How did my goals go this year?

When I started blogging, I wrote my list of 22 things I want to do before I turn 22.  Now, two sleeps before my birthday, I thought it would be a really great time to evaluate where I've gotten to with them.

1. Complete the hundredpushups.com challenge
I was up to week 4/5 when I broke my shoulder and had to stop.  I started again last night, and did 30, without pain in my shoulder.

2. Lose 15 kg

I did it! I'm aiming to lose another 20kg this year, but I think that might be optimistic as that will be about 10kg less than my lowest adult weight.

3. Be interest-bearing debt free

I was doing great on this then Charlie needed her operation.  There's not much debt there, but there is some, which I'm looking at eliminating in the next month.

4. Eat 5 things I've never tried before

Yes, and some of them, I actually like.  Like Creme Brulee. Where the hell have you been all my life?

5. Try 5 things I don't like to eat

I also did this, and I learned why I don't like these things.  Brussel sprouts will never be nice, no matter what mum says.

6. Exercise at least 20 minutes a day, every day

If I work out an average over a week, yes.  Although I'm thinking of starting a 100 day challenge where you have to do 20m of exercise every day for 100 days - I think that would be great.

7. Read a book for myself, that isn't a uni-related book.

I've actually read about 6 books, which is probably the most I've read since I started uni.  Back in the day, I used to read about 3-4 novels a week, and now by the time I've done my uni reading I want to gouge my eyes out.  But I have remembered how much I love reading, and am going to try to read a book every couple of weeks.  I did read Kerre Woodhams' book "Short Fat Chick to Marathon Runner' today, so clearly, I still know how to read!

8. Complete the twohundredsitups.com challenge

I got up to about 160 sit ups before I broke my shoulder.  I will be starting this again next week after a week of doing push ups.

9. Ride my bike again

I haven't done this, but I think I'll take my bike to the beach tomorrow and go for a quick ride. Can't let this one go, can I?

10. Have some savings; stop living paycheck to paycheck

It's not much, but yes, I have savings!

11. Update my CV

Yes - haven't applied for anything, but I did get my contract renewed for another year, so that's a start.  At least I won't have to worry about finding a new job right now.  Job security in the sector I work in isn't fab right now, so it was a huge relief to get another year's contract.

12. Spend a weekend with my friends

Yes, did it, and it's amazing.

13. Watch a sunrise

Yes - and starting on Wednesday (or maybe Friday, Wednesday's my birthday, and I'll probably be too tired to breathe on Thursday), I will be doing morning runs too, so I'll watch the sunrise 5 days a week :D

14. Spend a day alone

I did this.  I don't like spending time alone really, it makes me feel weird.  I don't mind if I'm running or swimming or something, but I do think it's much harder to spend a full day alone.  

15. Potty train my cat

Charlie broke her leg and has spent approx. 17 weeks in a cage.  She's got 9 days to go, then once she's strong enough to jump, I'll be teaching her again.

16. Get back on the FlyLady bandwagon

Yes - but only vaguely.  I'm awesome at keeping my bathroom clean, but not so much everything else.  I should probably make more of an effort with this, it was great while it lasted.

17. Blog at least 5 days a week

Yes - pretty much.  I've also blogged every day of February so far, which is awesome.

18. Get a checkup at the doctor

Yes. Turns out, I'm healthy, but have lots of injuries.

19. Go to the dentist

Yup. As much as I hate it, I went.  It sucked.

20. Back up my computer!!!

Yes, and I've been doing it weekly, too! (Granted, only for two weeks, but it counts, right?)

21. Tidy the spare bedroom

Yes, out of necessity.  Much better.

22. Start saving, at least a tiny bit, for a house deposit, and add to it at least once a month

Yes. It's not going to buy me a house, but I suppose with my Kiwisaver money too, it's looking respectable.

All in all, I have had a really great year.  Sure, there have been some definite downs, but I'm more about being thankful for what I have and what I've achieved rather than regret things.  

I'm excited for my 23 things to do before I turn 23.  22 is going to be a great year!  I'm feeling good about where I've been, and most importantly, where I'm going.

Thanks everyone who made this a fantastic year :D

23 things to do before I turn 23

We've entered Birthday Month.  Uh-huh, that means the countdown to D-day is on.  Turning 22 seems like a big turning point to me - we're talking not being a 'kid' anymore.  Well, I guess, technically, at 21 you no longer get presents from everyone in the family (as in, you go into the secret santa thing for adults), but I really feel like 22 is where I need to start sorting out my shit and growing up.

So, I'm going to start being a grown-up by getting my 23 things to do before I turn 23 list done - early!  I know this is totally unlike me (yes, that's me who was 20 minutes late to lunch, and 1/2h late to something else - in the same day!), but I'm going to do it!

Right, here's the list:

1. Run a 1/2 marathon.  Yup, it's a long way.  Yes, it will be hard.  Yes, I will do it.
2. Watch 12 movies.  That's 1 a month, and about 8 more than I watched last year.
3. Back up my computer every month.
4. Play some sort of music every day.  And by play, I don't mean push the play button on the computer, that's silly.
5. Tell myself every day that I'm awesome, because I am.
6. Tell one person every day why I love/appreciate them.
7. Pick one more volunteer group and help out, because I'm a sucker for punishment.
8. Brush my hair every day.  I know this is sort of a gross one, and I know my jungle baby hair is a hit on Twitter, but it really is time I started acting like a grown up.
9. Get 4 massages, 4 haircuts, go to the dentist and doctor.
10. Potty train Charlie.
11. Complete the 100 Push Ups Programme.
12. Complete the 200 Sit Ups Programme.
13. Get at least 3 A's - A-'s don't count anymore.
14. Meet at least 23 new people IRL.
15. Set a regular plasma donation time, and convince 5 people to donate with me - giving blood saves lives.
16. Resit my first aid and life saving certificate - must not let things like this expire!!!
17. Have a baby - just wanted to see if you were reading, that's ridiculous.
18. Go bungy jumping or skydiving or something up high - I can't be scared of heights forever.
19. Get a colonic.
20. Perform live, no matter how small - let's knock one more fear off the list, and I've done it before, I can do it again.
21. Get a tattoo.
22. Go to at least 5 things from the NZ Comedy Festival.  How do I miss it EVERY year?
23. Organise and go to at least one social event a week - I know I hate people, but some of them are actually pretty cool.
24. Represent NZ in UWR - that means training my ass off again, and getting over the shoulder thing, and it starts tomorrow.  Or actually, seeing as it's 2.30am, today, that's right, I'm going to the pool!