September Goal-Setting

September is a special time of year for a lot of people I've been talking to. It marks the end of summer and the anticipation of crisp fall air signals a fresh start. September has a special place in my heart because it is my half-birthday month. I don't celebrate with balloons, cake, and champagne (would be nice though). Instead, it's a time for me to look back on the past six months, celebrate my successes, and set some fresh goals for the remaining months before I'm another year older.

I've accomplished a lot in the past six months. Some of my highlights are:

• Took control of my mental health by talking to professionals and prioritizing self-care

• Did something I always wanted to do by starting this blog

• Started a new job

• Travelled more this year than in all my years combined

• Made mistakes, learned from them, moved on, and all-the-while kept my head held high. 

I took some time over the long weekend to think about my intentions and goals so that I have a clear vision of the things I want to see for myself by March 1st: 

Excel in my new job

I started this week and I'm very excited to start fresh, be bold, show my worth, and make a positive impact. 

Stop worrying about the future so much and appreciate the present 

So often, I look back on the past and think about what a fun time that was and how much I miss it. Funny thing is I never felt like it was that great when I was living it. I was too focused on what was going the happen tomorrow, next month, or next year. Before I know it, I'll be looking back on this time of my life fondly.. missing it. I'm going to be more aware of 'the now' and appreciate it now.

Determine how I want my website/blog to look and feel

Right now I see my site as a blank canvas because I am not exactly sure how I want to express my personality through the design yet. I don't want to rush anything, so I am going to take the next six months to explore, decide, and have something ready for my blog's first birthday on March 1 (we share a birthday, so cute).

Make new traditions this Christmas

I am all about traditions and I take them very seriously. A lot has changed in my life, which means that a lot of traditions I held close to my heart don't really exist anymore. I want to spend this Christmas creating some new traditions for myself that I can depend on year after year. 

Balance, balance, balance.. balance (added the fourth balance for balance)

There are a lot of moving pieces in my life. My job, my volunteer job, my blog, my studies (CMP designation if you're wondering what the heck I could be studying for), my hobbies, and my health. Admittedly, some things have played second fiddle to others these past six months. I am going to do better at striking a balance that ensures all aspects are receiving the attention they deserve and need. 

Create a vision board

My friend Mariella (@mformariella) spent this past weekend transforming her goals into a vision board, which has me completely inspired to do the same!

If you're looking for constant hits of inspiration and motivation, I encourage you to give this girl boss a follow. 

I'm looking forward to reporting back in six months! Happy goal setting! 

Lynn