Behind the Author – 22 Things in 2022
As the year ends, many are already moving on to the goals and plans of the new year. It’s easy to get moving on to the next thing before we celebrate our successes and achievements.
Celebration honors the work that has been done and shows gratitude to the people who accomplished it.
It has been a challenging year for many people. But celebrating our achievements – even small wins – can help reinforce the motivation that will carry us through to the next achievement.
This week we’re giving you a look at some of my personal milestones from the past year to let you better know our team.
This past year has truly been a year of transformation for me, both big and small. There was so much growth and change, and I am grateful for all of it.
Over the last twelve months, I learned a lot about myself, and I solidified many of my personal beliefs and truths about life, purpose, and existence. I felt almost every emotion imaginable and learned many lessons along the way.
As I reflect on the last year, here are 22 things I did in 2022 (lighthearted version):
1. Got married
2. Trained and ran my first half marathon (1:50 time)
3. Went to my first in person work conference since the COVID-19 pandemic
4. Took vacation time for the first time with ZERO plans
5. Went to my first Eric Church concert
6. Picked up snowshoeing in attempt to make Winter more ‘enjoyable’
7. Ran 1,406.33 miles
8. Accumulated 612 splat points at Orangetheory for the year
9. Celebrated my last birthday in my 20’s
10. Learned how to make homemade Neapolitan pizza (better than takeout!)
11. (Finally) bought a Blackstone griddle – Smash burgers are life changing, try and convince me otherwise.
12. Celebrated 4 years at Extract Systems in April
13. Stood up in my sisters-in-law’s wedding
14. Got family photos done with my dog, Paisley
15. PR ’ed my fastest mile (6:49)
16. Our wedding got published in Wisconsin Bride Magazine (as a marketing professional, seeing your work/planning in print is an amazing feeling!)
17. Regular dinner dates with my best friend, Stephanie
18. My Mom & Sister hosted the most amazing bridal shower
19. Ate too much desert
20. Saw a total eclipse for the first time (November 8th)
21. My High School graduating class celebrated our 10-year anniversary
22. Competed in an ‘Impossible Golf Challenge’ over the Summer, my first competitive event since playing collegiate golf
Whether you consider them resolutions, goals, intentions, or priorities, striving for specific plans on an ongoing basis is important to effectively delegate your resources and time. I’ll use the analogy of a budget, which helps us balance where we direct our money. Setting goals allows us to direct our time in the same way—including time to rest and play after working hard and as Tom Peters says, “Celebrate what you want to see more of!”
Happy New Year!
