The goals of 2015

Remember when I was all '2015 is gonna be the best year ever!' and proceeded to tell you why? Then in July I was all like, I mean it's pretty awesome but I haven't done much towards the list?

Well now I want to be all like.. let's check in and see how 2015 went.

Ever since I was 20, each year has been better than the last. 2015 was no different. It was a great year. But as for the goals / facts I predicted at the beginning of the year...

I am going to complete a half marathon in under 2 hours.
Nope. But I'm not mad about it.

I am going to buy all of my Christmas presents using Swagbucks (aka no out of pocket expense) and will have all purchases done by the end of November.
I mentioned in July that I didn't care about the Swagbucks part of this goal anymore, but I did get all of my Christmas shopping done by the end of October. I actually stopped using Swagbucks exclusively, and made almost $500 this year from ebates. So I would say it evens out.

I am going to Europe.

I sure did, and it was awesome (Paris, Rome and Dublin). This was a bit of a cheater goal because it was already booked (I think?) but still. It was a lifelong dream, so it works.

I am going to cross so much off my 30 before 30 list.
Not really. I think I crossed a couple off, but again, I'm not really mad about it because letting go of goals that no longer fit your life is not a bad thing. Plus, I have one more year.

I am going to DC with some awesome girls.
Yep. Woohoo. It was awesome.

I am going to 'give' something each month. My time, money or donating to goodwill. Something every month.
I didn't really shout it from the rooftops, but I made sure that every month I did something big or small to help someone besides myself. I can be a very selfish person so this was a great goal.

I am going to be thankful this year. Every month, not just November.
I did a thankful post each month and it was so fabulous to remind myself constantly that I have so much to be thankful for! I think I might even continue to do it.

I am going to live more in the moment - stop planning and focusing on the future so much.
Like I said in July, I don't know why I wrote this one. I like planning and dreaming of the future. But really, I have been trying to focus on the here and now at least 50% of the time, and letting myself dream / plan for a million different futures the other 50% of the time. Considering it used to be like dreaming 90% of the time, I'm doing well.

I am going to read 150 books.
I did achieve this goal, but I won't be doing it again. I didn't like how I was constantly checking my progress and not reading certain books because their length would slow me down or whatever.

I am going to love every item in my closet and get rid of all the things I don't wear.
Yep. I did. It was really hard, but by the end of the year I finally got rid of all the things I was keeping for a sentimental reason or that I couldn't sell on eBay. I now 100% love everything in my closet, and while I wouldn't mind some more things (because I'm still a shopaholic at heart), I'm good for right now.

I am going to make sure every single thing in my house is either beautiful or useful. 
Towards the end of the year, when I got rid of all the clothes in the spare room that I was hoarding holding on to for sentimental reasons or having no luck selling them, I cleaned out that entire closet and the other spare room. We are not minimalists and never will be, but I feel comfortable with our level of crap right now.

I am going to become a badass chef wannabe and person who sews things.
I really did not work on this until the end of the year, oops. I am definitely still a wannabe in the kitchen, but I am getting better. I also sewed a few things, nothing amazing, but hey. We're getting there.

I am going to spend time with real friends, not wasting time on the people who let me down in 2013. I'm not mad about it, I'm just over fake friendships.

I mentioned in July that I totally gave up on all the fake friends and I haven't looked back. It is such a good feeling. 

I am going to take care of myself. I am going to be the healthiest and fittest person I can be not because I want to lose weight but because healthy is where it's at.
This will never be something I can cross off completely and not worry about. It's something I have to work towards every day. I have to make good decisions and put the chips down. I have to exercise and not worry about the scale. 

I am going to love myself. I am going to be positive and nice, I am not going to say negative or mean things that I wouldn't dare say to a stranger, so why say them to myself?
This goes hand in hand with the above. Although, to be perfectly honest, for the first time ever, my mind is in a good spot and I don't constantly hate myself or think awful thoughts when I look in the mirror. And that is way more important than the scale.

and with that... 2015 is over, and so are all those goals. I think I will make less goals in 2016!

Hope everyone has a fabulous New Years, however you are celebrating!