It’s amazing how so much can change in a year. A year ago my blog was about 3 months old, I was coming back from Uni for a sixth form reunion, and, although I was beginning my whole “self-growth” journey, I was in no way as solid as I am now. A year and 2 days ago, on the 22nd March 2017, I published the This Time Next Year tag, in which you list 5 goals you want to have completed in a years time, and then come back to it a year later and let people know how you did…
I haven’t looked at it since first publishing it because I’m a sucker for nostalgia and I wanted to do this properly, so I’m actually really excited to see how I’ve changed since the first post. Have I completed my goals? Am I a better person? Who knows; I honestly don’t remember what I wrote, so let’s get this started…
1) Have my drivers licence…Essentially, my story with driving is that I pretty much learnt how to drive at 17, but then stopped lessons because I hadn’t done my theory and I was really overwhelmed with work. Therefore, my plan is to do a crash course in driving this summer. To this day, I still have not done my theory… But it may be something I’m doing in the very near future…
So funny story… My plan was to do it on the summer, and I ended up busy with holidays and work. So then, I was going to do it at Uni (I’m in a house instead of halls this year, so it’s easier), and I’ve ended up travelling between London and Bristol for events more than I care to admit… I don’t have time this summer, and my next term is looking to be just as hectic as this one, so… eventually? I guess? We’ll see? It’s not as much as a priority as it was before, but I do definitely want to finish it.
2) Still be blogging…I’m really enjoying blogging, it’s insanely therapeutic and I have met some amazing people from the blogging community! It’s amazing watching my website grow and producing content that I’m proud of – it’s only been around 3 months (3 months exactly tomorrow!) and I’ve already received so much more love than I thought I would have so who knows where I’ll be blogwise a year from now? I’m pretty excited to find out.
This is one that I can definitely say I completed! I love how 3 months in I was already hoping I’d be doing it in a years time; it just goes to show how much I genuinely love this. I’ve probably been more consistent with blogging than I have with anything else in my life and it’s honestly so great to see, let’s hope I have many years to come! I’m so much further blogwise a year in! I’ve had brand deals, and communicate with companies, and regularly attend blogging events in a variety of fields (One of which I was at 2 months ago – post coming soon). I seriously can’t believe that this is happening, and, more importantly, that I made this happen. Will I be further on in a year? Who knows, but I hope I’m still enjoying it.
3) Be further on in my book…I started writing a book. I mean, I used to write all the time but I haven’t properly written in years, and I started back up again about a month ago. I’d love to see if I can actually keep this up.
This… Is actually… Very far in and very exciting and I sure did complete this goal. More to come on this soon, so stay tuned…
4) Keep up my current mentality…By the time this is up, my post on body confidence should have gone up, and as I wrote in that, I’ve been a lot better with self-confidence and acceptance recently. I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s blogging, or my current support system (much love to my amazing friends and family), or maybe its just me, but this is the most confident and happy that I’ve been with myself in over 4 years. Hopefully in a years time, I’ll still feel like this.
Okay, I am seriously so proud of myself for keeping this up. Of course I’ve had down days, and of course every so often I have doubts, but I’m so happy and confident, and continuing to document that on here! I write for my Uni’s newspaper about mental health and confidence, I wrote a piece about this last week, and an open and honest piece about my relationship with food on this amazing website called The Health Diary, and honestly, I hope to keep writing about body positivity for as long as I feel this positive.
5) Be doing Youtube?Don’t hold me to this – this is a bit of a pipe dream and I don’t know if I have the confidence or the skill to actually follow through with this. However, I’m really enjoying being a content creator and I’d love to expand to different medias (while keeping up my blog obviously) I don’t know? Ahhh the Youtube world seems scary… We’ll see.
Surprisingly, this actually happened! I have been posting to a Youtube channel for just about 2 months now, and I’m really loving it! It started off with vlog style content documenting blogger events and (later on in the year) my travels, and now I also do sit down chatty videos each Tuesday about different issues. I’m having so much fun with it and really surprised with how it’s going and honestly I’d love all the support I could get… So, if you feel like helping a girl out, head over here and subscribe and, I don’t know, maybe like and comment on some stuff if you feel like it… Lots of love xxx
So, out of the 5 goals I set myself last year, I’ve managed to complete 4 of them! Honestly, I’m very proud of those statistics! This last year has been incredibly transformative, and who would have known that a little blog would have granted me as many experiences and new friends as it has! This was so great and I’m glad that I did this a year ago. If you want to check out my original post, you can check it out here, and I advise anybody reading to try this for yourself, whether it’s on a blog or privately as I found it very rewarding.
Hope you enjoyed this! And let me know one thing that you want to have done by next year!
Lots of love,
Jas xx
That’s a nice list Jasmine….hope all your resolutions and goals be met by this time next year 🙂
Congrats on you’re accomplishments over the past year! You definitely are a follow through type of person. I’m looking forward to hearing about your book!
Thank you so much Phil! There’s hopefully more to come on that soon!
Jas xx
What a great way to see whether you managed to get hit your goals!
