You know that cute little play-on-words for “gold digger” but used to describe someone who is motivated to accomplish a list of tasks they want to?

GOAL DIGGER

Yeah, that’s the one.

I hate that term. I don’t know why. I think it’s because it alludes to that person being a gold digger, just because that’s where the term comes from. It’s all right if you like it, I just choose not to use it to describe myself.

The reason for all this goal talking is simply because today is December 30, the second to the last day of 2017.

While my 2017 was okay at best, I want to make the most out of 2018. I went into 2017 with a dejected attitude, what I like to call “Que Sera Sera”, but without the cheerfulness of the melody of the song of the same name. It was more like “Meh Sera Sera” for me.

2017 is the year I faced a lot of pain and hurt. Here’s just a short recap:

• My boyfriend broke up with me, which could be seen as a blessing in disguise, but it still fucking hurt. (Still does when I think about it, not gonna lie…)
• I lost my two dogs this year, my babies, that I’ve had for eleven years, basically my reason for living.
• I couldn’t go back for my Master’s for teaching, which could also be another blessing in disguise.
• I didn’t get a promotion at a job that everyone psyched me out to believe I would get, but ultimately didn’t. Another blessing in disguise now that I look back.
• Trump. (Enough said.)

Basically, this was a pretty shit year. But, as they say, “No pain, no gain,” am I right?

If I hadn’t gone through any of that hurt, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wouldn’t have started this blog in the first place. That is why I’m dedicating 2018 to be one of the best years of my life. I don’t want to take a “Meh” attitude about it this time around. I’m going to make the most of it.

After all, 2018 will be the year I leave my 20’s behind and start the real adulting work of my 30’s. I’m truly excited to turn 30 – but that’s a topic for another blog post. This one is about my goals for 2018. And here they are:

1. I will maintain a healthier lifestyle.
   • I will reach 130lbs by December 27, 2018.
   • I will meal plan.
   • I will follow the 80/20 rule. (80% healthier, fresher foods, 20% indulgences)
   • I will sleep 7 hours a night.
   • I will walk 10,000 steps a day.
   • I will work out 6 times a week.
2. I will be financially stable by July 1st.
   • I will have $2000 saved up by May 2018. (This is truly hard for me.)
   • I will pay off my Target RedCard by April 2018.
   • I will pay off my other credit card bill by December 2018.
3. I will be more fearless in my 30’s (Starting now, I won’t wait for my 30th birthday.)
   • I will say “yes” to situations that I normally wouldn’t – as long as they are safe and not detrimental to my wealth, health, and relationships.
   • I will try something new every month.
4. I will be more patient and understanding.
   • I will meditate for ten minutes every morning.
   • I will listen to others and take time to think before speaking.
   • I will give a total of four compliments a day.
5. I will write more and do my work.
   1. I will write four articles a month on the website I freelance for.
   2. I will update my blog every week.
   3. I will write and submit an essay to “Modern Love” in the New York Times June 2018.
   4.  I will prioritize my tasks.

These are all the goals I have for 2018. I wasn’t very good at maintaining my goals because I wasn’t very good at making them in the first place. I’ve learned that making goals are better when you write it out in a complete sentence instead of “Climb Everest”, and also if you add a timeline to it. Hopefully, this helps me maintain all these lifestyle changes I want to make in my life.

I was never really good at making goals, much less keep them. But I think 2018, the year to kick off the decade of my 30’s, is the best year to keep them. I don’t wanna be a goal digger. I wanna be a goalkeeper. (See what I did there?)