites. No new goal number, but no less than 12 new authors.
· Earn the trifecta medal with Runtastic. And also, only new races, with one freebie.
· Speaking of running, I’m going to run 1,000 miles in 2017!
· Visit 6 new temples (ones I haven’t done temple work in) + Continue to visit the temple at least monthly.
· (My favorite goal for the year) Travel more than 200 (ish) miles each month
· If I’m going to have a bomb year, I need a good camera to document it with (aka buy a SLR camera of sorts)
· If I’m going to be taking a lot of pictures, I better scrapbook them as the year goes by. (or for heaven’s sakes, at least print them)
· And while I’m at it, I better blog and or journal each week so I don’t forget.
· Last, create a lifestyle that will allow me the freedom I want to go have adventures and create lasting positive memories.
Overall, live a life I would be jealous of someone else living. Seriously, just do it.
I have learned to accept what I cannot control, I’ve learned to find happiness around me and how to cultivate that happiness, and now it’s time for me to go out and do. This life isn’t lived to get from weekend to weekend, or to sit behind a desk. It was meant to live and experience. It was meant to live each moment with a sense of purpose. I will know I’ve had a successful and meaningful 2017 if I can look back on a bunch of new memories and know I’ve developed a life of freedom, happiness, and if I can say that I am experiencing what this world has to offer me. This is the year I develop my own Happiness Project (Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin http://gretchenrubin.com/)
Good luck to everyone setting goals for 2017!
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