It's around that time of the year again when everyone makes lists: New Years Resolution lists, bucket lists, goals for [insert year here], etc. Hey, look at that! I just made a list, too. It gets to the point where it's ridiculous, almost painful to watch as blog after blog and person after person makes more New Year's Resolution lists. But then again, there are just as many people and blogs despairing of the Resolutions fad, so I don't want to join that crowd either.
I realize that I am writing this list rather late. But it's also getting to that time of January when the excitement and resolution of all these glorious resolutions is starting to fade. Perhaps by writing about it now, I can inspire someone to stick with it, just a little longer. :)
Let's take a tally of how I did on last year's New Year's Resolutions (I'm a little scared...):
1) Read 40 books
For a few years, I've kept track of the number of books I read every year with Goodreads' yearly reading challenge. In 2013, I unfortunately kept pushing my book count down further and further until it down to 25. I only read 18. Oops.
2) Move
Well, I think I can check that one off the list! Woohoo.
3) Get a raise of at least $5000 a year
And this one is just a sad memory now that I'm in graduate school....
4) Dance
I actually did get back into my own dance for a while, and even in Ireland I was dancing a bit. But the craziness of my schedule forced me to make some cuts, and dance was unfortunately something that went.
5) Write a book
Um... does the blog count?
Last year on the blog I also made a bucket list.
1) Run a 10K
I ran a couple of 5Ks, which technically adds up to 10...
2) Learn to surf
Nope!
3) Travel to London, Paris, Germany, and Scotland
I actually did make it to London (sorry I haven't posted about it yet!)
Germany and Scotland are still on the agenda for 2014!
4) Head to the beach with the ladies
Mission accomplished, but I'm actually just realized with the wedding and moving, I never posted about it!
5) Attend an Irish Trad festival
Check! My third, actually
6) Host a family reunion
Like I think I said a while ago, I never hosted one, but over the summer we had a couple, so I consider this a success anyway.
7) Beach reunion with the Irish lads
Unfortunately, we were never able to do this.
Looking back is sometimes a little daunting because you don't want to see what it is you failed at. And looking ahead is always daunting because not only do you not want to set yourself up for failure but you also don't want to underestimate yourself. We never know what kind of year lies ahead of us, so sometimes making New Years Resolutions seems a little silly. The world could pummel us with good or bad fortune, and we might very easily be treading water by next year.
Though I did manage to achieve some of my goals from 2013 (accidentally, I assure you), I am honestly glad to see the year end. It was adventurous, interesting, and joyful; but it was equally challenging, difficult, and frightening. It's good to see a chapter close, and it's really good to be excited for a new one.
So as I make these resolutions now, I write them with a grain of salt. Who knows what the year holds in store for me, but a little bit of a challenge never hurt anyone.
1) Write my Higher Diploma dissertation and graduate
2) Run a 10K
3) Travel to Scotland and Germany
4) Learn to drive a manual car
5) Get a dream job
6) Play a Chopin Nocturne
7) Compose more
8) Write more (a book? Not sure about that one.... this time the blog does count!)
And most importantly:
9) Make more time for my friendships and relationships
10) Keep myself
Happy New Year!
SE
I realize that I am writing this list rather late. But it's also getting to that time of January when the excitement and resolution of all these glorious resolutions is starting to fade. Perhaps by writing about it now, I can inspire someone to stick with it, just a little longer. :)
Let's take a tally of how I did on last year's New Year's Resolutions (I'm a little scared...):
1) Read 40 books
For a few years, I've kept track of the number of books I read every year with Goodreads' yearly reading challenge. In 2013, I unfortunately kept pushing my book count down further and further until it down to 25. I only read 18. Oops.
2) Move
Well, I think I can check that one off the list! Woohoo.
3) Get a raise of at least $5000 a year
And this one is just a sad memory now that I'm in graduate school....
4) Dance
I actually did get back into my own dance for a while, and even in Ireland I was dancing a bit. But the craziness of my schedule forced me to make some cuts, and dance was unfortunately something that went.
5) Write a book
Um... does the blog count?
Last year on the blog I also made a bucket list.
1) Run a 10K
I ran a couple of 5Ks, which technically adds up to 10...
2) Learn to surf
Nope!
3) Travel to London, Paris, Germany, and Scotland
I actually did make it to London (sorry I haven't posted about it yet!)
Germany and Scotland are still on the agenda for 2014!
4) Head to the beach with the ladies
Mission accomplished, but I'm actually just realized with the wedding and moving, I never posted about it!
5) Attend an Irish Trad festival
Check! My third, actually
6) Host a family reunion
Like I think I said a while ago, I never hosted one, but over the summer we had a couple, so I consider this a success anyway.
7) Beach reunion with the Irish lads
Unfortunately, we were never able to do this.
Looking back is sometimes a little daunting because you don't want to see what it is you failed at. And looking ahead is always daunting because not only do you not want to set yourself up for failure but you also don't want to underestimate yourself. We never know what kind of year lies ahead of us, so sometimes making New Years Resolutions seems a little silly. The world could pummel us with good or bad fortune, and we might very easily be treading water by next year.
Though I did manage to achieve some of my goals from 2013 (accidentally, I assure you), I am honestly glad to see the year end. It was adventurous, interesting, and joyful; but it was equally challenging, difficult, and frightening. It's good to see a chapter close, and it's really good to be excited for a new one.
So as I make these resolutions now, I write them with a grain of salt. Who knows what the year holds in store for me, but a little bit of a challenge never hurt anyone.
1) Write my Higher Diploma dissertation and graduate
2) Run a 10K
3) Travel to Scotland and Germany
4) Learn to drive a manual car
5) Get a dream job
6) Play a Chopin Nocturne
7) Compose more
8) Write more (a book? Not sure about that one.... this time the blog does count!)
And most importantly:
9) Make more time for my friendships and relationships
10) Keep myself
Happy New Year!
SE
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