Review of my 21 for 2021 List
I know at the beginning of the year I said I had been unsure about making a 21 for 2021 list, but in hindsight, I’m so glad I did. As with most things you work hard for - it is always worth it in the end.
In addition to my list, I had also decided on a theme for the year - “22.” This was partially because I turned 22 just before the start of the year and partially because, to me, it is the age that I’ve always considered old enough to have my life together and young enough to still enjoy the adventures of young-adulthood. I think I have always done a pretty good job balancing those things - and this year was no exception. Although I may have put even more effort into it than usual since it was something that I thought about just about every day.
And it may or may not have resulted in things like the cover photo for this post - which is from a shoot imitating Taylor Swift’s music video for “22” - something I’ll be talking more about in just a bit.
I know “22” was a slightly odd theme, especially since it was 22 in 2021, but oh well.
Similar to past years, once I had my theme and an idea of what I wanted to achieve, I broke down my list by category. This year’s goals were pretty wide-ranging, but also pretty evenly distributed, which allowed me to make progress and check things off across just about every area of my life.
And I’m proud to say I did just that.
Academic/Business
Start a podcast - DONE. Well, what can I say, the Resolve Podcast is here! After months of behind-the-scenes work, I launched the podcast in September and have really enjoyed releasing a mixture of soloshows and interviews. It has been a thrill to explore this platform and connect with guests and listeners through my own podcast. So although I can technically check this goal off, it is definitely one that will continue to require lots of ongoing work in the coming months. If you want to start listening, or catch up, you can tune into the Resolve Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform or right here.
Finish the first draft of my book - DONE. I first shared about my book in my Review of my 20 for 2020 List post. It was the surprise (or one of them!) that came out of 2020, so at the beginning of 2021, I had a mostly-written book that still had lots of growing, changing, and maturing to do. While I ended last year with an 85,000-word manuscript, I had no idea the book would continue to grow to 125,000 words before I could even begin my comprehensive edit - but it did. Once the writing and editing were completed, I considered the first draft officially done. And since then I have passed it onto its official editor, and from there, I plan to pass it on to some preliminary readers. I am still deciding about what steps I want to take next, but I am so proud that I got this done and thus, could check off my other huge goal for 2021.
Read a classic + a re-read every month - DONE. In both 2020 and 2021, I experimented with reading books from set “categories” so that I could have a bit of range in what I was reading each month. But, it is something that I have determinedly decided I really don’t like. So from now on, I’m going to stick with just reading whatever I want, when I want - with no pressure attached. Sometimes you have to try something to see if it will work for you, and sometimes you have to stick with something to ensure that it really won’t - I have done both and can now officially say I will be leaving this kind of goal in the past.
Buy one of my favorite books every month - DONE. It is hard to believe, but I bought everything from my “books I want to buy” list - including a few additions I made to it based on the great books I read this year. Now my personal library is much more complete and I can return to the books that I love most whenever I want to. I can also loan them out to others - something I have begun to do all the time. It took several months before I could limit myself to just buying 1 book, which is part of why I had such an easy time making it through the whole list, but I’m okay with that. I hope that I will continue to buy books as I want to going forward, but if not, I’ll just have to set this resolution again in a few years. And I’d probably be okay with that since I loved this goal this year! It was one of my favorites.
Take a suicide prevention class - DONE. Gretchen Rubin always suggests adding one thing to your list that you can check off right away so that you feel like you’re making progress from the very beginning of the year - this was mine. As a certified coach with the Life Coach School, I was required to complete a suicide prevention class, so I put it on my list. I tackled it within the first couple of weeks of the year and I’m so glad I did - both to get it checked off and also for all that I learned.
Physical
Do Whole30 - DONE. I was so glad to check this one off. I seriously hated doing Whole30 and would not do it again. I hoped that it would help me to improve my relationship with food, or just make me more aware of what that relationship was. It may have done the latter, but I found the whole process to be frustrating and arbitrary. And I never got the “tiger’s blood” they talk about. It may have confirmed that there are certain food categories I should avoid - but they were ones that I already mostly do. Oh well. At least it is done.
Weigh myself every day - DONE. Another thing that Gretchen Rubin says is that we manage what we monitor! I found this goal to be an interesting way to track and manage one aspect of my body this year. It was fascinating, although I don’t feel like I learned quite as much about my body as I expected. It was a pretty easy goal and remembering to actually do it proved to be the biggest challenge! I’m glad I set this goal and completed it, but it isn’t something that I plan to continue.
Recreational
Start composting - IN PROCESS. Since I live in an apartment, I knew that this was going to be an interesting endeavor. I had a particular composter in mind that I wanted to get, but since it was still in development, I knew that might throw a wrench in my plans. I was able to order the composter, and I should have it in early 2022. It will be a fun adventure to start using it, and I am glad that I took a step towards it this year.
Take one trip - DONE. I set this goal at the end of last year very hesitantly, since I was so unsure as to how COVID would play out in 2021. Luckily, I was able to take several trips - some more locally and others across the country. I visited with family, spent time with friends, and had exciting adventures. After a year stuck largely at home, it was exactly what I needed and I am already planning trips for 2022 and beyond.
Whimsical
Wake up to “22” every day - DONE. Since “22” by Taylor Swift is a pretty iconic song that correlated perfectly with my theme for the year, I knew I had to integrate it somehow into my goals. So, I set the song as my alarm and woke up to “22” every day this year - or at least, I did until I turned 23 a few days ago. The song was definitely a bit loud and upbeat for a wake-up song, so I was ready to find something else went the time came to switch. And yes, I did start using Taylor’s Version of the song instead as soon as it came out in November. I enjoyed having this as a fun, whimsical goal and also as a reminder of my theme.
