2018 was an incredible source of power for me. It’s a year I never thought would even happen.
In 2018 I really started believing in myself, and my abilities. I made it a point focus on doing the things I loved. I turned down anything that didn’t feel authentic to me, and I made it a huge point celebrate my accomplishments, and make sure I led with them.
I was honest with myself about what I wanted, and what I wasn’t doing to get there. Every month I sat down and planned out what I was going to do. It made things work for me.
I truly don’t know how I lived without it.
It has taken me (almost) 30 years to be comfortable with the fact that I’m really good at the things I set out to do. I am creative, funny, intense, precise. I am also okay with saying all of those things.
2018 was a good year for me, but as always, I have so much I want to do in 2019.
1. Go to therapy more often.
The reason I’m more confident, and less apprehensive, and happier is because I spent time working on healing myself from within. Therapy is often stigmatized because mental health is. If you openly seek help, there must be something wrong with you. You must be beyond repair.
It’s actually the opposite.
There were a few moments of breaking down for me. Beyond my bubbly exterior lies a lot of anxiety, and before therapy, a lot of self-hatred. I want to continue on the path of learning about myself, and learning how to cope with the things that make me uncomfortable.
2. Once-Per-Week intentional self-care.
It could be nail painting, bath bombs, going for a walk, meditating. It doesn’t matter – it should happen once a week (or more, honestly!)
3. Make our house a home and getting organized!
We have lots of stuff picked out of the house already (and a budget to do it!). We plan to live in our house for at least 30 years, so we’ve got a lot to do to make it a place that feels like home.
Since we both moved out of our parents houses years ago, we’ve always been in apartments. We’ve never really painted, or put up artwork because we knew we would move again in a year or two. Now we’re staying put somewhere for a long time, and I can’t wait to make it amazing.
I also want to be more intentional about being organized. Bryan has that on lock. I don’t!
4. A Facebook Live cooking show
That’s right. I talk to myself in the kitchen when I cook anyway, so why not talk to you guys? I want to explore a weekly, or monthly (I haven’t decided yet) live cooking show, making my favorite dishes. I feel like that will 1) force me to create some new recipes, and 2) give me a fun reason to cook no matter who is watching. So, look out for that in 2019. And if you want to be a sponsor, email me!
5. Spontaneity in my marriage
Bryan broke his leg earlier this year, and we have been on a strict routine for months. I’m ready for us to get back to being the fun, adventurous couple that lives inside of us. We were taken down with a broken leg in the 4th quarter, we’ve got a lot of living to do to make up for it!
6. Travel
This year, I traveled more than I probably ever dreamed of. My hope is that I get to do it again. I’m really looking forward to a beach with crystal clear blue water, and a margarita in hand. Southwest flies to Hawaii now – it seems like I could get there.
7. Not lose our city spirit when we move to suburbia.
We never imagined that we would move out of the city, from our 900 sqft apartment. We love the city – the sirens at night, the busy honking, the fast pace, and the proximity to walk to just about everything. But we had a great opportunity to buy a house, and we made the hard decision to move to the suburbs (even with no kids). I don’t want to lose the spirit we have for the city. Both Bryan and I work close to Downtown, so we are pushing ourselves to go on dinner dates during the week, and hang out downtown.
It also won’t be a problem with the crazy number of food events I go to!
8. Get rid of some debt
It sounds counterintuitive that we would want to get rid of debt after just signing ourselves up for 30 years of it. This year I was slated to pay off my car and then it was totaled in an accident (So close!) I ended up with a new (used) car, and basically reset the clock on my car payments. My payments are lower than my old car, so I’ve been paying what I paid for the old car, on my new one to get it paid off a little more quickly. I definitely want us to pay off our cars – and my student loans!
10. Lower my A1c
I stopped using weight as an indicator of my health because it wasn’t healthy for my mind anymore. My biggest concern is making sure my blood sugar is in check.
I’ve lost about 20 pounds this year (crazy!), so I know getting my A1c levels to a managed place will mean that the weight will follow. That also means that I’m going Keto. I’ve tried it before and my cholesterol went through the roof. I’m giving it another go.
11. Comfortably Turn 30.
I’m right on the edge of 30. I don’t feel any dread about turning 30. I do feel like I’ve done so many things in life already that I’m just excited to turn 30. I also wouldn’t mind having a really fun 30th birthday at our new house! (per my goals, it’ll be nice and broken in by then).
12. Mind my business
In 2018 I decided to turn my blog into a business, and it’s thriving. It has had its ups and downs, but I want to take it to the next level in 2019. I think the way things are going, it should work well.
13. Take some classes
I’m interested in really polishing up my knowledge of blogging and digital marketing. I want to take a class each quarter, whether it be in business, entrepreneurship, blogging, social media or data. I want to keep learning. I feel good when I learn.
14. Don’t let haters be a bother
What people say about you behind your back (or some of the more rude ones, to your face) is their problem. I’m looking to not make it my problem in 2019. It’s that simple.
15. Take time away from screens
This seems pretty counterintuitive to most of my goals too, but I want to spend less time in front of screens. Shut it down, turn it off, be more present in life.
16. Be more intentional about promises.
I don’t think I’m bad at keeping promises, to other people, but I am to myself. I constantly put myself on the back-burner, and I need to consider myself much more.
17. Stop buying crap I don’t need.
While we’re starting to think about the process of moving, Bryan and I realized we have A LOT of crap. Like, way too much. Buying a house that’s twice + the size of our apartment is probably going to fuel us getting more things. I want to curb that, and really stay minimal (plus, buying less stuff means paying off more debt!)
18. Recycle More.
Along with buying less stuff, I want to be more conscious about recycling. We’re pretty good at it already, but we could do more!
19. Have fun. Actual fun.
I want to have a fun life. I want to look at 2019 and be filled with joy about all of the things we got to do. I’m so serious and uptight about a lot of things. I just want to have fun.
I hope you enjoyed reading some of my reflections and what we’re looking forward to doing. Share your hopes for 2019 in the comments! I wish you all a happy new year!
