Hello hi,
Happy new year! It’s already the fourth day of 2019,
wow! Time really does fly fast. I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and
holiday season. I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted a story on my
blog. The last time was on my birthday April 24th last year and
since then, so much has happened. 2018 was an adventurous year for me: I moved to a new city, started a new
job, cut my hair, became fully single again and so much more. Still those are not good excuses for not
writing so I’ll try to do better this year. I know I said that last year and I
remember when I used to post bi-weekly, so I can really do this. It’s not like
I don’t have stories to write, whether fiction or facts, actually I wrote quite
number last year but just did not post them on my blog L
Photo location: Chichen itza, Mexico
Anyway, as usual I like to review my previous year’s
goals and make the new year’s goals; I usually write 10 goals per year. I can’t
exactly find the sheet of paper where I wrote the last one because I packed it
up somewhere when I was moving but I think I remember them. So in no particular
order, here’s a self-review of 2018 goals:
1. To get HAPPILY married: LMAO! Now I don’t
even know where to start from with this goal. Similar to goals 5-7 below, I’ve
carried this goal over several years. In 2017, it was the last goal on my list
and when I did not achieve it, I put it as the number 1 on my 2018 list, with
the hope that I would be reminded to work on it more. Somehow, that did not
work as every time I looked at my sheet of paper pinned on my work board, my
eyes somehow went straight to the second goal. Honestly, I was closer to touching
to the iguanas I recently saw at the El Rey ruins than I was to achieving this
goal. Last year, I barely went out on dates, not to talk of getting into a
relationship or getting married. However, I recently heard someone say that you
can’t plan love and I think they’re right. So maybe I can’t really blame myself. 😅
2. To get my full driver’s license: This
was the earliest goal that I achieved last year and I am so proud of myself,
because I honestly thought it would be the hardest for me. After some months of
practice, I got my license in March. My road test was a weird one as I was not
able to parallel–park properly, something I still struggle with but the
instructor had faith in me and let me pass. And ever since then, I’ve been
cruising in cars! Lol, okay that’s a lie. I think I’ve only driven about 10
times alone since I got the license and I have managed to scratch only 1 person’s
car (luckily he let me go away freely). So I would say I’m a pretty good driver👅
3.
To get a job: This was the next goal I achieved last
year; getting a new position. I still feel like I’m settling into the job,
location and people in general but I am excited to see what the future holds.
4.
To weigh and maintain 58kg: Aha! This was a tricky
goal as my weight kept fluctuating the whole of last year and finally, I hit
the goal by December 20th but lost it on Christmas day from too much
eating, lol. So definitely, it’s a carry-over for this year.
5.
Learning how to swim: Believe me I tried my best; took some
group swimming lessons where I learned to be a bit more comfortable in water. I
also tried to take a private swimming class but my instructor turned out to be
weird, hee hee (I’ll share that in another blog post). So I put it on a short
hold but I’ll definitely learn this year by God’s grace.
6.
Learning how to bike: Another activity that I tried to do and I
actually think I can bike now but I’m just not confident, so I definitely need
more practice. I would have been where I wanted to be by now but someone stole
my bike L
so I have to get or at least rent a new one.
7.
Improving my French language skills: To be fair, I think I
have improved but just not at the pace I wanted to. I took some French lessons
earlier last year which I did not like and I also did not practice very much.
However, now I’m in a French speaking place so I am more motivated to learn.
8.
Publish at least 10 journal articles: I did publish, perhaps 5,
but this is one that I have to continuously work on so I’m charging up this
year J.
9
& 10. Publish more frequently on my blog and finish writing my novel:
These are 2 goals that I have to confess I did the least work on and I am not
pleased with myself. Like I said, I’ll change this year. However, I did take a
creative writing course for the first time last year which was exciting and I
learnt new things that I would like to employ in my writing.
