Goals have little meaning if you don’t check in on them regularly, in my opinion. Think about new year’s resolutions: how often do we set ourselves a whole list of them, only to realise a year later we’ve completely forgotten about a number (if not all) of them? If you’re serious about achieving your goals, it’s important to reflect on them periodically to see how you’re doing and where you might need to adjust your course in order to achieve what you set out to do.
The beginning of a new school year always feels like New Year’s Eve 2.0 to me, even now that I’ve been out of school for a while. It feels like a bit of a reset button, a cue to get back on track after the freedom of summer. Might I use this opportunity to remind you that there’s only four months left until actual New Year’s Eve? This might be a good time to look back at those goals and resolutions you set for yourself at the beginning of 2018, and maybe start working on them with renewed energy.
I’m going to wait until January to reflect upon my goals and resolutions for 2018, but I thought today I could come back to something smaller and more light-hearted: my summer bucket list. Back at the beginning of summer I made a list of things I really wanted to do while the weather was hot, so let’s take a look at how succesful I’ve been!
Go To A Music Festival
Check! Even though I had no specific plans at the beginning of summer, I ended up going to two music festivals, a theatre festival and an outdoor concert. I really enjoyed all of those, festivals just give the ultimate summer feeling if you ask me. They’re also a great way to spend some quality time with friends.
Swim In Open Water
In the bucket list post I mentioned this was somewhat of a milestone I felt like I was ready to reach. I’ve been afraid of water creatures and the deep sea for years, so this year I challenged myself to swim in open water. I’m happy to say I did it! I swam in the Spanish sea a few times and nothing bad happened. I’m going to try this one again next year.
Buy A Watermelon
Done! I believe I bought more than one, actually. They were delicious and I enjoyed them greatly. As did the ratties, who apparently love watermelon.
Read
Another succesful one. I was pretty much certain I’d fulfill this goal though, as I always like to read more in summer. I got through a big chunk of the Sherlock Holmes tales and read a few shorter books here and there. It was very nice and I should really try to read more outside of summer as well.
Sleep On The Balcony
This one’s a miss. It turned out Robbert wasn’t up for it and I didn’t really want to do it alone, so I haven’t slept on the balcony. Yet, haha! Might give it another try next year.
Repair Broken Items
I repaired one pair of jeans, but I don’t really remember doing anything else and I feel like I could’ve done more. I really wanted to repair my bike but I need help with that and we haven’t gotten around to it. We also tried to repair the coffee table but that was a lost cause, we ended up replacing it with a new one.
Have A Picknick
Yes! I thought I took a picture of it too, but turns out I only did that on Instagram stories, haha. I had a little solo-picknick at the park, brought out a thermos with tea, some fresh fruit, crackers and hummus and a book. Very nice quiet alone time, definitely something I should consider doing more often as well :)
Shop At A Thrift Store
I did go into one thrift store, but I was quite overwhelmed and ended up leaving very quickly again. I think I need to go thrift shopping one day with a friend who does it regularly, so they can show me how it’s done and where the good thrift stores are. Moving this one into the next couple of months!
Visit The Beach
I did spend a few days by the Spanish beach, but this goal was relating to the Dutch beach specifically. I didn’t get to go there this year either. That’s really a shame because it’s been so long! I’m going to try again next year, or maybe on a warm autumn day.
DIY Shorts From Jeans
Yes! I did do this one. I cut an old pair of black jeans into shorts, which was really easy to do. It saved me from having to buy a pair of black jean shorts, and gave an otherwise used up pair of jeans a new life. Perfect! The best picture I have of them is the one under “music festival” up top, by the way :P
Camp
Another succesful one! I spent a few nights in a tent at scouting camp, and we’re going to camp again really soon which I’m super excited about. I never thought I’d be someone who enjoys camping but ever since our trek in Scotland I’m all over it, haha!
8/11 completed, not too bad if you ask me. I thought it was really fun to set myself some little goals for a season that aren’t too hard to achieve. It was that little kick in the butt to get up and make something of the summer. A seasonal bucket list: definitely something I’m going to consider writing up more often!
Great job on meeting your goals! I loved your summer bucket list when you first posted it, and it inspired me to think one up for myself. Now if I could only find which notebook I wrote it in >:l Hehe. Anyway, I really like your follow-up on it and agree that it’s essential to meaningful goalsetting. Very fun read!
A great list. You did a good number of items!
Congrats on conquering your fear of going in the ocean. I sometimes get nervous about it too, so I understand. I have snorkeled several times in the tropics, and just being able to see the beautiful things under the water helps me feel less afraid.
Yay for watermelon! It is a staple where I live in the Southern U.S. Some people even grow them in their gardens here, which I would love to try one day. I always buy seedless watermelons now, but I remember spitting out watermelon seeds when I was a kid :)