Wow, I haven’t posted in awhile. Days flew by so quickly that I haven’t even realized how long I was going between posts. Between job applications and a stubborn illness (thanks for sharing your germs, Sis) I’ve been in a fog of work and illness recovery. Still, I can’t say that January was a bad month. I’m feeling better and I think I’ve made some headway toward my future. It was a month full of planning and working toward my goals.
I’m not the “New Year’s Resolution” type. I’m bound to fail at any sweeping declarations of self-improvement. Instead, I’m more of a “set measurable goals with reasonable expectations” kind of girl. This year, I’ve given myself 4 main goals to accomplish. They are as follows:
My 2019 goals
1- My job in my field by July
2- $3,500 in savings by September
3- New apartment by October
4- All debt paid off by end of December
My goals are personal to me and my current circumstances. For some people these goals are laughable because they are too lofty to some, or too simplistic for others. To both groups of people I say, that’s fine. Create your own goals and leave mine alone. I put a lot of thought and planning into this, and I hope you have done the same in your life. We all deserve to live our life our way.
Now back to my month re-cap
In order to accomplish goal no.1 I’ve been searching for work almost obsessively. As many of you know, I’ve been applying for jobs since Christmas. I applied to over 100 jobs in a 5 week period before deciding to cool down and take a break from the application process. What are the results of my efforts? A handful of preliminary interviews, and 2-second interviews (one on Friday, and another today). Now, I wait. I am hopeful that the job I interviewed for on Friday will yield results as I feel that my passion for that industry and my enthusiasm for the work came through in my interview. That being said, I don’t know who else applied, what their qualifications are, and how well they did. Though I do want the job (I’m keeping this vague to avoid any potential awkwardness in the future), I understand that someone else may be better suited. If that’s the case, that’s great! I wish them the best of luck in their new career. If it’s me, I hope they feel the same way.
What about my other goals? Well, goals no.2 and no.3 are directly linked to one another. My savings were depleted after my illness back in November so rebuilding my savings is the first step toward having the money available to putting a deposit down on a new apartment. I have created a budget to meet my September deadline so I can move into a place by October. I’ve also factored in goal no.4 of paying off all debt by the end of the year. I’ve done all of this planning under a worst case scenario mentality in which I continue at my current job with my current pay without any assistance from tax-returns. I don’ t find this line of thought to be pessimistic. I simply like to be prepared for the possibility that sometimes things don’t work out the way we would like them to, and that’s okay.
So where does that leave me for February? Ideally, I would be starting a new job this month and settling into that career. I’ll pay my taxes now that all my paperwork is ready, and check that civic obligation off my to-do list. I’ll continue working toward my final 3 goals (maybe all 4 if I don’t land the job) and continue going to class, studying, and living life. Whatever happens, I have the power to decide if it will make or break me, and I choose to keep moving forward.
Wish me luck and I’ll do the same for you! Thanks for reading!
Bringing Mae Flowers 