So yeah, those were my 2018 goals and despite not
achieving some (or maybe most) of them, I achieved other unplanned things and had
new experiences such as ballroom dancing (thanks to my friend, Benita for
introducing me to it), trying out new sports, travelling to more countries, and
forming new connections. Therefore, I’m still happy with where I am today and
thankful to the Almighty. I was also able to work more on myself and I learnt
how to calmly walk away from uncomfortable situations/people, a skill that
takes more self-control than I imagined. It’s not like I’ve ever been a raging
storm but I used to talk back at every situation and sometimes said things that
I would not have wanted to say. I also learnt how to forgive, including
forgiving myself, and letting go (including letting go of people when necessary);
it’s funny because I had named 2018 a year of forgiveness.
For this year, I’m revising some goals and carrying
over some that I need to, but with better aims and objectives than I had last
year so that I can actually achieve them. I’m also going to work more on my
listening skills as I tend to zone out a lot (most in boring meetings, lol);
and also work on my patience level as it’s a virtue I can strive to attain. Don’t
test me yet as I may not have achieved it or else you might not like what you
get :P.
Here are my official 2019 goals:
1. To go out on dates at least twice a month 💑💑💑💑💑 : Well
since I can’t plan love/marriage, I can definitely plan dates and that’s
exactly what I intend to do this year. I’d love to explore different dating
experiences. Perhaps, I should pick random countries from every continent (except
Antarctica; in the case of Australia, I can try different cities) and date guys
from there. It’ll be some sort of world tour and improve my relationship CV by
adding inclusion and diversity :D. Imagine having a relationship CV that
states: “…is well-diverse in the dating realm; loves to eat so there’ll be no
left-overs; can drive well at least 9 out of 10 times; always rises by 6am regardless of
location so no need to set an alarm; can do basic salsa and cha-cha moves,
thereby providing more home entertainment; more patient than would have been if
you had met me the year before; has good fleeing skills; can zone out of
conversations without anyone knowing…” and much more! What dude wouldn’t love
these?!😁
Er...please nobody should mention this to my mother as
she will organise fasting and prayer for me by tomorrow morning to get rid of
any evil, promiscuous spirit 😈, LOL. I only said I want to date more often, I
didn’t say that I was going to “fall pregnant”, hee hee.👅
2. To enter into a short story writing
competition: This is something I’ve always wanted to do and so I’ll give it
a shot this year. Wish me good luck!
3.
To acquire a new art skill: either playing the piano or painting, knitting or
sewing: I’m going to look for classes or use YouTube.
Some
carry-over goals:
4.
Improving my French: I’m still using Duolingo app everyday and
I’m going to register for a new class next week plus I intend to practice more
in this new environment,
5.
To weigh and maintain 58kg; 6. Learning how to swim & 7. Learning how to
bike: I can do #5 once I get rid of all the food I ate
during the festive period; I’ll register for #6 in spring time and I’ll find
new bike friends in the spring/summer for #7.
8. Publish at least 10 journal articles: Same as last year's #8 but this time, I hope to achieve all J.
8. Publish at least 10 journal articles: Same as last year's #8 but this time, I hope to achieve all J.
9.
Start up a small money-making business venture: I’m
still thinking but at least it’s a start J.
And
the last but not the least:
10.
Volunteering for a good cause: I used to volunteer a
lot when I lived in England mostly to promote good mental health awareness but
I’ve not done so in a long time. This year, I’d like to get back to
volunteering a bit of my time for an organisation that helps women and/or
children. It could be in the church, community or wherever so if you have any
ideas, please let me know.
I pray to achieve these goals and hopefully I’ll
update you by this time next year. I also pray you achieve yours and I wish you
a wonderful 2019.
As my dad would always say “Last year was good, may
the New Year be much better” Amen.
Lest I forget, happy belated birthday to my younger
sis, Odi and my eldest bro Iheanyi, God bless you.xx
Cheers and see you next time on my blog. x
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