A mid-year reset and life goals

I’ve been thinking about why I started this newsletter for the past week or so. Well actually longer since my hiatus, but I got down to thinking about what its purpose was supposed to be. When I started it, I wanted it to be about self-discovery and finding the things I love. More than ever, I feel like I need to figure out what I love, what interests me, and who I am beyond just being a mother, employee, wife, daughter, etc. I am a whole damn person who used to have a lot of fun, exciting interests!

Consider this edition of the newsletter to be a u-turn back to those topics.

I’ll still share other thoughts and things, but the focus will be on this phase of life where I have no idea what I like to do anymore.

The "Now What?" After Achieving the American Dream

I wrote this post a few months ago after having the realization that I have “done it all” by society’s standards for women. No one is telling me what’s next so I get to decide what’s next for myself. Which is very exciting but also overwhelming because there are a lot of options. I thought a good next step would be to set some goals. I’ve spent hours over the past week scouring Pinterest to learn how to write goals again.

Side note: Did you know I have a Pinterest account? I’d love for you to follow!

I also asked on Instagram what goals people are working towards right now, and the responses were so much fun to read! It gave me a lot of ideas to consider and some that made me say “Good for you, not for me!” Having some strong reactions to what I don’t want to do was really helpful in narrowing down and making me not feel so overwhelmed. It turns out there are a lot of options, but not all of those options have to be for me.

Goals I’d like to achieve in my lifetime:

• Travel to the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Croatia, Greece, and Japan, spending at least a week in each.

• Double my current annual salary by 2029 by expanding how I earn income.

• Lose 100 pounds of body weight by following a structured diet plan and exercise routine, tracking progress weekly, within the next 2 years.

• Improve physical fitness by engaging in 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week and maintaining a healthy diet, reassessing and adjusting goals yearly, to ensure the ability to participate in physical activities with family as I age.

Ultimately, I just want to feel my best and live a happy life. It’s as simple as that.

I’m sure there are other things I’ll think of. One big one that my husband and I talk about almost daily right now is where we want to live. Because we don’t think DFW is it and Texas is not as cool as it used to seem. (Cue: I Hate It Here by Taylor Swift) But we also have family here and moving away from them is not ideal.

Goals I’d like to achieve over the next 30 days:

• Earn $200 in commission through affiliate links/commissions by promoting products through social media and newsletters.

• Set up a meal planning schedule for each day of the week and buy healthy groceries using online resources or apps.

• Lose 5 pounds following eating more whole foods and increasing my daily exercise.

• Establish a simple skincare routine by researching and purchasing necessary products and following the routine daily. (Let me know if you have any recommendations!)

• Stretch 7 times.

• Drink 24oz of water before having coffee each morning.

As I wrap up this post, I want to thank you for coming along with me on this journey. Revisiting the original purpose of this newsletter—self-discovery and reconnecting with the things I love—feels like exactly what I should be doing. I am ready to explore what interests me, who I am beyond my roles, and what brings me joy.

Your support and engagement mean the world to me, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you. I’ll continue to mix in various thoughts and musings, but with a renewed focus on discovering what truly makes me, me.

Thank you for your patience, and thank you for being part of this community. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, feel free to reach out. Here’s to new beginnings and finding what we love. Cheers! 🥂