Well, the shitty year called 2016 is OVER.
I hope 2017 is JOYOUS for you and your loved ones.
I didn't make any
goals or resolutions last year because I'm already perfect I just
wasn't feeling it. This year, I actually do have a little bit of a
fire lit under me to work toward some goals. Here's what I would like to accomplish in 2017!
1. Learn Spanish. I am
amazed at the number of students I have who are bilingual. While I
took French and Spanish in high school, I barely remember any of it. Being fluent in Spanish would enrich my life. My idea was to learn the language via podcasts, but now that I think about my learning style... I actually do better by reading, taking notes, and answering questions. Maybe I need to purchase actual materials or find a website that is interactive like that.
2. Make a financial plan so Paul and I have a stable future that allows us to travel! This is as specific as I can get at this point because I really don't know what this will entail. I want to see a financial planner, lay everything out, and get the ball rolling. I have a retirement plan but I could probably put more money into it. We pay extra on our mortgage every month, and again, we could probably pay more. This is a scary endeavor!
3. Spend less money on "stuff" and focus on EXPERIENCES. I know I have mentioned before that we try to not buy a lot of "stuff" and spend money on experiences instead. Travel, Knoebels, race entry fees... those are all experiences that I feel are well worth the money. This fall, I spent some money to update my wardrobe. I also spent some money after Christmas on lots of outdoor lighting for next year. The bottom line is, over the past couple months, I feel like I spent more money on "stuff" than I normally do, and I would like to stop that.
4. Do this:
5. Become more active politically. Ali gave me some ideas of where to start, including putting my money where my mouth is, signing up for newsletters for local democratic groups and volunteering for my local Democratic party. Any other suggestions on how I can become more active in the causes I care about?
I'm not going to lie... remaining engaged in he turmoil our country is experiencing is exhausting. But you know what? It is our duty as citizens to not sit back and turn a blind eye. I'd rather experience the pain and discomfort of fighting for what is important than sit back and have no control
It's our country, and it's OUR RESPONSIBILITY to be informed citizens.
I love what Bernie Sanders said a couple days ago:
And this meme... harsh, but true. If it makes you uncomfortable, good. It should. I read it every time I feel like giving up...
Do you have any goals for 2017?
Are you fluent in more than one language?
Have you ever seen a financial planner?
3. Spend less money on "stuff" and focus on EXPERIENCES. I know I have mentioned before that we try to not buy a lot of "stuff" and spend money on experiences instead. Travel, Knoebels, race entry fees... those are all experiences that I feel are well worth the money. This fall, I spent some money to update my wardrobe. I also spent some money after Christmas on lots of outdoor lighting for next year. The bottom line is, over the past couple months, I feel like I spent more money on "stuff" than I normally do, and I would like to stop that.
4. Do this:
Wouldn't this be such a fun thing to do? The problem foresee is that I have a horrible memory for this sort of thing and I can imagine several weeks going by before I realize I forgot to write something down! Maybe I should set an alarm on my phone to go off every Sunday night so I remember to put something in the jar.
5. Become more active politically. Ali gave me some ideas of where to start, including putting my money where my mouth is, signing up for newsletters for local democratic groups and volunteering for my local Democratic party. Any other suggestions on how I can become more active in the causes I care about?
I'm not going to lie... remaining engaged in he turmoil our country is experiencing is exhausting. But you know what? It is our duty as citizens to not sit back and turn a blind eye. I'd rather experience the pain and discomfort of fighting for what is important than sit back and have no control
PAY ATTENTION.
SPEAK UP.
It's our country, and it's OUR RESPONSIBILITY to be informed citizens.
I love what Bernie Sanders said a couple days ago:
"I don’t want to minimize the difficulties facing us. But throughout history, serious people have fought back. That’s where we are now, and that is exactly what we have to do. It is not acceptable—it really is not—for people to throw their hands up and say, "Oh, I’m giving up." It’s not about you. It’s about the future of this planet. It’s about your kids and your grandchildren. It is about American democracy. It is about some very fundamental issues. You’ve got to jump in and start fighting." -Bernie Sanders
Are you fluent in more than one language?
