2020 goals

Somehow it is already 2020. 2019 flew by very quickly. My word for 2019 was “Gratitude”. Not sure I really lived that word this year, but it was a good year for me overall. Work had some successes, had some wonderful travel inside and outside the US.

My 2020 word is going to be a bit more active. I have chosen the word “Elect.”  The obvious meaning is the 2020 election. I hope to get involved politically this year. However, I also want to take specific actions with meaning. I want to “elect” to do things, to choose what I want, rather than just wait until things come to me.

2020 goals

Exercise goals

• Achieve a 30 day streak on Peloton
• Work out every week on Peloton
• Ride 2020 RAGBRAI (bike ride across state of Iowa)
• Bike 1000 miles (cumulative)
• Complete a 10k or longer road race
• Reach goal weights of 220 (March), 210 (July), 200 (November) and then maintain weight from November to new year. 

Travel/Entertainment goals

• Travel to three new places (city/state/country)
• Read six books
• Attend two college/pro football games
• Attend two concerts/shows
• Attend at least one Husker game
• Take Jack to his first football game
• Find regular board gaming group
• Watch two sunrises/sunsets 

Professional goals

• Find a good/interesting gap assignment 
• Professional goals not for public blog
• Volunteer for 2020 presidential campaign

Financial goals

• Finalize student loan forgiveness
• Pay off credit cards
• Amass specific savings goal (not for publication). 

Recap of 2019 goals

Here is a summary of my 2019 goals and how I did. 

2019 goals:

• Exercise
• Work out 2+ times/week✅
• Finish Cherry Blossom 10 miler✅
• Bike 200 miles (cumulative)✅
• Lose 2-3 lbs/month (24-36 total lbs).🚫
• ➡️ Ran the Cherry Blossom race in April. We got a Peloton in June and I have been using it every week. Sadly, despite the exercise, I yo yoed and haven’t really lost the weight I hoped. Working on weight watchers to start the new year. 
• Personal
• Attend Church weekly and volunteer with church✅
• Volunteer with AFS❌
• Read 6 books➡️5️⃣
• No TV Tuesday❌
• Make local friends❌
• Hang all pictures/art on wall by March 1❌
• ➡️ We found a great church community and have really enjoyed getting involved in the community. But, we still haven’t found good strong adult local friends. Read five books, but didn’t get to six. And we hung most of the wall art, but not everything. 
• Travel/Entertainment
• Visit 3 new places (city, state, or country)✅
• Spend 21 days with my Dad and/or Sara's mom✅
• Go on an adults-only trip with Sara✅
• Attend two college/pro football games✅
• Attend two concerts/shows❌
• Watch at least two sunrises and two sunsets✅
• ➡️ Visited Bern, Ankara, Seaside, FL, College Station, TX, and New Orleans for the first time. Had long visits with both of our parents, plus a couple of short visits. Sara and I went on two adults only trips to College Station and New Orleans this fall. Attended my first Aggie game with Sara and a Husker game with my Dad. Did not get to any concerts this year. 
• Political
• Volunteer for a presidential campaign❌
• Attend two or more political rallies❌
• ➡️ While I have been very politically engaged this year, I did not volunteer with a campaign or go to two rallies. 
• Professional
• Work Goal #1 - not stated on public blog✅
• Get a top 3 choice assignment during bidding❌
• ➡️ Really proud of our effort to achieve work goal #1.
• ➡️ Bidding was a cluster this year. Had the impression that we would get one of our top 5 bids, and then we’re surprised with choice #15.  We are headed to Guadalajara Mexico in September 2021. 
• Financial
• Pay off student loans✅
• Pay off credit cards❌
• Re-build savings❌
• ➡️ Still waiting on final word, but looks like I will get my student loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. About a year later than I hoped. The shutdown raised our credit card debt, so we haven’t fully paid it off, but should be good in 2020.