The Dappled Willow

Fun Fact about me: I am a very goal-oriented person. I love setting a goal, making a plan to achieve it and executing that plan until I find success!

It’s something I’ve been doing for a while. I developed my first 5 year plan in Grade 8, as I spent hours going through the course catalog at my parents dining room table, determining which courses I needed to take to get into my desired university program and charting a course plan for myself for my high school career. It changed as I went a little, sure, but those research and planning skills served me well throughout high school, in university and in my travels too.

I love goal-setting and achieving so much that my friends and family threw me a surprise Goal Digger themed party for my birthday one year. It was awesome and honestly my best birthday party ever. (It was such a great party I’ll have to tell you more about it another time.)

Speaking of birthdays, I try to set at least one goal for myself every year on my birthday. With it being in March I’m not usually one for new year resolutions.

Aaaand since I was pregnant when ringing in 2018 and 2019 (yes, the two youngest are only 17 months apart) all I wanted to do this year when the clock struck twelve was kiss my man and enjoy my midnight champagne! I really didn’t put much thought to what this new year and decade might have in store; I was busy hosting a roarin’ party to think about the future!

But now that the champagne flutes are washed and put away and we’re slowly getting back to our regular routine and I’m checking my socials again, I’m noticing this year especially, perhaps with it being a new decade as well, there are a lot of resolution posts and words of intention floating around. Many of them have got me truly inspired. Not the “new year, new me” clichés, but people sharing their genuine desire to make changes in their lives for the better? I’m all for it, and I want it too!

That’s right, I’m not going to wait until my birthday this year. No time like the present! I’ve had a few days to mull things over (read: make lists, check calendars, weigh Pros and Cons, etc) and I’ve been able to evaluate my goals.

To tell you the truth, I hummed and hawed about even setting any real goals for myself this year. I just had my third baby 5 months ago, via emergency c-section that I haven’t really processed yet, or even fully healed from really, and I need to give myself permission to relax, right?

On the other hand, I’m happiest when I have something I’m working towards. And even though I have a lot to juggle from day to day, I find it helpful to clearly state to myself, my husband, my family and friends what I want to achieve so they can support me and maybe even help me along the way.

So, after much careful consideration, I’ve determined two areas of my life I want to improve this year. In the past I’ve focused on school, career, family (read: planned pregnancies), personal finances and travel is always a priority, but this year I want to especially concentrate on Home and Health.

These are both areas I’ve had struggles with the past couple of years and I’m hopeful I can make some serious change in both. I’m going to write more about each one including my motivation, what “success” will look like and my plan of attack.

All that being said, this quote by Winston Churchill will be my motto this year,

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal:

It is the courage to continue that counts.”

It is so poignant considering what I hope to achieve regarding my health and home. So here’s to setting goals and crushing ’em! I pray for the courage to continue… at least past January.