Find a default meal - DONE. This goal was one that I thought about several times over the year, but one that I kept postponing making a decision about. I researched recipes, envisioned utilizing my default meal (whatever it would be), and finally made my decision. I actually decided on a couple - ones that really aren’t special but that I know how to make well, are naturally variable (based on people’s food preference, health needs, or how much prep time I have), and that I often already have all the ingredients for. Rather than trying to do something new or outlandish, I decided to go with things that were easy and natural. But having made this decision still achieves the same ultimate goal of allowing me to know what I will make when someone is coming over so I can be prepared to whip up something easy, quick, and delicious.
Make a life timeline - DONE. This was a relatively easy goal to check off - in about an hour I had a pretty comprehensive timeline of my life with major events, trips, and memories. As the year went on, I made sure to refer back to it occasionally and add things that had happened since I had last checked in. It’s nice that I no longer have to remember dates or when something happened - although I generally do anyways. I’m glad that it’s done but also that I didn’t make this super strict and turn it into a huge, stressful project. Actually, creating the timeline was a lot more fun than I expected. And now, I have a timeline of my life for reference (and to add to) going forward.
Material
Get new bag/laptop case - DONE. I had no idea I would be so excited to complete this goal until I did. I found a perfect bag that was exactly what I needed and that I appreciated aesthetically (which was also a very important factor). It was so nice not having to carry two bags with me whenever I needed to take my laptop for the day (a frequent occurrence in 2021). Although my new bag is a bit big for carrying around when I don’t have my laptop, it works well for busy days and the on-the-go lifestyle that is pretty much my norm. And on the days when I don’t need it, I just leave it at home.
Get another plant - DONE. Although this was a smaller goal, I’m glad that I took the time to add it to my list - and also to check it off. I have added several new plants to my collection this year (both of the real and faux varieties), and the real ones were obtained on a trip with a close friend to a neighboring town. We were able to have a fun adventure and pick up some new plants along the way. So now when we catch up, we not only have our whole lives to chat about, but those of our plants as well.
Rent some clothes - DONE. For most of the year, I was very unsure of what I was going to rent clothes for, but I knew that I wanted to do it. I finally decided to rent some for a photoshoot towards the end of the year and it worked out perfectly. The whole system was so smooth and easy, the clothes were great, and I really enjoyed having something new to wear - which was made extra exciting since the pieces were not something I would likely ever purchase to add to my wardrobe. Renting clothes is not something I plan to do regularly by any means, but now that I am familiar with the process, it is definitely something I would do again.
Update my estate plan documents - DONE. I’m happy to check this goal off, although it did take me several more months to complete than I expected. My documents are completed, and since I was doing mine, several of my siblings decided to do theirs as well. It even prompted my parents to update theirs! Sometimes the things that we set out to achieve can have a positive (if unintended) ripple effect in the lives of those closest to us! This was a pretty easy goal to check off, but an important one nonetheless.
Finish organizing family photos - DONE. Although the way that I decided to consider this goal as “done” shifted a bit over the course of the year, I am happy that I can consider it checked off. Pretty much all of my family’s digital photos are in one place so we can all access them and share memories!
Get my enhanced license - DONE. After setting this goal for 2 years in a row and having to make 2 trips to the DMV, this can finally be checked off. I’ve been able to use my enhanced license to travel several times this year, and although the deadline has been extended again, I’m glad that I have mine in hand and that it isn’t something I have to think any more about. I even like my picture on this license (as opposed to my old one), so that is a nice bonus to completing this goal.
Social
Watch Gilmore Girls with mom - DONE. My mom and I have made it through more of my favorite shows together this year (something that we unintentionally started in 2020), and Gilmore Girls was the first one we started in 2021. She liked it markedly less than I expected, although for reasons that I understood. Regardless, I’m still glad that we watched it together and for having another goal that was more “connection” than “achievement” focused.
Watch the Crown with mom - DONE. This was another goal that I was able to get checked off pretty early in the year. Once we finished Gilmore Girls, we moved into the Crown. Although after watching both, we decided we definitely prefer shows with their fair share of humor, rather than drama. I guess that may be where I get that proclivity. Even though it isn’t my favorite, I do acknowledge that the Crown is a beautiful show, and I appreciated learning more about the monarchy and all that it has endured over the last several decades. We also do plan to watch the next seasons as they come out, although I am not particularly excited for them.
Go on an adventure with dad - DONE. When I set this as a goal, I wasn’t quite sure what would fall into this category (or be practical to expect after a year like 2020), but my dad and I were able to do several things this year that I would consider to be “adventures.” Although our frequent trips and activities haven’t occurred on a strictly annual basis, they are something that I want to continue into the future, and can proudly check off for 2021.
2020 was an insane year - filled with lots of external turmoil and internal growth. With that as the backdrop, I was unsure as to what to expect from 2021. If it’s possible, I think I’ve grown and changed just as much (or more!) this year than last year, but definitely in much more unexpected ways. I will be sharing about my path ahead (and the goals that will help me get there) soon, but I’m proud of the intentional progress I made in 2021 and also that I was able to lean into being “22.”
I may not have ended this year having launched a new branch of my business, with a surprise book largely written, or having survived a new global pandemic, but I still checked off the goals that I set and grew plenty all along the way.
And that is worth celebrating.
Whether you are ending this year with some or all of your goals for 2021 completed, I hope you take the time to honor your success, recognize your wins, and celebrate how far you’ve come.
I’ll grab the champagne.
Until next time,