We’ve heard it all before. The question posed when classes resume and you’re prompted to write a little reflection about the holidays. The question young and not-so-young adults fill with answers that don’t make it past pen and paper.
“What are your resolutions for 2017?”
Yeah, resolutions my face. I think I’d rather just stick to “goals” this year rather than “resolve” to do or accomplish something that I have no full control over. I’d rather set goals that I know I can stick to. Goals sound way nicer, and it kind of gives you a sense of “journey”, don’t you think? Resolutions sound stricter, less room for mistakes and creativity. Or it might just be me.
But yes, it’s “goals” for 2017.
Again, to make sure I don’t forget that this past year was good (albeit a little disappointing - RIP Alan Rickman and Carrie Fisher), I’m listing down a summary of things I’m proud of this year (in no order). If you find reading about other people’s feats boring (haha), feel free to skip the list and read the paragraph after. :)
- Learned more about Social Media Marketing
- Established The Indy Miss more
- Reached 1.7k fans on the Facebook page!
- Got my first two big-paying sponsored posts gig for the blog
- Learned to read people more (sorry not sorry)
- Met new blogger friends online and IRL (yay!)
- Adapted a new art style (& still working on my old one)
- Got addicted to Himouto! Umaru-Chan and New Game! (animé)
- Produced stickers and other merch for a mini art fair
- Discovered the art of Podcasting and voice acting (haha!)
- Established that money is like a candle in the wind (:/)
- Got approved to set up shop at Creative Market!
- Learned how to deal with clients better and keep a good relationship going
- Learned a thing or two about flat-laying properly
- Got a little thriftier (looong way to go still)
- Fixed my portfolio and made it a bit more consistent than before
- Got better at lettering and calligraphy
- Started a newsletter (RSS) and gained 28 more subscribers
- Ordered a mug print of an illustration I made on DA (worth the wait and moolah!)
- Learned the “business-y” side of my life and career (*shivers*)
- Learned that not eating lunch and snacking instead at 3pm helps me lose weight (will do again after the holidays)
- Turned one year young at my first job (the feels)
- Realized who actually cares about maintaining a friendship with me
- Made very valuable connections in the real world
- Got invited to international exhibits in London, Berlin, and California. Sadly couldn’t get funds to support each trip, haha.
- He put a ring on it :P
- Got a good sense of when to stop talking and when to just let the words flow.
So. 2016 was quite bomb. It's either you take it positively or negatively. What's great about being a blogger is the ability to go back in time via your posts and see how you've improved and what effed-up stuff have happened.
I've got a LOT of hope for 2017, and I'm tired of asking it to "please be kind to me". The only way anything will happen this year will depend on what you do with it. Connections you make, friendships you burn and create, people you devote time to, what you stand up for, and how much you'll let it affect you.
But... if I DID have to list a resolution, there'd only be one: SPEND WISELY.
How about you? What are your goals for 2017? I'd love to congratulate you on your own feats this past year, so leave a comment! :)
See you in 2017.
I've started with goals last year and was able to hit the important ones. This is also why I chose to do goal setting this year as well. I agree with you that goals are better because resolutions are meant to be broken.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, I agree. Congratulations on your accomplishments last year! You really can't do them all, but if you hit what mattered most, then it's all good. :) Happy New year!
DeleteLooks like your 2016 was much better than good...pretty darn incredible from where I sit! And I respect your decision to go with goals instead of resolutions. Some of my major goals for 2017 are to finally finish my first manuscript, take my speaking career to another level, and greatly increase my Spanish fluency :)
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks! Wow, your first manuscript! Honestly, your major goals are some of mine (aside from speaking Spanish better). I'm learning French, so that's a substitute. And hey, I may not know what happened during 2016 for you, but I bet it was great too! :) Happy New Year.
DeleteThat's quite a list achievements and learnings you have for 2016. Congrats on your facebook fans number and making more valuable connections in the real world. Both are equally important in today's times!! Hope that 2017 helps you achieve those little somethings like ... I guess you should be able to arrange for funds by your means, if it happens that you're invited on international events... ;-)
ReplyDelete- Pixellicious
Kcalpesh Ajugia
Happy New Year to you! Thank you very much, haha. Yeah, I was s close to going to the Berlin exhibit, but I couldn't gather enough funds for the whole week for the event. haha. Maybe this year would be better.
DeleteOh wow. Awesome. Looks like you have a pretty good 2016. Wishing you for a much more wonderful and successful 2017 with several more blogging ventures.
ReplyDeleteHi there! Thank you very much and I hope you had a lovely 2016 too. Cheers to a mutually successful 2017!
