Sunday 7 January 2024

Aspirations for 2024

 


If you've been following me for a while, you know I do goals each year.  Sometimes in tthe past I've chosen a word guide me, but not this year.  Putting my goals, hopes, aspirations, dreams, down lets me process what I really want to focus on in my life.  It's not about judging myself, it's more about thinking about what matters to me the most and reassessing if I am putting time into the right things.  2023 was a wonderful year and as I reflected on what I invested in, I was really happy about it.   I've lived through hard in the past, as a child, as a teen and a young married couple, so I count our blessings.  So many of my goals are centered around focusing my attention on things that make me feel good and happy.  That help me stay the best version of myself and less about getting distracted by others opinions or even my own perceptions of what might be important, that gets in the way of what truly I value.  Let's jump in!




PERSONAL 

  • I feel like we have a good rhythm with our girls these days, as well as my grandma, parents and time with friends.   I want to continue to make them a priority in my life and I don't want any of the other goals to compromise those relationships. Let's jump into specifics! 
  • Host a murder mystery party with friends.
  • Enjoy a family trip to Mexico.
  • Trip to BC to watch T.Swift with Anya in Dec. 2024.
  • Logan and I want to try to do a date each month.
  • Continue my reading streak.  I read or listened to 22 books in 2023, and I love my new reading before work routine.  I've been really trying to sit and read either before work or after work/early evening for 20 minutes.



PHYSICAL

2023 brought me back to half-marathons, including my BP at 2:00:14.  So in 2024 I want to: 
  • Clock 1000 km of running.
  • Improve my bike time in the Frank Dunn Triathlon with my team. 
  • I would like to jump back into the pool in the first quarter of the year to be able to do a mini-triathlon in May.
  • Continue to get regular dry needling once a month for maintenance, maybe also add a massage to the routine.
  • Floss after supper on regular basis (5days/week).
  • Stretch 5 days a week for a minimum of 5 minutes in the evenings.



PROFFESSIONAL
  • My photography business saw an influx in family photography in 2023 and included indoor holiday sessions which were a hit!   I'd like to see it continue to grow in 2024 at a steady pace, as well as to post regularly on my IG page and FB page, and advertise my mini-sessions more strategically this year.    I also joined some free learning lessons and would like to continue to find opportunities to learn and challenge myself.  My hope is to expand my portfolio to couples and graduation sessions, as well as I'd love to do some more newborn lifestyle photography sessions. 
  • I plan to stay in my current school and position for at least another school year.  I am learning so much and loving it!



FINANCES
  • This is a goal that I keep putting on my list and yet fail at each year.  Mr. and I really need to sit down and take an inventory of our income and expenditures over a few months.  We also need to decide how to put some extra money aside for the long term now that we have a little lump sum for emergencies.  This is an area we struggle, as we do have retirement savings through work but we also need to be putting extras away as well.  If you have a blog or podcast for dummies, send it my way.
That's me!  What are your aspirations for 2024?  What do you want to keep or let go of?   What do you want to focus your time and energy into?

14 comments:

  1. What a great list! I have been blogging for many years and I've often see others come up with a word of the year. I've always wondered if they ever thought of that word after January...lol. I have never made a word of the year. But this year was different. Half way through the year I encountered a few life circumstance that made it clear to me that my word for 2023 was "Time". I was thankful for so much time with loved ones this year. I hope you have a great 2024! Thanks for being a great blogging friend. -M

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    1. I totally get that. The years I have had a guiding word, I've always waited for it to come to me. I didn't push it and I found it naturally, but for my type of personality somewhat of a checklist is just a better fit. The main thing for me is having something to come back to and be able to check in with myself, both reflecting on how it's going and if it suits me anymore. Best wishes in 2024!

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  2. This is a great list of rules for the new year! I hope that you manage to meet all of your goals, especially the savings one! It's so good to have money saved up for a rainy day :)

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    1. Yes, I agree. We've done that for sure but now we need to think long term savings in a new way and what the best investments are. Our of my zone of knowledge.

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  3. I hope you accomplish everything this year!

    jennifer
    Curated by Jennifer

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  4. As I was reading this post, I realized that maybe I need to sit down and write some goals down. With my mil in hospice care at my house with me as the primary caretaker, I am feeling very overwhelmed right now and not able to look ahead much. But having some set goals would help. I know we want to vacation to Europe this summer, I want to change my involvement in that care before summer and I need some short term accessible goals. Right now I feel like all I am doing is surviving and trying to cry and go crazy.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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    1. You have so much on your plate at the moment. Sometimes we can't even seem to prioritize what we want in seasons of great overwhelm. When I think of you, I think nature and outdoor time to walk or run. I don't know if that's something that would be a priority daily to your own mental health strong. Maybe in this season you can't have a list, but one block of time daily that brings you peace and joy. That European trip sounds amazing!!!! I'll be curious to see how it works with teens as we would like to do that with the girls in a years time. Hugs.

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  5. I always enjoy reading your goals each year. I have never been a word of the year person. I love using a waterpik instead of flossing, it has been a game changer! Any half marathon this year? I wish I lived closer to you, I would hire you to do Nat's senior photos!!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

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    1. What a lovely complement! I would love to do his senior photos and work with your family. I can't believe that's coming your way this year! Yikes. Our kids are growing up way too quickly. No half picked out yet, I'll be staying close to home as I will be traveling to T Swift so I'll be saving money, lol.

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  6. These are great goals! Your photography is beautiful. You have amazing skills. I would love to take a review of our financial goals this year as well.

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    1. Awe, thank you so much. That's so kind of you. I really do want to make that a priority this year, wish me luck.

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  7. These are great goals! We hosted a murder mystery party years ago and it was so much fun! I try to read for 15-20 minutes every evening too. Your photography is beautiful! You are so talented!

    Jill - Doused in Pink

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    1. I really think we would have a blast and our friends would be so into it. I need to get on it. Thank you for the vote of confidence and the complement. I wish I had learned the photography skills that I have now when my girls were young but better now then never.

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