I made it a habit to check in with myself throughout the year on how I was doing with projects and goals I had set for myself at the beginning of the year. Last year, I reflected on each month in my journal. It felt a little too frequent–almost as if I was checking a to-do list, rather than taking the time to reflect on personal growth and development. This year, mid-July feels like a good time to reflect on the previous half of the year and set a course for the remaining six months of 2018.
Climbing
I set a goal of climbing outdoors 10 times this year. So far, we have climbed outside four times: twice in Ontario and twice in Chamonix, France! We have one more climbing adventure planned for Vancouver, BC in August. I am thrilled that we are climbing outside of Ontario this summer. We also bouldered outdoors for the first time.
Writing
I always write less than I set out to do at the beginning of the year. I can’t decide if my goals and expectations are unrealistic or if I am badly failing at meeting them.
I engaged with writing by virtue of taking a course where I had to complete a number of written assignments. I tried to write spontaneously on my trip, which felt forced at the time, but then I really appreciated the piece because it had a rawness to it and a level of observation that is not usually there when you write about a place you visited after you had left it. I must keep that up.
Learning
I completed another coaching course, followed by a course on life writing at the university where I work. I plan on taking a French course this fall. I am so lucky to have access to great education at almost no cost through my place of employment and I am taking the full advantage of this opportunity.
Saving
I am definitely falling behind on the sum I set out to save this year. But I think that there is still a lot of learning that happens when we are trying to reach a goal, even if unsuccessfully. I have no credit card debt, I learned to plan ahead for large purchases like travel and yearly memberships, and we made a number of adult purchases for our household this year. And saving is a part of my daily finances.
No Shopping
My decision to do no shopping this year has been an interesting experiment. So far, I think that it has helped me to evaluate my buying habits and notice how the desire to buy new things is connected to my emotional states. For instance, after spending a few days in Paris and being inspired by the effortless fashions of Parisian women, I too wanted to be effortless and chic. I wanted new pieces and new ways of wearing them.
However, my exposure to fast fashion industry and learning more about the environmental impact of fashion slows me down when I feel motivated to shop. I know that the chic dresses that Parisian women wear don’t come from Gap or Zara. I might be motivated to invest in new pieces, but I also want them to last me for next 10-15 years. I want my clothing to be good quality, functional, and unique.
What’s next?
I want to publish something online. I want to make a point to celebrate more things and to make an event of those celebrations: dress up, take photos, and cherish the memory afterward. I want to celebrate summer and enjoy the outdoors. And I want to keep up the work I have been doing so far.
