In January, I declared that 2015 would be the year of adventure. Little did I know that Graham and I would be moving from Phoenix to Chicago in our biggest adventure yet. It was fun, terrifying and eye-opening. The move was difficult at first, and it tested our relationship. But once I made the decision to just be where I was, things changed. I was ready to start living out our plans and I thrust myself into my new world wholeheartedly. I started to actually enjoy living in Chicago. I made friends. I gained more confidence. I started to realize what I want out of my career.
For the next 12 months, the word I am focusing on is growth.
Personal: I want to continue my self-study. Who am I and who do I want to be? I feel like I get closer to an answer every year. Yoga-teacher training two years ago was a turning point in my life in that I realized I need to speak my truth more, and that’s still a work in progress. Some of the ways I’ve tried to figure out my path are by using a self-exploration journal, meditating and pushing myself in physical challenges like training for races. For me, traveling to new places is a part of personal growth as well. I hope to do more of that in 2016.
Financial: 2016 is a year for growing our savings and paying off debt/student loans. It’s not always fun to make smart financial decisions, but it’s satisfying when you pay something off and it sets you up for a more carefree and comfortable future.
Career/Blog: My goal is to make moves to improve my career. I want to finally sign up for the photography classes I’ve been talking/blogging about for months. I want to finally finish a book. I want to grow my blog community and yes, it’d be nice to earn a few bucks in the process. Who doesn’t want to get paid for doing what they love? I also want to find my voice on this blog. The journalist in me wants to be professional, while the goofball in me wants to have more fun. I hope to find a balance one of these days.
Body: I want to keep growing stronger and faster. I want to run my second marathon (Chicago Marathon) and finish in a better time than my first one.
Marriage: Our first year of marriage was a wild ride, but I wouldn’t change a thing. We learned more about each other, and the challenges and changes we faced brought us closer. I’ll continue to support my husband and nurture and grow our marriage in 2016.
Friendships: 2016 is about growth in both old and new friendships. It’s tough to maintain friendships when you’re separated by thousands of miles, but it’s worth the effort. At the same time, I hope to grow my connection to the friends I have made in Chicago.
Community: I hope to grow my connection to my community in Chicago by volunteering, attending events and exploring more.
In 2015, focusing on a particular word was my form of manifesting. I completely believe that if you say you want something, believe it will happen and act accordingly, you will get what you ask for. The more specific you are with your manifestation, the better. In the coming days, I’ll be reflecting on what I’d really like to see happen in the next year and beyond. I love the possibilities a new year brings. It’s a blank canvas. How will you fill it?
Enjoy the last days of 2015!
Marette Flora is the founder of Floradise blog and personalized gift shop. Marette is a passionate storyteller and creator. She attended the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication.
She is passionate about creating helpful and meaningful things.