Ta-Da! A Look Back on 2017

A writer that I often reference and truly look up to, Gretchen Rubin (see previous posts about her here, here, and here), often talks about setting clear goals and being extremely specific about how you plan on reaching those goals.  Her writing also introduced a new version of a "To-Do" list, called a "Ta-Da!" list.  Rather than listing things to do, one makes a list of things they've already accomplished.  The thought process behind this is that if you see all you've accomplished, you're more likely to keep going and are encouraged to accomplish more.  So, before I post my 2018 Goals, I wanted present to you my 2017 Ta-Da! List.

2017 New Years Resolution #1.
To-Do: Read 25 Books

Ta-Da: 11 Books Read

As you'll read in the upcoming post about 2018 Goals, I will once again endeavor to read 25 books this year.  While I'm disappointed that I did not reach my goal of 25 books for 2017, I am still proud that I read as much as I did and plan to make 25 books happen in 2018!

2017 New Years Resolution #2.
To-Do: Publish 50 Blog posts

Ta-Da: 13 Blog posts Published

Yikes... this is nearly half of what was published in 2016.  Sometimes I wonder if this blog is something I should even be doing but the thought of never writing makes me feel considerably unhappy.  Trust me when I say I truly think of this blog and writing nearly every day.  And someone once told me when there's something you love so much that you think about it every day, you should never let that dream go.

2017 New Year's Resolution #3.
To-Do: Complete Level 3 of Rosetta Stone

Ta-Da: Nada

This is another slightly embarrassing assessment... As of matter of fact, it's been so long since I've logged in to Rosetta Stone that I don't even remember what level I'm currently on... somewhere in level 2, I'm sure.  However, I'm happy to report my daughter's French is daily improving, which only makes me wish they had language immersion schools (paid for by the state) for adults. 

2017 New Year's Resolution #4.
To-Do: Dance More

Ta-Da: 3 Months of Salsa Classes which concluded with graduating from the "Beginners Classes" to the "Intermediate Classes."

This past summer I finally decided to pony-up and signed up for Salsa lessons.  It was one of the most fun things I've ever done!  I met a great group of people and while I felt it necessary to stop lessons for a while once my daughter's school was back in session, I look forward to starting them up again next summer.

2017 New Year's Resolution #5.
 To-Do: More Yoga, and Perfect the Push-Up

Ta-Da: I haven't done yoga in about a month

Up until then, I had been going several times a week, but once school got out for the holidays, it was less convenient to go and with all of our holiday travels and activities, it became super easy to just skip it.  Once school gets back in, I have every intention of getting back into it and perfecting the crow pose, which I actually nailed once last year!

 2017 New Year's Resolution #6.
To-Do: Be Honest with Myself and Others About What is Best for My Family

Ta-Da: This is an ongoing endeavor of which it is quite difficult to gauge the progress.

However, I feel as though we've taken great strides this year in making decisions while putting our family first.  One of the biggest ones was this past Fall when I cut back on my teaching by nearly 50%.  I'm now teaching the least amount of students I've ever taught, but I daily see the benefits of having more afternoon time with my children.  Especially Fiona, who started 1st grade this year, is enjoying having someone to help her with homework and is excelling in her studies.

Additionally, I had filled in a "Bucket List" at the front of my 2016-2017 Emily Ley academic calendar, and I was pleasantly surprised to see I had accomplished those goals:

• Visit  Chris' Grandparents
• Create Memory File Boxes for Fiona and Eliot
• Play for Church
• Volunteer/Usher for ASO
• Potty Train Eliot
• Get a Puppy!

I look forward sharing my goals for 2018 with you in my next post. In the meantime, I'd love to hear of your "Ta-Da" moments from 2017!