Each year, Sara and I identify a word which I try to make my mantra for the year. The word (ideally) pushes me toward a destination. Motivates me. Inspires me. Some years, it works. Other years, it falls flat. But each word lets me reflect on the journey I have had and the journey to come.
2022 - Inhabit
2021 - Support
2020 - Elect
2019 - Gratitude
2018 - Juggle
2017 - Survive
2016 - Support
For 2023, I have chose the word "explore" as my word of the year. The inspiration of this word is to take advantage of our time here in Mexico. We are (relatively) settled in our home here. We don't move this year. If I am being honest, we haven't explored as much as we wish we had. So - for 2023 - let's go explore!
Now - on to this year's goals
Professional Goals
- Get a "good" assignment - We bid this summer and I'd really like to get one of our top choices; find something that works well for our family. I don't know exactly where that is yet, but that's the goal.
- Successfully transition to our new building - we move into a new consulate this year and this will cause a lot of logistical hurdles.
- Network better across Mission Mexico - this is slightly hard to define, but I'd like to do a better job of building on the robust network of work colleagues that I have at my disposal in Mexico.
Personal Goals
- Potty train Elliott - Elliott turns two on Wednesday, which means he will be almost three by the end of the year. If we can potty train him, we can be out of diapers for the first time since 2015!
- Read 20 books in 2023. This is a stretch, but achievable goal if I count audiobooks (which I reluctantly do). I finished 15 in 2022.
- Sub-goal - finish reading Civilization and the Sea which I have now been reading for over a year!
- Keep the board game group going - meeting twice per month.
- Take Jack to his first Nebraska game.
- Visit at least two new places to me.
- Take an adults-only trip (currently scheduled for Oaxaca in February)
- Finish all the challenges in the Through the Ages game on my phone. (Note - I have been playing this game for about two years. The challenges are exactly the right level of difficulty and entertainment. I've been struggling with one particular challenge for about two months which I finally beat today! I have two more challenges left to complete them all.)
Exercise Goals
- Weigh under 230 lbs (losing approximately 15 pounds)
- Ride RAGBRAI - This is the bike ride across Iowa every summer. I've wanted to do this for several years and I have some friends from high school who I could ride with. The logistics of the ride are challenging, especially coming from Mexico and will be challenging to do this summer given the number of managers transitioning out of the consulate this summer. But, it would be great to do if I can pull it off.
- Complete at least three Power Zone challenges
- Have two 30 day streaks on Peloton
- Bike 6,000 minutes (I biked 4,000+ in 2022).