Have you ever seen a financial planner?
Do #2. Seriously. It's that important. I think #3 is important too and try t do that but #2 is crucial. You only have so many years to save for retirement and you're pretty healthy so you'll probably live a long time and need to save even more money because of that. I have a Roth IRA as well as a 401K through my job. Have had them as soon as I could afford to have them (~7 years). It's worth it, really!
ReplyDelete2016 wasn't a bad year for me. Truthfully, I hate seeing the Facebook posts talking about how terrible of a year it was. It's 365 days so it's bound to be full of ups and downs but we all made it to 2017 so something went right for us :).
Sorry if my "2016 sucked" offended you! Lucky for you, you probably won't have to see those memes anymore!
DeleteI do speak Spanish. I learned it on the job. I wanted to learn Spanish, so I took a job in a clinic where no one spoke English. It was sink or swim. I struggled for a while--i still do--but I know enough to muddle through. I'm really proud of it!
ReplyDelete2016 was difficult for me, as you know. And I have no idea how 2017 is going to go. Everyone's setting goals and I'm over here just hoping I get to run.
Happy New Year!
GO Wendy! I am impressed. I will be honest, I have a heard time deciphering what people are saying when they speak in their native language because they usually talk too fast for me to pick it up and there is an accent involved. (I talk REALLY FAST too, so I'm not trying to be critical or anything!) Basically just saying, WOW!
DeleteI agree with Amy, 2016 wasn't a bad year for me either. My main focus was on running injury free, focusing on keeping Baylee with us, and finishing up some professional development. All of which were a success! I am not all self consumed though and I understand it was a tough year for some people and I will do my part to help where I can.
ReplyDeleteI know I talked about this on the blog, but I never make "Goals" or "resolutions" but instead make "Plans". Plans can change and that's okay, so I like saying Plans!
I agree with you on spending money on experiences instead of things. Sometimes we need new things, but experiences are what makes our life full! Happy New Year Megan!
Thanks, Meranda! I appreciate that you are empathetic and find validity in people who feel differently than you. I try to be like that, but I know I don't always succeed. It is hard sometimes. I want to do better at that in 2017.
DeleteAs far as the experiences thing, when I'm on my deathbed, I probably won't say, "Oh I wish I had more ______" (fill in the blank). But I WILL say "Boy am I glad I went to the Grand Canyon!" Experiences/memories are the BEST!
Learning a new language is great! I took 4 levels of German in high school, then another 4 levels in college, but I never use it so it's pretty rusty. I started learning Russian in 2016, and it is hard! Now that you have a smart phone, download the free app Duolingo!! It's really fun and it only takes a few minutes a day to do a lesson.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that tip, Andrea!!! What made you decide to learn Russian? I didn't know you had so many years of German.
DeleteYou (as always) set really great goals for yourself! 2016 has been full of ups and downs. I guess when we have the down parts is when we really dig deep and grow, right? At least that is what I always tell myself. My main goal for 2017 is to get back into my yoga practice. I really let that fall off this year as I got more into lifting but I think I can find a balance and include both (I just did a quick 20 minute practice after my run today). Wishing you and Paul (and the kiddos) the very best year ahead! I look forward to the journey and am just trying to center myself to handle what may come.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point Susan, about digging deep and growing. Quick 20 min sessions would be a great way to incorporate more yoga. Some people do yoga on their rest day, but I know you like your rest day to be complete, actual REST! It's hard to fit everything in each week but you never cease to amaze me at how well rounded of an athlete you are!
DeleteThanks, friend. I do run A LOT less than most people and that allows me to add in more things. I mean, most days I only am running 3-4 miles. Lately, I have been running 3.3 (don't ask why it's just my latest thing). That is just a warm up for you!
DeleteNope, that's precisely when I am like, Okay 2.7 miles until I can get warm again!
