A year ago, I wrote a blog post about what encompasses a good goal. And, this year, I set out to achieve 10 good goals. Spoiler alert: I didn't achieve all the goals I set out to achieve this year. However, I did achieve some of them. And, in many ways, I achieved so much more. Of course, some of these goals are too personal to share. But, here's a little peep hole into what I set out to achieve; what I did achieve; what I didn't achieve; and, most importantly, why progress is more important than perfection.
First and foremost, this blog post represents my twelth for the year. One every month. I said I would do it, and I did it. In addition, I read a book every month of the year. This is one I'm really proud of. And one that I enjoyed. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I've decided to make a habit of it. That is, no longer to approach reading as a goal, but as something I just, do.
I ran a marathon this year. I ran a marathon this year! And you know what the crazy thing is? I didn't even plan for this one. It came unwittingly. One of my other goals had become unattainable, as a consequence of external crcumstances. And, after careful consideration, I made a decision to run the marathon instead. It wasn't what I was aiming for initially. But it represented progress in the direction I want, bigger picture. This is why progress is more important than perfection: because sometimes the uncontrollable universe denies perfection, and you should still have something to strive for in its absence.
I travelled to Mallorca (Spain), Vienna (Austria) and visited the Dutch island Vlieland. I also went to watch Dortmund v. Newcastle United (a team I've supported since I was 13-years old) in Dortmund, Germany. This was a lifelong dream (watching Newcastle play live). I didn't visit 5 new countries like I intended to. But, I travelled when I could, and that was enough for me this year. Again, progress is more important than perfection.
At the start of the year I committed to submitting a project to Entelect's Tech Accelerator competition, which I did, and (excuse my gloating) it came in 3rd place. I also fulfilled the role I intended to at work. This was one of those ambiguous goals for me - I knew what I wanted to do at work but lacked the specificity to word it. However, I can say with certainty that, what I wanted to do, I did.
I arranged and went on a 5-day Gentleman's hike. This took so much energy to organize during the year. And there were many times I wanted to call it quits. But, I stuck with it. And, as hikes tend to, it paid off. I also achieved my financial goals for the year, in terms of money invested toward my future. A boring one, but important.
Sadly, I dropped out of studying for my Master's degree. I reached a point this year when I couldn't sustain my energy expenditure. And, when I had a setback with my Masters, it became the thing that had to be sacrificed. It was difficult to let go of, because it was a big commitment to make when I started, and admitting that it was no longer that important to me, was heavy. Albeit, I still attended two Dutch lessons most weeks and am on course for writing my B2 exam in the coming year. Progress is more important than perfection!
And that's that. Of course, I did many things in 2023 that aren't detailed here. But these goals - they represent ambitons that I had, and followed through with, or explicitely let go of. And, in the case of the successful ones, they also represent the things I'm most proud of. Because, if I may say, I am proud. I lived fully this year. And I feel I can give myself a pat on the back for that. But that's enough reflection for now. Bring on 2024!
Whoever you are, wherever you are: Happy New Year!
"Perfection is the enemy of pregress."
- Winston Churchill