End of the Year Summary
It’s hard to believe it’s time to look back over the year and review everything we did. It seems like just yesterday I was writing these goals!
Travel: We met all of these goals.
Winter Wellness weekend in JanuaryTrain ride in French Lick in February or March (this is part of Felix’s Christmas gift from Santa)Mumford and Sons concert in AprilWeekend away with the kids– We spent Labor Day weekend camping in Lincoln City.Anniversary weekend away– We actually got to spend an entire week in Punta Cana.Family vacation– We spent 2 weeks in California, exploring San Francisco, Yosemite, and Santa Cruz.
Reading:
Read 24 books– I read 38 books this year!- Read 2 music books – I only read 1 music book but I have started the second music book and plan to finish that this year.
Writing:
Daily Q&A– I kept up with this throughout the year.Writer’s Book of Days– Most months I completed all of the prompts but I did have to skip a few here or there, but it was ok.500 Writing Prompts– I was also able to keep up with this.
Spiritual:
- Do a daily devotional written for Catholic moms – Unfortunately, I felt like the focus of the devotional I was using did not coincide with my goals for myself this year. I actually found it to be counterproductive, so I stopped using it. I have chosen a different one to try in 2017, so hopefully I have better luck this coming year.
Music:
Create one new Singalong packet for my Singalongs (for work).Learn at least 6 new popular songs on the guitar or piano.Learn at least 3 new Classical pieces on the piano.Start transcribing my original songs on notation software.– This might be the most exciting part of my year. I am collaborating with a lead guitarist and we are slowly, but surely, recording my original music, as well as working on some covers.Find at least 5 new songs to use in music therapy sessions.- Work through Songwriting Without Boundaries – I got about halfway through the third challenge (there are four of them) and I felt like I had a hard time focusing. I put it up for awhile and plan to come back to it to finish it all at a later date.
- Listen to 10 classical music pieces. – I did not do this this year but I have plans to actually do it next year.
Home and Organization:
- Complete Bonus Room Transformation – We have gotten rid of more things this year and moved most of the toys we plan to move.
- Go through Gmail account. – I started off doing really well with this and then just never got to finish it.
- Go through and organize computer files. – I never got around to this.
Family:
Inflatable Fun Factory– We went to a different inflatables place for a birthday party.CMoe– We went to CMoe for a children’s concert a few months ago.Putt Putt– We played putt putt in Tennessee last January.Game Night– We have played lots of games!Movie Night– We have had several nights throughout the year.Gatti Town or Chuck E. Cheese– Eric took the kids to Gatti Town a week or so ago.
Financial:
I want to continue to save money and to keep our spending in check.
Save a specific amount in Travel and Savings Accounts combined.– We saved money this year in both of our accounts.- Keep track of “extras” earned from apps, credit cards, rewards, etc. – I did this the majority of the time.
- Keep up with a budget as best we can. – I kind of let this fall by the wayside over the last few months.
Service:
- Do at least 6 service projects that may include volunteering, providing a meal at the local Ronald McDonald house, donating items, etc. – We didn’t do as many of these as I had hoped but we did get to provide one meal at the Ronald McDonald house and we donated some of our things.
Miscellaneous:
Write a new 101 in 1,001 list. The current one expires in May.- I have started a running list of restaurants I want to try, and I want to eat at 12 of them this year. – We only got around to eating at 8 new places.
I plan to cook 12 international meals this year or one international meal a month.– I didn’t get to focus on all the countries I wanted to focus on, but we did make 12 international meals.Finish travel school.I finished in the spring and started working as a home-based agent in April.
So I didn’t get everything completed that I had planned this year, but one never knows where life will lead. What I am really focusing on is the fact that when I found myself only going through the motions and not really experiencing what I wanted from a specific task, I was able to toss it aside for now, and I made edits as needed. I was focusing on balance, and while I know I still have a ways to go, I have come much closer to finding the balance I need in my life.