And as for the driving… I didn’t get mine til in was in my mid 20’s… you’ll sort it out when you need to!
Looking forward to hearing how your writing project is coming along though!
Thank you Ritu! And yeah, hopefully I’ll sort it out when I need to!
Jas xx
Whoop Whoop!
I like the idea of making a goal list and then checking in again next year. What a great way to measure progress.
Such a great list, and I’m looking forward to hearing more about the book! It’s always so encouraging when you can look back on goals you set and realize how successful you were in reaching them!
Thank you! Yeah looking back on goals makes you realise how far you’ve come!
Jas xx
Jas, you should be so proud of yourself particularly as you have achieved these whilst living as a student (from my boy s I know how student life gets in the way!). I admire you for having dipped a toe in Youtube…heading over to subscribe now! C x
Awwww thank you so much!
Jas xx
You should be proud—four out of five sounds like a true achievement! I kept my 2018 goals a bit loosey-goosey as they don’t have specific measurables. My goal is to take more risks, enjoy more moments, have more compassion, and to help others a bit more. I am spending the full month of April in a volunteer assignment, working on search and rescue with refugees arriving in Greece, so I feel like I’m moving toward that goal at least. I’m glad to read you are writing about “body positivity,” mental health, and confidence. Best of luck on your continued success!
Thank you! Good luck with your goals for this year!
Jas xx
That’s awesome that you have been blogging for over a year! I hope you smash your goals! Xx
Thank you!
Jas xx
Nice job! I think it’s a great idea to share what you intend to accomplish. Sometimes, just putting it out there in a clear way helps make the ideas manifest. It reminds me I ought to do something similar. I have only one intention this year: Practice Radical Acts of Empathy. So far, it’s been a slow start, but I’m volunteering this afternoon and bringing my son along. I’ve been better about speaking up for others at the cost of discomfort. Little things….
That sounds really fulfilling! I hope it goes well!
Jas xx
Congratulations! Goals and prioritizes change also i.e. drivers license. Blogging for me has also kept me focused and more engaged in other areas of my life i.e. writing. Looking forward to hearing more about your book. Have you set 5 goals for this year?
I haven’t set 5 exact goals, but I’m definitely considering it now! You’re certainly right about priorities shifting over time.
Jas xx
Fab way to self assess a year down the line Jas. I also like the way you’ve tackled not achieving something like the driving license. Appreciated that sometime life does throw in curve balls and goals change or become set back. It’s not failure unless we, ourselves, make it failure. The rational behind why is much more positive. That also promotes self esteem too.
I also remember wishing you well in exams too so continuing to blog after those is a huge bonus. Totally with you on connections made here and the positive aura that comes from engaging with the community. As for YouTube…awesome there! Not something I’ve ever considered lol
Thanks Gary!
Jas xx
This is such a great idea and a great way to reflect on the year! I might try it out sometime. That’s awesome too that you accomplished most of your goals and even the one you didn’t was because it wasn’t a priority. I think that it’s good to recognize that sometimes we have to change a goal because there are more important things at the moment. Anyway, I can’t wait to hear about your writing!
Thank you so much! Yeah it’s true, sometimes some things aren’t as important anymore
Jas xx
What a wonderful way to put this list up (on your blog or just private for yourself) to work towards your goals. Kuddus to you for doing so great. I will still pop over to The Health Diary, as a foodie, this is a huge interest to me. Well done and keep up the good work, and hope to see a follow-up post in a years time.
Thank you so much!
Jas xx
Remember: Linkup each Monday starting @ 02:00 am and ends the Friday @ 8:00 pm PDT (Pacific Daylight Time).
Congratulations on everything. I like that you can monitor your progress this way. Leaving it on the blog makes you accountable and keeps you j check too
Yeah, it definitely kept me in check!
Jas xx
I can’t believe you’ve been blogging for three months! I can’t believe it! You’re such an amazing blogger and such a natural that I could’ve sworn that you’ve been blogging for years! Go head girl, hope you achieve everything you want to within the next year 🙂 xxx
Melina | http://www.ivefoundwaldo.com
Oh no I’ve been blogging a year and 3 months, but when I wrote that first post it had been a year! However, it still feels like I’ve been doing this for no time at all! Thank you so much for your kind words <3
Jas xx
I’ve been blogging for a year and three months too! That’s a bit of a coincidence 🙂
Oh wow, I guess that makes us blog twins! 😉
Well done! Looking ahead with goals is a great idea. My friends and I did a five year one (about five years ago). I was only thinking about it recently and hopefully I might do another. There is a great sense of achievement if you have progressed.
Oooo hope your five year one has gone well!
Jas xx
It did actually!
Love this. I really hope that you achieve all the goals in the upcoming year – you seem to be doing absolutely fab so far! C x
Thank you so much!
Jas xx
Enjoyed reading this a lot! I love a bit of nostalgia, too. Blogging certainly is “insanely therapeutic”. Lovely that you’re the happiest you’ve been for a while, too ✨
Thank you so much!
Jas xx