2016, It’s Been Real.

5 Thingslifestylelists

2016, it’s been real.

31.12.16
Recapping + reflecting on this year's goals đŸ‘‰
When I sat down and penned this post last year, I was curled up in a blanket in my apartment in Hong Kong, desperately wishing I was with my family or my best friends. I always relish this time of year, this sleepy, pensive week of finishing up loose ends, selection boxes and not really doing much work at the office.
I’m a sucker for reflection, setting annual goals and measuring how far (or not) I’ve come in the past 12 months. For me, it’s a pretty great way to compartmentalise a year and completely switch off, ready for a new year. None of those awful cliches here though, mind you. Let’s do the end-of-year check-up on how well I didn’t do at my goals.
2016 Goals

1. Get back to writing lists and daily scribbles in my notebook.
2. Travel more.
3. Visit Italy, Greece, Japan and South Korea. Spend Granny's birthday with her in Malaysia.
4. Save $$$.
5. Learn and nail 10 new recipes.
6. Volunteer.
7. Plan and do another weekend jaunt in Brighton with the best friends.
8. Make lots of plans with friends.
9. Visit my little sister at University.
10. Purchase a new car!
11. Upgrade Bertle and Eric's home.
12. Send more handwritten mail.
13. Stop with the 'treat yo'self' antics.
14. Run the Race for Life.

This year, I ended up switching my goals to surviving. To getting through the year without being wrapped up in grief. To be there for and with my loved ones and to feel a little more present. It’s a funny thing because this time last year, I was torn between having the best time at home and not wanting to fly back to Hong Kong and also feeling desperately homesick and mentally planning when I could move home and look after my Granny. This year? I’m pretty content with plodding along in a quiet lifestyle, working towards new goals and taking my business to new avenues.
I smashed it on the traveling front. Oh BOY, did I travel this year! I holidayed four times, visiting six countries in total, as well as a bonus international move. And I’ve explored countless new places, visiting friends all across the country, a weekend in Brighton with my boyfriend and countless weekends spent darting all around London, exploring our city together. It’s been the best.
Another huge achievement this year was running the 5k Race for Life with my sister. We conquered it back in July and I’ll just never forget crossing that bloody line and feeling a sense of overwhelming pride, happiness and sheer relief that we’d managed it! Totally planning on doing that again next year. We loved it!
Sadly there’s plenty I didn’t tick off. I didn’t even meet my private blog goals! And that’s mostly my fault. I broke my DSLR back in April and have struggled to get the time together to blog as I’d like throughout these 12 months. I actually spent a whole afternoon planning my blog’s 2017 whilst we were away in Bali and I absolutely can’t wait to get them in motion and refresh all of my channels, just a touch.
2017, I’m coming for you.