This time last year I was making my New Year’s Resolutions list for 2015. This was a list meant for publication, because then I could shame myself into sticking to it. I think we could all predict how that turned out. I kept some, but some I did not.
My first resolution was to finish Rosetta Stone French. Guess what language I still don’t speak? The last time I logged in was 3 months ago and it was just to change my billing information after my credit card got stolen. But hey, at least that $10 a month charge is still showing up to mock me. Maybe one day I’ll get poor enough that I will want to see some return on that investment. Maybe one day in 2016, but I won’t resolve it.
Travel to at least 5 new countries– This one I did, just barely. I just returned from a trip to Panama, my 5th new country of the year! 2015 landed me on Scotland ,which I’m counting as a separate country from England for the purposes of this resolution, even though it didn’t quite shake out that way, Iceland, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and of course, Panama, for the first time ever. Maybe I’ll break that record in 2016, we’ll see what happens.
Visit a new continent- This one I definitely did not do, but Panama is so close! I just barely missed South America. Perhaps I’ll make it there (or Asia or Antarctica) in 2016, but I refuse to make such a commitment.
Attend a convention/expo– This one I nailed when I attended my second Tbex North America in Fort Lauderdale this past October! I’m fairly confident that I will be repeating this in 2016, hopefully in Stockholm.
Be more active on the Blog- Remember when I was going to start posting at least twice a week and remembering to schedule post for when I was away? I’m not surprised to say that a new year did not make me magically more organized, though it’s still a skill I wish I had and will continue to cultivate.
So in 2016 I resolve not to embarrass myself with failed resolutions. I think it’s my best resolution yet! What you can expect from me in the upcoming year are a few pieces I didn’t get around to for the end of this year. Look out for some travels to Iceland, New Orleans, Northern Louisiana, Philadelphia, and Panama!
Thanks for joining me for an amazing year. Happy New Year everyone!
Wow! You had some serious resolutions. Mine was to practice yoga every day, but I forgot. So, now I stick to three days a week. haha
Hey, 3 days a week is nothing to scoff at. I did bikram 5 days a week for a while… now I’m down to about twice a year lol
Really hope you make it to Asia this year! It’s a fascinating continent! Don’t worry about the 2015 mini ‘flops’ though. I’ve written a list for 2016 but life is life and travel is going to take you to really crazy places that you never planned >< Happy New Year and all the best for 2016
Thanks so much. I’m really trying for Thailand this year. Happy New Year to you as well!
good for you, like so much the sentence we will see what will happen.
i never done that to plan my year! just go with the flew.
I have just one goal (not calling it a resolution)- to do as I please and remembering that it’s okay to be a little less successful that I want, sometimes eat a little more, switch off from social media and not update my blog every three days- life is not a race and we aren’t machines that will magically swing into the gear of perfection just because a new year has begun. So I love the idea of not resolving- just living 🙂
That’s brilliant. I love the idea of “resolving” not to beat your self up over little slip ups.
Agreed it’s always nice to have resolutions – at the very list, it gives you something to aim for – better to aim high and achieve something near it then nothing at all right? But doing a weekly post was our’s last year – now it takes weeks for us to be happy with a post before hitting the publish button :@
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TBEX2015 North America was awesome! I had so much fun and I learned more than I could have imagined. Already bought my TBEX2016 North America for May.
I loved it! Hopefully I’ll see you in May. I still haven’t decided between North America or Europe… maybe both!
Good idea. We all should probably learn from this. I always try to make a new years resolution for something i can control, such as taking better care of my skin, ordering less beverages out at restaurants, organization around my home, and this year, to not put off tomorrow what i can do today. That one is really working out well and I’m already patting myself on the back for the 3 days I’ve not fallen short. LOL By the way, Central America is it’s own now. You did it!
Great news! I did better at resolutions than I thought! Not procrastinating is a great resolution… and one I would be terrible at! I may add that to the list for 2017.
First of all, happy new year! I love this idea of resolving to not making resolutions. I’ll tell you why … Two years ago, I resolved to read more and better books, meaning the classics, memoirs, books Oprah raved about, and essays. What did I read in 2014? “Pride and Prejudice,” which certainly fits into the classics category. Then I read “Gone Girl.” It is was pretty much downhill from there. At the end of the year, I realized I had set myself up for failure. If I couldn’t get myself to read “The Grapes of Wrath” or “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” when it was assigned reading for my modern American lit class, what made me think I’d pick up a classic for a New Year’s resolution? Perhaps in 2016 I’ll get around to reading “Emma” or “Sense and Sensibility.” But, I assure you, I won’t be making a resolution to do it. I think for things we enjoy like reading and traveling, we should do what strikes us as pleasurable at that moment in the year rather than locking ourselves into a commitment we made in January.
Absolutely! Don’t make things you love a chore by putting them on a “to do” list!
Happy New Year, Mags! I don’t do resolutions either! I like to focus on making each day the best it can be. Panama sounds beautiful. Keep on blogging, organized or not. I love to read your posts. (That one about the Denver Airport still spooks me!) 🙂
Happy New Year to you as well, Jackie! Thanks so much for the words of encouragement! Happy travels in 2016!
It is the best idea I’ve heard for New Years. Everybody puts way too much pressure on themselves during this time and it’s just silly. Despite the resolutions, your 2016 is already forming to be a fantastic year.
My only resolution for this year is to eat more chocolate 🙂 people take them way too serious anyway, in my humble opinion. All the best for 2016!
I’ve got one main resolution for 2016 – I’m going to learn how to make real French madelaines. Figure if I’m going to resolve to do something, it better be delicious!
Great idea! Let me know if you need a taste tester!
Congrats on some of the resolutions you did achieve – I’ve always thought that publishing a list of my resolutions was my best way of keeping them too – shame does amazing things lol. But I agree with you – I’ve since stopped making resolutions and instead let my year play out. I’ve discovered that reality is often so much better than anything you could have planned!
happy new year 🙂
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