Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! For having such low expectations, I actually had a ton of fun. I was all ready to just wear whatever I had until I got a text from Meg with her hot little dress. It wouldn’t hurt to just pop into Kate Spade to look for something sparkly, right? Thankfully they were having a huge sale, and I walked out with this little number and then immediately Rent-the-Runway-ed this one for an upcoming cocktail party.

Times Square

A friend rented out a suite at the New York Athletic Club, and we celebrated the new year far above all of the madness.

I just looked back through my own blog to see if I wrote about goals last year, and I don’t think I did.

Although I generally hate New Year’s Eve BS, I do like the idea of a fresh start for the new year and a reason to set goals. I have a handful of goals for this year, but the overarching theme to all of them is to be more mindful. I got pretty into yoga and meditation a few years ago when I was going through a rough patch, and I want to be more proactively mindful now.

Running/Fitness/Health Goals

I’m really proud that I was able to run two marathons this fall after coming back from an injury…but I am STARVING for a marathon PR. I’ve heard amazing things about Richmond, so I signed up for it the other night! Sub 3:50 or bust, please.

And I am going to do 9+1 again so that I can run my beloved NYC Marathon again next year.

I need to cut back on the wine and takeout and start eating better. Abs are made in the kitchen. Or something.

Personal/Professional Growth Goals

I had a long Serious Talk with one of my friends at work last week about things we want to do for ourselves to help us grow as people and as employees. She’s taking a UX class and considering doing yoga teacher training.

As for me…

I’ve always wanted to take a comedy class. I love making people laugh, but I’m somewhat shy. The idea of taking the class sounds terrifying, but I’m going to make it happen this year so that I am more comfortable speaking on my feet.

And I also want to get my personal trainer cert. Partially so that I’m more informed for what I write on here and at work, but also because I do eventually want to teach. Fitness has given SO much to my life, and I want to share that with everyone. I have the NASM books, I just need to actually study and plan a date for the test.

I want to be more strategic about my career growth and goals. I love my job to death, but I want to start thinking more about what parts of it I really enjoy and want to grow, and what I need to work on.

Oh, and I want to blog more. I enjoy this little space on the Internet that I’ve created.

And I want/need to take a real vacation. A proper really unplugging for a week kind of vacation.

OK, that’s all! What about you?

16 comments on “Happy New Year!

  1. Mary

    Ooooo cute dress! I just moved back to New England, Rhode Island specifically, so I have waaaay more preppy in my life now. I was missing it a LOT! My goals this year…. Be easier on myself. I am so mean to myself and what I’m NOT doing rather than focusing on what I AM able to do and am doing. (Or shouldn’t be doing and am doing, i.e. Shouldn’t be eating brownies, should be running, should be in school, should be in a career, shouldn’t be sleeping around, you know all the good stuff heheh) and be more gentle to myself.

    Reply
  2. Tracy Schwartz

    You looked stunning and that dress is gorgeous!!

    Also, I will be your 1st client when you get your personal training certificate!

    A comedy class sounds like that would be fun. I hear you on stepping out of your comfort zone in being shy, but that makes it all worth doing it!

    My word (goal) for 2016 is Commitment. I want to commit more to my myself first and foremost but also to my friends and family, my fitness, and professional goals.

    Reply
  3. Melissa

    I second Kayla! Improv is the best – I got into it about two years ago to get out of my comfort zone, and I’ve been hooked ever since. These days it seems like most of my closest friends in NYC are friends I’ve made through improv. I’ve taken classes at both the PIT and the Magnet, and they are both fabulous.

    One of my goals for 2015 is pass the NASM CPT exam as well!

    Happy New Year!

    Reply
  4. katie

    Some kind of Improv Class sounds amazing!!! I want to document going to 100 yoga classes. And keep working on the mental/physical health.

    Reply
  5. Cate

    Happy new year! Those sound like some solid, attainable goals. I was thinking of running Richmond if I don’t get into NYC. I may see you at one or the other! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Katie @ Live Half Full

    My “theme” for the year is to focus on what matters. I just had a baby, so I’m not setting any gigantic goals and instead setting small monthly goals based on intentions I set in each area of my life for the year. We’ll see how it goes!

    Reply
  7. Susan - Nurse on the Run

    I took an improv class last year – I’ll probably write a blog post about it if I ever get back to blogging, ha. I wouldn’t necessarily say it was life changing, but it definitely helped me by forcing me to get out of my comfort zone on a weekly basis. My boyfriend was shocked when I asked him if I should sign up for it – I get nervous ordering a cup of coffee let along doing improv, which is exactly why I needed to do it. I took a free intro class at Magnet and ended up signing up for their level one class. It was a mix of people who were shy like me and wanted to work on getting out of their comfort zone, people who were trying to make in some sort of show business/music/etc, and people who just wanted to try something new. It was interesting to hear people who I immediately thought were outgoing and very personable talk about taking improv because they struggle with being shy. (It was also cool because you don’t start by introducing yourself, you just get up and start doing improv exercises!) Anyway. You do a show at the end, which was cool to really give it a go. As my instructor said, “The worst thing that’s going to happen is your friends don’t think you’re funny.” Which they might not anyway, so who cares?

    Anyway, that was a long comment, but I truly recommend taking improv. If I can do it, anyone can. It’s great for learning to talk on your feet and listening to others around you. Magnet Training Theater (I don’t actually know where you live but I think it might be close?) offers FREE intro classes, so it’s worth a shot. http://www.magnettheater.com/free-improv-class Hannah was my instructor and she’s great and positive and fun, but I hear the instructors are all pretty cool. The free intro class is basically the first class of level one, so there’s that. I was really nervous when I went to the free class, but I told myself, “A few hours and I’ll never see these people again if it’s terrible.” But it wasn’t terrible and I went back.

    Alright, that’s all. Happy New Year!

    Reply
  8. Lea

    I ran Richmond this past fall and loved it! It was my first marathon and it was such a great experience! The course is great and the crowd support is amazing. Definitely a great PR course!

    Reply

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