Happy New Year!
I can't believe I've been posting in this since 2001! It's crazy, almost a decade! While I can't look back on what I used to obsess over when I was 15 without cringing, I can't believe I'm 23! Anyway, 2009 is my year of change. I've already started on a lot of my goals and really, I feel as if the sky's the limit, even if we're in a crippling recession. I feel like with all things, it's about your state of mind...and really, that's where it's supposed to start.
Goals for 2009 (and what I've done so far to accomplish it):
-Pass Level 3 and be done with CFA tests (!) (Well I've officially started studying yesterday, looked over some Ethics and took notes...Giants game is today, but I'll try and get some studying time in later tonight...Other than that, it's pretty methodical, can't take the test lightly, but I don't know if I can be as stressed either, just study, go to class...make sure to balance it with work and go from there.)
-Learn Japanese (Got my book and learner's CD's yesterday --- I'm really excited about this one. I may not get to this for a few more weeks, but once I get started, I'm going to keep at it. I really want to hold my own in a conversation by June-July(?) After that, I'll have to re-learn Spanish, learn Chinese, and then German. I think knowing four languages other than English will be good. I'll be on my way to becoming a linguist - I hear it's addictive)
-Travel (Well, I'm going to D.C. soon, but seriously, I'm going to Cancun for my cousin's wedding and then to Europe in April. I'm so excited! I've never left the time zone (although I have left the country), so this is big for me! Can't wait to set my watch back an hour!)
-Start a Charity Initiative/do volunteer work (preferably in education) (I'm going to this seminar at work about starting a community teamworks project - maybe it will give me some perspective and I can go from there. I think I'll have to go to a bunch of places and see if it's the work I want to devote time to doing. I don't know how to juggle working full time (and then some), learning Japanese, studying, AND volunteering, but I really want to.)
-Open up more (Honestly, I'm in a state of repair. I have a lot of things that were holding me back and I'm sick of using it as an excuse. I have every reason to be confident and I need to stop being so shy and reserved. I've definitely done things out of my comfort zone so far this year...and I'm going to keep doing that.)
There are more goals, but I don't feel like laundry listing. I wrote all my goals down one night after work and as always, I'll work to accomplish every single one. I really want --- more than anything else --- to have the ability to forgive the things I can't change. Ultimately, I want to be the kind of person people can be proud of. Slowly, but surely, I really think I'm getting there.
I already feel pretty happy.
----
I have a good feeling about 2009. I had the same feeling about 2006 - and it was an excellent year - I got myself an internship (and subsequent job offer) at Goldman among other highlights. 2009, however is on a different scale. It's about accomplishing concrete goals, but also about personal growth. It's kind of like the feeling of coming full circle. I'm able to see the things that I needed to change about myself, I'm able to tangibly feel the forces that were holding me back...it was like this visceral intuition that just clicked within. It feels good. I feel good.
Oh, and I have a "date" - with a girl that I'm really interested in, for once. That's part of the whole...um...opening up more thing. It's going well. More on that if anything comes of it.
Goals for 2009 (and what I've done so far to accomplish it):
-Pass Level 3 and be done with CFA tests (!) (Well I've officially started studying yesterday, looked over some Ethics and took notes...Giants game is today, but I'll try and get some studying time in later tonight...Other than that, it's pretty methodical, can't take the test lightly, but I don't know if I can be as stressed either, just study, go to class...make sure to balance it with work and go from there.)
-Learn Japanese (Got my book and learner's CD's yesterday --- I'm really excited about this one. I may not get to this for a few more weeks, but once I get started, I'm going to keep at it. I really want to hold my own in a conversation by June-July(?) After that, I'll have to re-learn Spanish, learn Chinese, and then German. I think knowing four languages other than English will be good. I'll be on my way to becoming a linguist - I hear it's addictive)
-Travel (Well, I'm going to D.C. soon, but seriously, I'm going to Cancun for my cousin's wedding and then to Europe in April. I'm so excited! I've never left the time zone (although I have left the country), so this is big for me! Can't wait to set my watch back an hour!)
-Start a Charity Initiative/do volunteer work (preferably in education) (I'm going to this seminar at work about starting a community teamworks project - maybe it will give me some perspective and I can go from there. I think I'll have to go to a bunch of places and see if it's the work I want to devote time to doing. I don't know how to juggle working full time (and then some), learning Japanese, studying, AND volunteering, but I really want to.)
-Open up more (Honestly, I'm in a state of repair. I have a lot of things that were holding me back and I'm sick of using it as an excuse. I have every reason to be confident and I need to stop being so shy and reserved. I've definitely done things out of my comfort zone so far this year...and I'm going to keep doing that.)
There are more goals, but I don't feel like laundry listing. I wrote all my goals down one night after work and as always, I'll work to accomplish every single one. I really want --- more than anything else --- to have the ability to forgive the things I can't change. Ultimately, I want to be the kind of person people can be proud of. Slowly, but surely, I really think I'm getting there.
I already feel pretty happy.
----
I have a good feeling about 2009. I had the same feeling about 2006 - and it was an excellent year - I got myself an internship (and subsequent job offer) at Goldman among other highlights. 2009, however is on a different scale. It's about accomplishing concrete goals, but also about personal growth. It's kind of like the feeling of coming full circle. I'm able to see the things that I needed to change about myself, I'm able to tangibly feel the forces that were holding me back...it was like this visceral intuition that just clicked within. It feels good. I feel good.
Oh, and I have a "date" - with a girl that I'm really interested in, for once. That's part of the whole...um...opening up more thing. It's going well. More on that if anything comes of it.