This is the time of year when people make resolutions for the next year. Usually there is talk of losing weight, saving more, getting ahead.
Before I think about resolutions for 2019, I would like to look back at 2018, and think about accomplishments I can point to with pride. I tip my hat again to Maggie at Northern Expenditure, who wrote about The-Fill-the-Bucket-List. It really did make me think about goals and achievements in a very different way.
Professional highlights. I taught several courses for the first time. I worked with residents on a poster which was accepted at a national meeting.
Travel. I traveled a lot this year. Much of it was to see family, but I also went to the ACP meeting in New Orleans, and tried my hand at travel hacking. It was very exciting to go to Greece, a place I hadn’t really thought I would ever get to.
Personal highlights. I helped organize a 50th anniversary celebration for my parents. Everyone who came said they had a good time; most importantly, my parents were happy!
I read (well, listened to) The Odyssey in its entirety. Somehow it was something I had never gotten the whole way through. What a masterpiece! I might write about it in the future–it had so many great parts that a high-school student just wouldn’t appreciate.
Reviewing my diary, I see that I did a good job of going to cultural events in my own city: 1 musical, 1 ballet, 7 concerts, 2 street fairs and I cheered on runners in 1 road race.
Financial highlights. I worked hard to pay down my mortgage. I’m not mortgage-free yet, but I’m hoping to join the cool crowd in 2019 (oops, I wasn’t going to talk about resolutions!).
I reduced my hours (yikes!). I haven’t had long at my 0.9 FTE position to see how I like it, or how hard (or easy) it will be to swing the 10% pay cut. I think that will be an ongoing assessment.
Blog highlights. I started a blog! After thinking about it for over a year, I finally did it. I am very proud that I have been posting 3 times a week for 3 months. I didn’t know I could do that while working full time (or 90%).
Looking back at all these highlights, I must confess that I feel I have had a pretty full year. Successful too, in many ways. But, looking back at my 10 goals for future me, I see I have a few things to work on before 2018 ends.
This is all something to think about as I work on goals for 2019.
How about you? Did you have a good 2018? Do you still have unfinished goals? Are you ready for 2019?