DeleteI'd say that listing the things you did well is a great way to remember the small wins. The challenge has always been on building up on any win at all. Even for big wins, how do we turn a big win into a small win as we go for better? With that said, there is a whole year ahead. So I wish you the best.
ReplyDeleteHi sir, thanks! Happy New Year to you and the family. That IS a challenge, but big or small, I feel the need to always be happy about it. You wouldn't have big wins if it weren't for small ones to compare them with. Have an abundant 2017!
DeleteI contributed an article to an international entrepreneurship site on resolutions. In that post, I noted how resolutions should focus more on attitude. The tasks that needs to be done are the goals, but what gets one to do or not to do is the individual's attitude.
DeleteOne thing that can really help, is to break down each of your goals into concrete steps to be taken. For instance, I am using this as an example. Learning more about social media marketing. So what one could do is to identify which network, and which parts to learn, how, and when. When is sitting down and writing on the planner.
sounds like you had a fruitful 2016! and i didn't feel that much negativity towards the word resolution as compared to goals though. i mean, if we set goals, we should resolve to attain them, right? so in fact, they should be more or less the same thing. :)
ReplyDeleteHahaha, yeah I hear you. I just feel like the word "resolve" and "resolution" are a little restricting, haha. Like I said, it might just be me. Goals sound friendlier to me, like if I made a mistake in attaining that goal, the whole world won't be looking down on me for it. Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI would love to learn pod casting this year. I have installed an app on my mobile and good that you reminded in an indirect way of using that pod casting app.Has podcasting helped you in expanding your fan base? Please share that little secret with your friend from India.
Happy New Year to you too! Yeah, in a way I guess. My early podcasts were just me singing song covers, then I had an audio-blog series, then I posted a legit podcast with a story, sounds, and voice acting, haha.
DeleteFirst off, I'm loving your new website logo by the way. And congratulations on an eventful year especially the part "he put a ring on it." Wow! That's nice to know. For us this 2017, our blogging goal is to be worthy of the partnership invitations we had been receiving. 2016 cruised by speedily and we're still not satisfied with our blog. Another goal of ours is the #LoveYogoandCream project for our Youtube channel. Plus, more travels together. It will be a busy year for all of us. However, with God by our side, I know we can do it. Cheers!
ReplyDelete- Me-An Clemente
Happy New Year! Thanks! I'll be changing the header every first of the month. :) Hahaha yes! Aw, but you guys have accomplished so much last year! I do get the dissatisfaction though, so yeah. How's Youtube been treating you? :) Hope you flourish there too, as much as your blog is doing right now. Nothing we can't do without God, truly. :)
DeleteI truly agree with you. All my life as well have never been engaged and tried doing new years resolutions. I think focusing on our goals is again a good start this year. Resolutions can be learned a long the way and it doesn't have to be written and follows, it's always depend on the situation.
ReplyDeleteYep, 100%! Goals, goals, goals all the way for me too. Heheh I've always felt "goals" sounded like you had a clear, set plan while resolutions are there to be resolved and finished. :)
DeleteOver all 2016 has been a good year for me, I have yet to sit down and write a post about it, though. For this year, I also plan to spend more wisely and save up some more. I also aspire to learn new skills this year, like seriously practice hand-lettering and calligraphy.
ReplyDeleteCheers to turning our goals into reality this year!
Woah there! Congratulations on getting engaged! It was quite a big year for you. I hope you get more gigs and do art more. I super love your banner. So pretty and pretty much shows your artsy side! Hope to meet you soon and have an art date with you (since we both do calligraphy and lettering) :)
ReplyDeleteWow congrats on all the achievements last year! Also for reaching 1.7k likes on facebook :) I agree with goals instead of resolutions. For this year my goal would be to reach more people with my blog and enhance my skills in photography and video editing :)
ReplyDeleteI love listing down goals and achievements as well. It makes me more in tune to the life I am living and it makes it easier for me to count my blessings. This 2017, I did not write about another set of resolutions though because I know my 2017 will be exciting nonetheless. Our family is growing and I can't wait to live happier than we could ever be. Great job on your eventful 2016. Cheers to 2017!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I don't do New Years Resolutions anymore. I am more on setting up my "goals" for the year. I have several goals this year, but geared toward different aspects of my life. I haven't written anything for my blog, but for the other aspects such as finances, education, and even the spiritual aspect, I have penned it earlier this year already.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, love your theme. It so classy!
I guess, people are so over with NY resolution. hahaha I am just not sure but this is more realistic and I should have thought of this! But yeah, this is something what everyone should practice instead of what to look forward this year.
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