DeleteI love all of your resolutions and goals for this year! You will looove meeting with a financial planner. I met with one for the first time about 3 years ago. I felt so stressed out before hand, nervous that he would judge me, but it was a really great experience. I left that meeting feeling so much better about my future, and having an action plan for the next 3, 5, 10 and 30 years. Now every time a big expense comes up (like the down payment for the house) I feel confident making the payment because I know I have a solid plan still backing me up. It's totally freeing and de-stressing. You will love it!
ReplyDeleteBernie has been such a great source for information and motivation since the election. Hillary deserves her rest after that election cycle, but I hope she'll become more public throughout 2017.
Oh good, I am glad you had a good experience with a financial planner! I hope I do too. I think I will. We don't have any debt right now except our house, so it's not like we have a hole to dig out of. I just want to be realllllly smart with our money.
DeleteI think those are great goals! If you want I can send you info for my financial coach who has helped me out a lot. She makes things really easy to understand.
ReplyDeleteThat would be wonderful!
DeleteI think I should meet with a financial planner, too! I feel stressed about money fairly frequently, but not because I have to be stressed...just because when unknown or surprise things come up, it always feels like the pressure is ON.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad my post helped give you some ideas for staying involved politically.
I wanted to do that jar thing too but I know I'll forget. I'm thinking of starting journaling again so that when America as we know it ends, historians in the future can use it to learn a little about how the common man felt through the process ;)
I understand that pressure feeling you get! I get *guilt* for spending money on "Stuff". Even though I am not a huge spender I still feel guilty sometimes.
DeleteLOL at your journal idea. Actually, maybe you should and hopefully when this all resolves happily, you can turn it into a book!
And when I say "all resolves happily" I mean that we're not all speaking Russian in 8 yrs.
DeleteMy goals for the year will definitely be financial related. I really want to save more money and buy less stuff just like you mentioned. Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Keep spending on Lola though, right?? :)
DeleteI took 3 years of German in high school and only remember the very basics, including a swear word. Priorities.
ReplyDelete2016 was certainly interesting. I had to do a 3rd round of PT, but I had a successful 10k in May. Then my job went south and I had to plug on and make changes. The fall was very chaotic, but I believe I'm in a better job now, and even though I've only worked 3 days, I feel good about my decision to move. It wasn't easy, and I still say 2016 was rough. I posted my 3 favorite moments on IG last night because I did have some fun points in the year, and I need to remember that.
Yes, we do need to remember the good stuff! Sometimes I feel like my good stuff is tiny compared to what faces us now, but I shouldn't let it make the happy parts less legitimate.
DeleteI love that idea of filling a jar with good things that happened! I would probably forget to do it too. I started to relearn Spanish last year using an app called Duelingo. I didn't keep up with it though!
ReplyDeleteI fear I will forget as well. I'm going to set an alarm on my phone! Thanks for the Duolingo tip. That's what Andrea told me to do. I downloaded it today and already did the first lesson! Well I actually did it twice because I forget stuff.
DeleteYes, yes, yes. See a financial planner! Alan and I did that even before we got married (we lived together for almost a year). It really put us on the right path.
ReplyDeleteI took French in school and can kind of read French. Sydney is taking Spanish so I get to hear a lot of that these days!
You guys are making me less nervous and more excited about the financial planner. :)
DeleteJust by planning on meeting with a financial planner puts you WAY AHEAD of the game. They won't judge you. (My dad was a FP). The lessons he taught me have been very valuable, and having a plan is less stressful than the unknown.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting excited! Thank you, Cheryl!
DeleteExcellent goals!! I know there is a program that our office uses for learning other languages, but I can't remember what it's called, i'll look it up.
ReplyDeleteI'm still considering my goals for this year.
I started using an App called Duolingo. I liked it so far but I think I need some supplemental material. Like the whole I am, you are, she is, we are, etc thing... I need to see them all typed out together.
Delete