While 2016 had some great moments, in general, I am over this year. As is typical for me I’ve begun the process of accessing how the past year has gone in the following areas:
- My personal life
- My financial life
- My health
During these moments of self-reflection, I ask myself the hard questions that I’ve finally become comfortable asking and answering:
- How have I road-blocked achieving the goals that I’ve set for myself?
- Are the people that I’m around feeding my dreams or hindering them?
- Am I living in the right place to live the life that I dream of?
- Am I working hard enough to get what I want?
Reflecting
On my past year is not always a comfortable process, but by asking myself these questions I believe that I’m making room for future personal growth. In order to do this, I like to journal, go for a hike, ride my bike, or walk so that I can clear my mind and just open my mind to whatever comes up.
Reflecting is the process of becoming self-aware and the majority of people resist this because once you’re self-aware….you have to own your results. People will say to me that I’m too hard on myself. I say, I’m just being honest about my role in getting the results that I’ve been getting.
I’m going to share how what I’ve been thinking about so far at this time this year.
Personal Life
I’m actually MUCH happier than when I quit my job at the end of 2014. I am amazed at how long I stayed in a situation that made me so unhappy. For those of you who are unfamiliar with my story here is a brief run-down:
- I was in grad school working at Starbucks enjoying going to dance class, not really worried about my looming debt, traveling around the world when my mom lost her job. I ended up supporting the both of us for many years while she tried to get another job. It took a LONG time for her to get a new job. During this time I got my first “real job” and began working at a great university here in Colorado with International students-I loved it!
- My finances still were a hot mess. During the years of purely existing, I began learning about money, reading books, and personal finance websites. I was addicted.
- I start and launch blogs about personal finance and Colorado more than once. I quit.
- 2012-I randomly discover that a conference called “Fin-Con” would be having it’s second conference in Denver (the first year was in Chicago). It was only $100 bucks and happening in two weeks. I decide to go and am awestruck by all of my personal finance heroes.
- 2014-After years of caring for other people I am physically and mentally unable to deal with how my life was going. My body began really talking to me: I was depressed, my hair had begun to break off and fall-out, I was gaining weight, and I was D.O.N.E. After 2 years of knowing that I couldn’t continue dealing with the situation but delaying my decision…I quit my job that was paying good money but killing me off and left the job that I worked for 10 years on December 16, 2014. It hasn’t been easy but it was the right decision for my physical and mental well-being.
- 2012-2016-I begin blogging about personal finance and going through the process of relearning EVERYTHING that I had learned about money. It’s a painful process.
- 2015-2016-I dabble in figuring out how I would like to work for myself…it’s an interesting process and I’m left thinking that I’ve really spent the past 2 years on vacation recovering from all of the previous stressful years.
So, now that you know the backstory let’s get back to my personal life. I actually have one now and it’s one of the most important components to what I consider a well-lived life that I focus on daily.
I love, love, love having time to be with the people that I love who are in my life. It makes me so happy to spend time: talking, hiking, biking, walking, going to happy hour, or playing with my friends’ kiddos. I never want to lose that sense of connection to others again.
I actually think I could do even better and am working hard to make sure that I spend more time with mom doing cool things and my making sure that my friends with kids feel supported and comfortable whenever we go out with their little people. Basically, kids are always welcome. Also, one day when I have kids I want them welcomed too!
Slowly, ever so slowly my dating life has come back to life. I do not want to jinx it. I’m just going to take it one day at a time and never do online dating again.
I’m also incredibly chilled out and haven’t been sick in 2 years. Yep, I feel great.
Financial Life
Where do I begin? The other day I had a very meta conversation with my mom about how it can be difficult for people to meet their goals because they are physically and mentally spent. Basically, they don’t have the bandwidth to focus on the goals that they would like to achieve.
For the longest time, I didn’t realize that I was one of those people too. I was (excuse my French) f#@king tired.
Recently I’ve joked that I’ve been on vacation for the past 2 years. What I’ve really been doing is getting my energy back, my health stabilized, and my mind right. What I’ve learned from this process is sometimes you just can’t focus on adding another huge a@@ project to the mix. I talked a good game but I just didn’t have the energy to focus on paying off my debt. And, I used to feel weird because I just couldn’t seem to get it done. I just couldn’t focus.
It wasn’t time yet.
Now, I’m feeling freaking GREAT. I have the energy, time, and focus to get my finances in order. Now, let’s be clear, in the past 5 years I’ve done the following:
- Re-learned my spending habits. I spent a year not shopping. I discovered my spending triggers which were: boredom, depression, and loneliness.
