New Year's 2024 Goals

By Luci Anya Fardo

It's nearly the New Year of 2024. It seems as if time flies as if it is on wings. I have heard that time is relative. Having lived to my forties I definitely can understand that. There is something about the new year that always gives me hope. I always expect the new year to give me new opportunities to learn more and try more things.

This year I'm managing a new team in another department. That makes it an interesting and challenging change. I look at this with high expectations for learning more and providing a positive change. I will miss my old team but it is part of life. Change provides an opportunity for growth and knowledge.

This year I decided to learn how to play the guitar. I received one as a gift for Christmas. I have already started lessons. I figure I can make time to do a lesson each day. I am not sure how good I will be at it. I used to play the clarinet and before that the piano. I am determined to learn how to play and am so excited about it.

I think it is important to create personal and professional goals. That is how we continue to grow and learn. I plan on running a half marathon this year. I'm learning how to navigate the new #gluten free diet and #celiac disease. It makes cooking a challenge. I will be posting a lot of new #gluten-free recipes in the coming year. I hope to eventually have a cookbook with all of the recipes in one place.

I hope to start reading and listening to a book a week about business or blogging. I want to improve both work and my side-gigs. I love working on the blogs and I really do enjoy the change to the services side of tech again. I want to be the best that I can be.

I have been thinking about the last four years and how much my life has changed. I was at the bottom four years ago when I lost my first husband. It was a turning point in my life. I had to become accountable for myself and my choices moving forward. I had always worried about what other people thought about me. I worried about what if this happened or that. I had so much #anxiety and would procrastinate quite often. Suddenly the worst had happened. I was alone and had to figure out what to do with myself and my life. I had limited resources and limited time to find a new home.

I evaluated everything and knew from that moment on that I would make changes to improve myself and my life. There was no one to rescue me. I had to stop caring what other people thought about me. I was able to realize that everything I needed was within me. Sometimes the hardest time in your life will provide an opportunity to change the tragectory your life is on. Maybe what you envisioned as your future wasn't meant to be. This is when you learn to adapt to the changes. You learn to become someone better than you were before. You learn how fragile and short life is and decide what is really important in your life.

This coming year think about everything you have ever wanted to do. Make a list. Set personal, professional, and health goals. You only have this life. Time is a commodity and we never know how much we will have. What we can do is use what time we have wisely. If you had just this year to accomplish something decide what that would be. Make sure to spend time with the people you love and do the things you enjoy every day. Life is a gift and it should be treated as such.

Write your goals down somewhere you will see them each day. I actually purchased three whiteboards and write my goals down. I also have a cork board with pictures, schedules, papers I use when I have new ideas. Surround yourself with your goals and last but not least create a bucket list. Write down everything that you want to do. Try to do check them off as you complete it. That is the best feeling to check something you have dreamed of off your list.

Mandy Hale

“So, I close my eyes to old ends, and open my heart to new beginnings.”