1) Create a blog & write once a month - I did indeed start my blog, but I fell a little short on posting this fall and missed three months {insert facepalm emoji here}. But we're right in the middle of a big trip now, so I'll have lots and lots of material to share and post for next year, so here's hoping I stay on track!
2) Take a photography class - While I haven't taken an actual class yet, I have taken the time to learn more about my camera this year. From watching YouTube videos on how to shoot in manual mode to constantly asking my neighbor questions, I've learned a lot! My parents gifted me an online class for Christmas (thanks mom & dad!), so I'll be able to check this one off my list soon. I'm looking forward to learning more and really honing in my photography style. I've also begun dabbling with editing software and hope to take a class on editing as well. Here's a little before & after I did a few months ago:
3) Run 4-5 times a week - I'm going to give this one a big check mark (although it ended up a bit modified). I really wanted to make sure I stuck to my running goal through the summer (the heat & humidity made for a good excuse to not go run), so I decided to sign up for a half marathon to keep me motivated. But sometime in September I developed a bad case of runners knee (tendonitis) in my left knee and had to take it easy. I still completed the half though! It wasn't a PR, but it also wasn't my worst half, so I'll take it. Since the half marathon I haven't done much running, but I have started getting up early in the morning and hitting the gym on base 4-5 times a week. Hoping and praying that my knee will heal up soon though, this is prime Okinawa running weather right now and I'm hating not being able to hit the pavement!
4) Travel {at least!} 4 times - Done, done, done & done! We are currently in the middle of our fourth trip for the year (I'm sitting here writing this post in Thailand as Nora sleeps!). This past year we went to Taiwan, Korea, Hawaii, Singapore, Thailand and will be making our way to Hong Kong before the year is up.
Taipei, Taiwan
Seoul, South Korea
Maui
Singapore
Chiang Mai, Thailand
We've already begun planning our travels for 2018. We're going to focus most of our time on mainland Japan next year, there are so many incredible places to visit there! We're starting our list now, but any suggestions of where to go and when would be greatly appreciated!
5) Buy a sewing machine - Yep, total no on this one. Honestly it was a stretch to put it on my goals for this year, but hey, we can't hit all our of goals all the time - that would mean we're not pushing ourselves hard enough. Honestly, we don't have a lot of room in our current living situation, and I was just working on other things this year (photography, this blog). Learning to sew is definitely on my list, but I think it may be a few years down the road for me. So we'll see!!
6) Take time for myself once a week - I think I've really gotten into my groove here. Now that Nora has stopped nursing, she's much less dependent on me and allows Jonathan to take the lead. So I've been going to yoga on the weekends, getting pedicures, or hitting them gym. It's been so refreshing to have that me-time and it will definitely be something that I continue to work on.
2017 was pretty amazing! I'm still putting together my 2018 goals, but I'll make sure to share them here once they're ready. Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy & exciting 2018!