- Started discovering ways to spend less on the things that I wanted without sacrificing quality.
- Side-Hustled like a rock-star.
- Began raising my business rates.
- Started selling my own products online!
- Switched to a cash only budget (and debit card).
- Finally understood that not every financial tool is right for everyone. Credit cards aren’t my jam. I won’t be using them again in life. And, now that I’ve purchased what I want for cash for the past two years (including a car) I am now ready to get this shiz done.
- Connected with a great community of people who want me to succeed and believe in me.
It’s time for me to take care of the following:
- Pay off the rest of my credit card debt-I affectionately call my credit card debts collectively: Mr. Chubbs
- Make a big dent into Tiny and El Gordito-My two student loans
- Pay Off The Sweet One-My mortgage.
It’s on like Donkey Kong. But, I’m in such a better place than when I started.
Foundational Years
What I didn’t realize was that the last 5 years were foundational years. I was recreating my mindset, my money, and my life. Just like it took years to get into debt, it has rightly taken years to get prepared for this journey.
Now that I have worked on my foundation I’m looking forward to finally, rocking out the rest of this journey. By the way, I did pay off a credit card this year…I just didn’t bring it up. I think I felt like since I hadn’t paid off the entirety of my debt that it wasn’t worth mentioning. Yep, crazy.
Health
Ok, I’m annoyed with myself right now. I only have to lose 26 pounds and I just haven’t focused or committed to the process. Fortunately, my neighbor (who’s a friend) moved back into his property and he and his girlfriend are training for the Colfax 1/2 Marathon…so, we’re training together.
I’ve also paid for an annual membership at my local gym (it was only $220 for the year!) and I live 5 blocks away so I’ve been using it all the time. I’m also participating in free group exercise events like working out at Red Rocks Amphitheater (free) or working out with The November Project peeps (hot guys giving hot sweaty hugs). I will work out with them when it’s 30 degrees or warmer.
I’m extremely motivated this year as I have a big birthday and a reunion that I am going to and hey…I’m vain. I want to look my best LOL! So, I’ve begun working out.
Vision Board
2017 is weeks away and I’m spending a lot of time setting up goals and systems in order to achieve my goals. Today I worked on my Vision Board. I got pretty freaking specific. I thought about:
- How I want my life to be.
- Who I want to be in my life.
- What I needed to earn to pay off my debt and just how much I want to earn in general.
- Health and Wellness-And small manageable steps to take so that I can meet those goals.
This year’s vision board is a little different as I’ve actually made lists that I’ve posted on the board and as I achieve the goals I can cross each item off. Last year’s board was a little unfocused and I’m not surprised that I had inconsistent results.
This will be my last post until Monday, January 2, 2017. I’m wishing you and yours a wonderful and blessed Holiday season. If you’re in Atlanta please contact my friend Jason Butler from The Butler Journal to attend his free Vision Board party!
Some items that have been on my vision boards in the past 2-3 years:
- Visit Australia-Done
- Visit Hawaii-Done
- Go to the Australian Tennis Open-Done
- Learn to Drive-Done
- Purchase a car (cash)-Done
- Numerous blog and professional related goals such as: Grow my freelancing portfolio, increase my earnings, grow my website(s), began podcasting (was even on an episode with Kevin Smith! Silent Bob, spoke/presented at conferences, and have some big projects set for 2017.
I’m obsessed with Vision Boards because they act as a guide post for your upcoming year. If you’re not into it at least spend some time focusing on your next year.
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I think I need a vision board, too, Michelle! I wrote my 2016 intentions on a sticky note and posted it on my closet door. I’m amazed by how powerful seeing that note every day became. But I’m a visual person, so creating an entire board is even better!
I absolutely love my vision board and every single day (when I’m organized LOL!) I wake up and look at that board. Every.single.day. Then-I take action.
Thanks for the shout out Michelle. 2017 will be great. I can’t wait to check your post out on Jan 2nd.
I want to send people to your Vision Board event!! Making things happen. Getting ready for 2017. No more sitting on the sidelines. Can’t wait to see what you’re up to in the New Year.
Reflecting helps to see almost everything problems solved, challenges overcome, and progress gained. It’s good to know that you made some good reflections for this year.
I always spend this time of year reflecting on what went well and what could have gone better. I always try to be kind to myself when going through this process because it’s very easy to be hard on yourself.
You have had a good year, Michelle! May these blessings continue in 2017. Happy New Year!
It was a good year but my plan is to be super proactive about making 2017 even better.