I started setting goals for the year instead of resolutions. I use this platform as a means to keep myself accountable. Some years are better than others. 2018 has been a challenge in several ways. So much change, and I see more on the horizon. I don't want to say it was a completely terrible year because it had many highs, but the lows were devastating. I took on a new position at work. This has been an adjustment. I lost my dog to cancer. It has been 3 months now and I still can't talk about it without tearing up. I learned my father is also dying of cancer. I recently went up to visit him and it very well may be the last time I do. This whole year has had a ton of challenges to my family. We almost moved out of our home of 17 + years. This may still happen. I hate having to let a school dictate my life, it is how I ended up where I am and now it will be why I leave. My area has grown to the point that our schools are college campuses. Too big and they can't regulate them. We were in the process of looking and getting loan approvals when I learned my father was terminal. That is when I had to slow down. 3 out of 4 of us are seeing therapists. Depression can be seriously debilitating if you let it. I am concentrating on self-care, which will be the theme of 2019.

There has been a lot of good times  sprinkled in with the hard times. Let's recap how I did on my goals.

On daily meditation, I would say I have kept it up all year. Maybe not every day but never more than a few days in between. This will be something I continue to do probably forever. It helps me quiet my mind and learn to be present. It helped me the most be completely focused and take in every moment with my dad. His smell, his hands and savor every part of taking care of him for 3 days.

When it comes to daily family exercise, I have to say we failed. Life really got in the way this year. My son has been attending boxing classes for six months so that is something. I signed up for a 15k for February despite not running regularly at all to force myself to work out. My husband is purging the garage, finally, to clear out room for a real work out area for he and my son. My daughter is the one rocking this. She has become obsessed with climbing. She is killing it! Not giving up but did not get it done this year. A new active dog is forcing us to walk more so I hope this will be a big help.

I only have one canyon left the turn in my Canyon Climbers Club card and get my t-shirt. I wanted to get Providence Canyon in at the last minute but learned the visitor center closes during some of the winter, which makes it impossible to get my card stamped. It is a 3 hour drive and a very long hike. I have done it before but that doesn't count. I will get this finished in 2019.

I did not finish the portrait series I started. I am pretty much resigned to abandoning it. I have ideas for another one that just excite me more. Life prevented anything like this from happening last year but I am hopeful I will get more time in the future to work on these ideas.

The only solo trip I went on was to see my dad. This was not I had in mind. I still want to take off on my own overnight somewhere.

I took many a nap with my old dog in my hammock but none overnight. This shouldn't be as elusive as it has become.

I still haven't joined the park paddlers club! This is because most of the parks are so far away. We have an abundance of great places to paddle that do not require a 6 hour drive. This may just never happen. There are only 6 parks that participate in this program. The one main park that is the furthest away I tried to plan a paddle and they had no kayak rentals at the park or anywhere nearby. How can this be part of the club and why does the state parks website say they do provide boat rentals? This was the straw to break the camels back for me. For a trip that far away we do not have a vehicle that can handle more than 2 kayaks and luggage. I did however manage to go on many magical kayak trips. I kayaked with manatees, saw the sunset on the ocean in my boat, experienced bioluminesence and paddled to an island inhabited by lemurs. Who needs the park paddlers club!

I did go on at least 4 road trips! Cocoa Beach, Fl. for a million adventures on land and sea. Spectre, Al, to visit the old filming town for Big Fish and visit all the goats that live there. Pasaquan for art, costumes and fun.  Cloudland Canyon, Lake Burton, Eagles Rest, Amicalola and a million other road trips to the mountains. Mars Hill, NC to ski and Bryson City, NC to raft. Cumberland Island and the Okeefenokee Swamp to paddle, explore and visit friends. #nailedit

Make my home a comfort zone has been big on the agenda. This is another reason why moving is not feasible. My house is not fancy but aside from the kitchen, I love the rest of it. It is in a great location. I have a fenced in yard, I have poured concrete to extend my patio and added a sidewalk and that is just not something easy to find in a new or older home. I am not on top of my neighbors. The trees in my yard were grown from saplings from my mom. My 2 dogs, cat and mouse are all buried in the back yard with headstones. We did not do as much work on the house as I wanted to but my daughter made her room much more comfortable, we rearranged the living room and added a new focal piece and rug. I love my bedroom now. The plan was to do more but, life. There will be more done next year whether we move or not.  I do not like the housing market right now. Prices are stupid, interest rates are high and I really don't like the idea of moving further away from the city in order to get good smaller schools  in an area we can afford. I am so torn.

Continue to learn Spanish, well it was more off than on but this is something I will be doing indefinitely. I would say I did not accomplish much of this but plans for more Costa Rica trips, and South America in general will keep me motivated.

Convert to full vegetarian did not happen but I no longer eat beef or pork. I choose vegetarian over meat most often. I eat pretty healthy 80% of the time. I would not claim this as a complete failure. It is a lifestyle. I am OK with eating chicken, turkey, fish and eggs for now. I make informed choices with intent when it comes to our food and at least I can say that is better than most. That will never change.

I hope to set more attainable goals for 2019. Life is still pretty rocky these days but we are trying to be positive and hold together.