Hi there. It’s been a really long time! You still look great. Where have I been? Well, a bit of everywhere and nowhere. That’s a story for another day. I took a break from blogging. As I share my goals for 2016, summed up in two words like Chris Guillebeau or Maria do every year, I hope to get back on track and keep the blogging going. I don’t have three months of posts lined up, and with a fair bit of international travel planned for the first quarter, this might be the only post you’ll see for a while. But putting these thoughts out there will help me stay accountable. So, without further ado, let me introduce my two guiding words for 2016:

INVESTING AND MINDFULNESS

First up, investing in myself. I want to focus on me because I am my most valuable asset. If I’m not functioning well, everything else becomes complicated. This includes investing in my health, eating healthy, taking care of myself, and exercising. I also want to invest in training, books, and courses that will improve my life or my business.

Next, investing in the blogs. I was pretty ungrateful to these blogs in 2015. They continued to provide a solid income, but I barely reinvested to help them grow more. As a result, I’m in pretty much the same place I was last January. My hourly rate is great, but I’ve hit a plateau. If you know a good graphic designer familiar with Genesis, let me know. It’s time for a fresh look.

Then, investing my money. I let my money grow on autopilot this past year and didn’t maximize the returns I could have gotten. My plan is to reevaluate my asset allocations and make my money work harder for me.

Now onto mindfulness. I’ve been quite distracted lately. Last year wasn’t the best, and part of it was my fault for not being present or paying attention to what I was doing.

Mindful actions: Sometimes, it feels like I’m not really there. My body is present, but my mind is elsewhere. This leads to things like burning my bread, watching a movie and not remembering it, or leaving personal items all over the place. I want to fully live in the moment, doing one thing at a time and doing it well.

Mindful relationships: This goal involves distancing myself from toxic people and dedicating more time and attention to the wonderful people in my life. I want to be thankful for my friends, enter positive relationships, and end ones that don’t reciprocate my efforts.

So, I hope to be around more this year, and I wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

What are your goals for 2016?