2015 Goal Check-in!

In 2015 I set some goals to work towards over the course of the year.

Let's review my accomplishments...and failures...before 2016 moves any further along.

goal #1 to walk 1,007 miles

met!

In July, I switched from the Moves app to a FitBit, which caused a few challenges in calculating my mileage. In the end, I believe that I walked just under 1,500 miles last year.

Some rights reserved by Simon Clayson

goal #2 to read 75 books

met!

I need to follow up soon with my favorite books of the year!

Some rights reserved by Brittany Stevens

goal #3 to regularly attend yoga

not quite.

I was doing pretty well with this through September. Then I started traveling, had a crazy apartment situation to deal with, worried about my Dad's impending surgery and let the practice of yoga slip to the wayside.

Some rights reserved by mosabua

goal #4 to learn more conversational italian

maybe.

It's hard to gauge if my italian has improved. I did take that 12 week course last year, but found 3 hours a week a lot to deal with so I returned to my favorite Italian teacher, Bruna, for my once a week lessons.

Some rights reserved by Antonio Cinotti 

goal #5 to visit 5 new countries

met!

I didn't really like having this goal. I felt I chose some places to go even though I was quite so interested in actually going there. But, alas, goal met.

In 2015, I was lucky enough to add Egypt, Slovakia, San Marino, Hungary, the Philippines, and Poland to my countries traveled list.

Egypt

Slovakia

Poland

Philippines

Hungary

San Marino

If the travels I have planned for 2016 work out, I'll add quite a few more to the list.

As of now, I've visited 31 different countries. There's so many still to see!


Do you have goals for 2016? Let's hear them!

Getting at those Goals

When 2015 rolled around I set a few goals for myself for the year. I haven't really written much about them, but I figure putting pen to paper...or in this case fingers to keys...would help me stay more accountable to achieving them.

So, here goes...

goal #1: to walk 1,007 miles

Sometime over the Christmas break I came across a site where you or a team could attempt to complete 2,015 miles. I thought it would be a solid challenge to go for half of the year in miles, which translates to 1,007 miles.

Using my Moves app, I've been adding up the recorded mileage at the end of each month.

At the end of March, my total is 258.1 miles, keeping me just about on pace to make my goal. I'm hoping that with the nicer spring and summer weather it will be a little easier to get out and crank out a few more miles every week.

goal #2: to read 75 books

For the last few years I've set a goal of how many books to read. It really helps me to push myself and using Goodreads' Reading Challenge encourages me to stay on point.

As of today, I've read 31 books.

Best book I've read so far this year? I've rated 4 books with 5 stars so far, but the stand out is The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. I was home sick one day with complete intentions of binge watching something on Netflix and started reading this story.

I did nothing all day but read. I HAD to know how this story would unfold.

goal #3: to regularly attend yoga

I've been practicing Ashtanga Yoga for almost a year now and I really want to commit to this practice. So far this year, I've been doing my best in getting to the studio, but with all the illnesses I've had I feel like this has been a little more up and down than I would like. And like every normal human being, sometimes it's easier to sit on the couch than drag my butt to yoga.

I did just order a brand new, fancy schmancy yoga mat. I hope it's worth it.

So, here's to the rest of the year...and a healthier and more consistent yoga practice.

goal #4: to learn more conversational italian

It's starting to become a little embarrassing to tell people how long I've lived in Italy and still be struggling with the language.

But what I've learned is that needing to use the language is the key to learning the language.

Unfortunately my daily life doesn't require conversational Italian.

I just finished a 12 week Italian course at local school International House. I had a wonderful teacher, Valentina, and considered taking more lessons with the school, but as our school year winds down and the pace of activities picks up, it just doesn't feel like the right time.

So, now back to Duolingo and working hard to immerse myself in experiences that will require me to practice my conversational Italian.

goal #5: to visit five new countries

Well, it seemed like a fair number to try and go for. Right now, I've reached two of the five for the year. I've got #3 planned for the last weekend of May and hopefully #4 on track for the summer. That leaves #5 for the fall.

So, who's coming with me?