Happy new year everyone! I thought that to start the year I should look back on 2017 and see if I can plan out my 2018. Pretty simple right? Not exactly. Every year people go crazy with new years resolutions, goal settings, bucket lists, etc., with promises of an awesome year ahead. Some are more serious in following them and find success, but some just end up with a dusty list…. Guilty!

Since I will do this writing thing more regularly (or try) maybe it can be a way for me to be more accountable. Last year has been an outpour of NEWs and FIRSTs for me and I have to admit that it has been overwhelming at times. Doing this post has made me realize what a challenge it is to review myself and how much effect it had on me both mentally and emotionally.

2017 started with Dustin and I celebrating NY Eve with thousands of people along the Las Vegas Strip, then seeing my first snow fall in Denver with his brother and sister-in-law, crazy consul experience for our Chile visa in LA, our dreamy drive through Joshua Tree and the California/Nevada Desert, and spending a bit more time with family in Las Vegas before we filled 4 suit cases and 2 large backpacks for our South American Start-up Adventure.

 

It’s only been just over a week but I’ve been going back and forth with so many things in my head so I decided that the motto for 2018 will be: STRUCTURE :p something I’ve been flexible about and always thought I should have more of in all parts of my life. Anyway, let’s get back to business and start with the year that was, 2017….

What have been my biggest accomplishments?

• Moving to Santiago, Chile and Medellin, Colombia (surviving with minimal knowledge of the local language)
• Learning Spanish
• Forming new friendships
• Creating female groups in Santiago and Medellin that are aimed to connect and support each other

Moving to South America has been one of the scariest things I’ve done recently, the fear of not knowing what to expect, adjusting to new cultures, and the fact that it was my first time living in another country, in a country that has a totally different local language. Learning Spanish I thought was going to be easy because of the similarities with Filipino, but I was wrong, I am glad that I’m getting better now though.

Being able to stay longer than a couple of weeks in one place has also given me the chance to form new friendships, some that were short-lived, and some that I’m sure I will see more of in the future. 2017 has definitely opened me to the opportunities to interact and network with different people and I was able to create groups for women that I thought were only meant to help me but ended up helping so many and is continuing to grow.

What are my biggest lessons this year?

• I’ve learned how important my family and friends are to me, how much I miss them, and how much I value them staying part of my life no matter the distance (thank you technology!)
• I’ve learned I can live outside my comfort zone but that it is hella hard work
• I’ve come to appreciate my partner, his efforts to make things comfortable for me, and in planning for our future. The level of respect and trust I have for him has become stronger
• I’ve realized how much I dislike people who smile with their mouths open and that I would rather have a few genuine friends who value kindness, humility, and understanding
• I’ve learned that after 33 years of living on Earth, I still have so many things to learn and experience but also that you don’t have to experience everything to learn

 

On a scale of 1-10, I would say my 2017 was a 7. First, because I don’t really want to be too hard on myself, we live, we make mistakes, we learn, and second, because I’m very grateful for all my experiences, whether positive or otherwise. I don’t want to dwell on the past that’s why I’m looking forward to this year and making it a better one. So, to the year that is, 2018….

What I will focus on….

• Healthy eating / cooking
• Fitness and yoga
• Meditation / mindfulness / minimalism
• Deepening personal relationships
• Writing more and taking in new hobbies
• Professional growth

Now I’m sure you’re thinking, “yeah right, Katrina”, trust me, likewise… but that’s exactly the point of this, to create a structure that I can follow and be accountable for seeing them through. I pretty much have been doing steps in improving these but not as often as I should and not with too much focus. So my goal for this year is to create a ritual where eventually these will all just be a part of my life and they become a habit.

Here are just some things I will be doing this year to accomplish my goals….

• Take The Miracle Morning routine more seriously and write them down (on a nice notebook and with colored pens!)
• Make To-do lists that convert, be specific, and prioritize
• Set up reminders on my phone and in my office
• Create accountability with others
• Do weekly/monthly/quarterly reviews (this I have to figure out as the weeks go)

I’m not aiming to live like a robot and have my life planned out in paper, but rather, my aim is to focus on things that matter most to me. We make excuses that LIFE always gets in the way. Once we identify what is important to us, we know where we should exert more effort into, which then makes everything else easier and secondary to our main purpose. The year has only started and there is a chance I may fail this quest, but then again, our reaction to the situations we come across is our choice and it’s our decision to make the best out of them. I consider myself an optimistic person so I’ll end by saying ¡Gracias por todo 2017! and ¡Hola, 2018!

Have you made plans for making 2018 your best year ever? Would love to hear about it!

–

K