lifestyle

Looking back on 2014

First things first: Happy New Year, friends!!

I took a couple of weeks off from the blog to enjoy Christmas with my family here in New Braunfels, and then traveled to Hilton Head, SC to ring in the New Year with Nate’s fam.  Now that I’m back in the swing of things, I wanted to take a look back at a post you may remember highlighting my goals for 2014.  Let’s see how I did:

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More “me” time – SEMI-PASS

Wowza, I got to visit some really cool places over the past year.  So I consider that a huge success. But in terms of day-to-day activities, this is where I came up short.  I’m a firm believer that the key to personal growth and happiness is in making that time for yourself on a daily/weekly basis.  This is something I definitely need to work on again this year.

me at big bend

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Prioritize my life better – FAIL

There’s no way around it – I think I’ve actually gotten worse this year!  I tend to work, work, work, and don’t make time for play… which essentially goes against everything I believe in.  I feel like I’m rushed and behind all the time, which is a huge killer to the creative process.  Life is all about balance. It’s time for me to find that balance again.

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Finish my design licensing exam – FAIL

..But the good news is I plan on taking the test this Spring!

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Take on a new hobby – PASS

Nate and I started playing tennis for fun. And I dusted off those paint brushes for the first time in close to 10 years! So there is some progress.

close up of art

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Eat healthier – SEMI-PASS

For the beginning months of 2014 I really did improve my diet. I was drinking alkaline water daily for my silent reflux, and working out regularly, but I think after our Michigan trip in June I fell off the wagon. I have adopted the low acid diet again this past week though and hope to build on that.

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Run a 5k – PASS

We did the New Braunfels Doggie Dash back in March as planned, and it was awesome. I’m not the runner type by any stretch of the imagination, so pushing myself out the door to run can be daunting.  But I’m proud to say that even after the 5k, I continued putting effort into it.  Is a half-marathon in the works for me?  I’m not so sure… but I’d definitely do another 5k.

IMG_7894 cropped

(Photo caption should definitely read as:  “ALL I DO IS WIN, WIN, WIN.  NO MATTER WHAT”)

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Make a difference in someone’s life – ?

This one is hard to measure. I didn’t volunteer my time on a regular basis as I would have hoped, but striving day-to-day to help others and give to those less fortunate is definitely a step in the right direction.

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Looking back on 2014, what are you happy to say you accomplished?

2014: goals + resolutions

Is it February already?  Well I guess we’re one month down, but the good news is I have 11 more to accomplish my goal list :).   I wouldn’t be staying true to myself anyways if I wasn’t fashionably late.

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More “me” time

You know.. those moments when you just shut out the rest of the world.  I want to be lost in a book, or my own thoughts, or in the treasures of an antique shop.  I want to wander and feel free, and not feel guilty for doing so.  Time is a precious thing, just as much is how we spend it.

make time for yourself

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Prioritize my life better

There’s a theme here: time management.  Something I used to be so good at, and now I’ve become better at procrastinating.    There’s no better time than the present.  I know now that if I want to feel refreshed, I need to be truly devoted to what I’m doing in that moment – whether its work or play.   This process of prioritizing for me includes journal-ing, scheduling, and developing better organizational skills.

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Finish my design licensing exam

It will be two years this fall since I passed the first two sections of the NCIDQ exam… I’m so close, I just need to take that last portion!  Time to hit the books and  pass the test in October.

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Take on a new hobby

What shall I try… learn the guitar?  gardening? pottery class?  Hmmm… possibilities are endless.   Time to make those Pinterest pins a reality.

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Eat healthier

This is a must for me this year.  Not just because I want to lose those 5lbs 2013 stuck me with, but also because of a little thing called Silent Reflux.  It’s a type of  condition similar to GERD, but is concentrated in the throat area.  Not to get all Dr. Oz on you, but it has literally gotten so bad that I cough after every meal, and every morning I wake up with the taste of acid in my mouth and/or a sore throat.  A high fat diet can aggravate the symptoms (ta da – that must be it),  so it is believed a low fat/low acid diet can provide relief of symptoms for some people.    The thing is, a lot of the great things in life I’m supposed to keep to a bare minimum: most fruits, beef/pork/bacon, chocolate, alcohol, soft drinks, milk/cheese/dairy, etc. etc. etc.   But I’m proud to say I’m on week 3 of eating healthier and I’m already feeling better.  Of course I allow myself a couple cheat meals a week so I can have my cheeseburgers and pizza (I mean, how else would I survive!?)

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Run a 5k

This was on last year’s goal list but this time I can GUARANTEE I’m doing this one this year! Why?  Because I just signed up for New Braunfels Doggie Dash.  That means the whole fam will be running together in March!  Let the Couch to 5k program begin. (PS. If anyone has any tips or workout plan for someone such as I that doesn’t regularly work out, your advice is welcome)

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Make a difference in someone’s life

I want to start giving back and volunteering.  I want to help people,  inspire, and encourage.  I realize this one is kind of vague, but I’m not sure what outlet this will be yet.

I want to do so much more than just visit this world

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What are you determined to accomplish in 2014?

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(images link back to their source)

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