A Year of Goals: A Special 2020 Message

- December 31, 2020

So... I know everyone is probably going to making these posts... the 2020-is-finally-over-but-at-least-some-good-things-happened posts. However, 2020 has been a really special year for me.

Firstly, I published a novel. I can't explain the feeling that washed over me when I held the proof copies in my hand for the first time. Impossibly, Perfectly Normal is (by no means) perfect, but the feedback I received from my amazing supporters, friends, and family was overwhelming. A dream come true in the middle of a pandemic! My only goal for this book was for people to enjoy it. I'm glad I helped my readers escape from the real world for a bit. (You can order your copy on Amazon here!)

I started writing a 2nd novel. SPOILER: This novel currently has 90,000 words. I have a few more thousand to go before my first draft is complete... but I wrote this amount in 7 months. I took a break from my "English" side to do a little math. My calculations indicate that I'm writing this book nearly 12X faster than Impossibly, Perfectly Normal. Wow.

I made a goal in February to read 50 books by the end of 2020. Surpassing this goal, I read 52 books this year. Running out of room on my bookshelf is a good problem to have, right?

We all probably gained a little weight during this pandemic, but I decided to go on a low-carb diet about 2.5 months before Thanksgiving. It was a complete lifestyle change for me. I'm proud to say that I lost 28 pounds during this time. I feel amazing. It's a definite change for the better. Now to work on an exercise goal...

My students told me that I was the "most organized" teacher they've had during virtual learning for the pandemic. This means a lot to me because I strive to be a dependable teacher. I'm extremely honored to know that I was able to provide stability for my students in a time that felt so unstable.

Lastly, I'm diving into the Bible and learning to pray specific prayers. My relationship with God has grown stronger and I'm extremely thankful for each day I've been given to make a difference in this world.

For those of you getting ready to start on your 2021 resolutions, I have a few reminders from things that I've really learned this year. And It's all about being reflective during the entire process...

Goals should be Realistic: This is all about balance. What's something that will be a challenge for you, but within your reach? Saying "I want to lose 50 pounds" sounds amazing, but it might not be realistic for you at all. I wanted to read 100 books this year. In retrospect, that would have been a completely unrealistic goal for me. I would have failed. "50 books" was a much more attainable goal.
Goals should be Measurable: You need a way to track and reflect on your progress. I used an app for my weight. I kept a list of every book that I read. I checked my word count for my novels after every single writing session. As my dad always taught me, the proof is in the pudding. Measuring and reflecting on your progress is the proof that change is being made! And it doesn't have to all be numbers. You can assess how you feel or where you are emotionally.
Goals should be given a time frame: This one was a big one for me to learn. You must set yourself a specific end-goal date that makes sense. Saying "I want to lose weight" doesn't give you enough focus. Many people will stop their health goals because there is no end in sight. For example, committing to 8 weeks gives you a visible light at the end of the tunnel because it's not "forever." If after 8 weeks, you don't want to do it anymore or you simply just need to revise your goal, that's okay! Because you still made it to 8 weeks! You did it and committed to it (whether your actual goal was hit or not)!