January 7th, 2019
I have really been looking forward to this birthday! I don't know why, but 25 feels like I'm a real adult. 22, 23, and 24 were just my "twenties," and now I feel like I've advanced into the "mid-twenties" category. For some reason, I feel like when you are 25 you get more respect. I've forever felt too young to represent the value that I bring.
2019 is here and I'm stoked! I love to end every year with reflections and goals looking forward. This year I listed: things I created in 2018, things I am going to create in 2019, and things I learned or will leave in 2018. My list is personal. Nevertheless, I want to share it. It is not to boast. It is because I believe in speaking your dreams into reality. When I was 16, I got a tattoo. It reads "excita somnia tua," which is Latin for "wake your dreams." This has been a recurring theme in my life.
Speak Your Dreams
Speak your dreams, I was taught this concept from a young age by my parents. And for some reason, it stuck. The truth is that the more you say your goals out loud, the more likely they are to happen; no matter how big or small. Because the more you say it, the more you start to believe it. A lot of times it feels like being cocky or overconfident... but it doesn't matter— say it anyways. I encourage you to be vulnerable this year and tell the world what it is you want. Dream big!
The first time I experienced this, I was 13. I started telling everyone I was going to play college volleyball. No one believed me, probably including my parents, who were the most supportive people ever. At that time, I was super small and un-athletic. Over time, I said it so much that people started to associated college ball with my name. I went to college on a volleyball scholarship five years later.
These are my dreams and reflections for 2018/2019. I hope they inspire you to create your own lists and speak your ideas into existence. I sat down with a blank sheet of paper uninterrupted for an hour to create these lists and a few more. Later, Rasmus and I sat down and shared our dreams out loud to each other. And you owe it to yourself to do the same. Hold me accountable for these things in 2019.
Reflections and Goals
Things I created and was able to do in 2018:
Finished my first job.
Moved to a new country!
Got engaged.
Almost finished my masters.
Made new friends.
Stepped outside my comfort zone.
Learned some Danish.
Started eating gluten and dairy to really experience Denmark.
1st Christmas away from home.
Learned what it is like to be an outsider.
Grew closer to Rasmus.
Threw a bachelorette party for my best friend.
Learned how much I love my family.
Learned to do pull-ups through CrossFit.
Ran a half marathon.
Started writing and journaling everyday.
Became my own nutritionist.
Started my blog!
Hit 10K followers on Instagram.
Planned my dream wedding.
Sent my first Christmas card.
Laughed, cried.
Traveled solo, stayed in a hostel.
Embraced new culture.
Traveled to the UK, Czech Republic, Mexico & Spain.
Advocated for myself and my needs.
Things I will create and do in 2019:
Create sustainable mobile income stream.
Exude confidence, and bring it out in others.
Travel to Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona.
Support Ras in every dream he has.
Make blog profitable.
Finish my masters degree.
Get involved in international higher ed.
Marry my best friend.
Have my dream wedding.
Be open to new kinds of friends and adventures.
Be vulnerable.
25K followers on Instagram.
Become the fittest I've ever been; top my fittest college athlete body.
Hit 23% body fat.
Words I will associate myself with: worthy, strategic, powerful, encouraging and strong.
Make yoga an everyday part of my life again.
Call mom more.
Meditate more.
Grow in gratitude.
Get that puppy Ras promised me-- last January!
Embrace our nomadic lifestyle; fully.
Things I've learned and things I'll leave in 2018:
I'm versatile.
I'm global.
I can manifest anything I want.
It's not worth it to be self conscious.
Don't change to please others.
Things don't always have to look the way you imagined or had planned for.
I love the USA- way more than I ever imagined.
Sometimes it's worth it to spend money on things that make you feel good!
Cry when you need to.
Stop expecting.
I add value.
Don't second guess myself.
Ras supports me always.
Learned my body doesn't like gluten or dairy.
People around the world are more similar than it seems.
I can stand alone, and create my own validation.
Affirmation: I have every tool I need to meet my goals this year, and am surrounded by people who love and support me.
In 2019 I will give myself the time and space I need to manifest my dreams. I will revisit, edit and add to this often. I hope this motivates you to look at your year ahead goals. If you really sit down and write, you have probably accomplished more than you realize. What are your big plans for 2019? I'd love to listen to them. Tell me, or tell someone.
Xxx
