30 Before 30: How Did I Do?

I wonder if anyone actually completes all of their goals on these annual lists? I mean, I had every intention of doing everything on the list but various things in life mean they just don’t happen. Money, time and effort are big factors as to whether one can complete these goals. But also, it depends on how big or little these goals are. Plus, the older you get the more there is on the list. Eeek!

Either way, I am happy with the goals I did accomplish last year and I am currently in the process of writing up my 31 before 31 list. I like having a list of goals stuck to my wall to constantly remind myself of where I am going, what I want to do and to inspire me to try new things.

So here is a recap of how I fared with my 30 before 30 list:

1. open an online vintage shop – yes. I opened (and closed) my little online vintage shop.
2. learn to drive – sadly not. lack of finances meant it was not feasible. this moves onto next list.
3. move in with the boyf – yes! we moved in together last March and it was wonderful set up a home.
4. host a cocktail party- no. but I did set up a cocktail trolley in our home.
5. develop accessories for The Rosalilium Shop – no. sadly my etsy shop is closed for now. I miss making and selling online and hope I can do this again in the future.
6. attend some networking events – yes. I still find it quite nerve-wracking and anxiety gets the best of me sometimes but I keep signing up for more.
7. go to the Ballet – no.
8. make a photo gallery in my home – kind of. I hung the photographs from the trip when we met. but I would like a bigger gallery in my next home.
9. write my Burma series on Rosalilium – no. The Burma series is only half completed. I will make an effort to finish it this year.
10. learn to crochet a granny square – no.
11. visit one new place (village, town or city) a month – no. I need to plan more outings this year.
12. read more books – yes. but I didn’t enjoy any of them. need to find some good ones.
13. learn yoga – yes and no. I went to a couple of yoga sessions but not consistently enough.
14. take a road-trip with the boyf – I am going to say yes because we drive a lot around this country.
15. make fresh homemade lemonade – no. why did I not do this?
16. buy Polaroid film and take photos – no. kept baulking at the price of film.
17. write an article for a magazine – yes! I wrote for Mollie Makes and more magazines
18. celebrate my Master’s graduation in style – no. this makes me sad. but we were so broke we couldn’t go to my graduation.
19. take an art/craft day class – no. I want to get myself booked on one in Birmingham soon.
20. enjoy my hammock – no. summer was a washout this year.
21. visit Canada – yes! I was bridesmaid for my bestie.
22. go on a camping trip – yes. we went camping at Womad festival.
23. reupholster the ottoman – no. not enough time was dedicated to DIY. gutted.
24. take photobooth photos with the boyf – yes. we took some at Time Square in NYC.
25. improve my photography – I think so. I have been trying particularly hard to improve my food photography.
26. visit my Grandparent’s and learn their life histories – kind of, yes. I had a really good chat with my Grandad about his childhood in Burma. It makes me so happy to see his face light up and he is so animated with the detail of his life there.
27. meet up with old friends – yes. one of my uni friend’s who I hadn’t seen for 5 years came to visit me.
28. apply for the Churchill travel fund – no. it wasn’t feasible this time around.
29. design a range of greetings cards – no. but my head is filled with ideas for the design.
30. make more homemade booze – yes. the marshmallow vodka was particularly delicious.

I’ll be honest, a part of me didn’t want to share this update on the blog. I felt kind of ashamed and a bit of a failure for not achieving everything on the list. What if everyone thinks I’m a massive failure?!

But then I told myself off (I do this a lot). I told myself that sharing is therapeutic. And I told myself not to be so hard on myself.

If I look down the list, sure there are some simple things I could have achieved such as going to the ballet or learning to crochet. But I have also done some pretty cool things too and it is much better to concentrate on the positive.

This past year was a pretty tough one and I was working very hard. At one point I was working full time in an office job, running this blog (which is almost full time), writing twice a week for DS, running my vintage shop and still trying to find other writing work. I didn’t get any rest and I didn’t spend any of my weekend relaxing. In fact, I find it very hard to remember what relaxation feels like. I feel guilty if I am not working every hour of the day on something. I know that is not a healthy way to be and sometimes my health does suffer. So maybe relaxing is something to go on the list for next year. And maybe I should make more time to work on my next goal list instead of working my butt off. Who knows what the next year holds but I’m excited for the possibilities and potential.

Do you make goal lists? How do you work on fulfilling them?