As we end the year, I am finally reviewing the list I made in 2022 and see what progress I made, what goals I no longer care about, and what new goals I might want to introduce. One of the qualities of human beings that I value highly is our ability to adapt and change, to decide on a new path and course of action. Even if that means not completing everything in this 101 item list.
As I review my list I will use the following symbols to show the changes.
Bolded : No longer applicable
** : Currently in progress
Italics : Done
Career
1. Finish my CS degree >> OSU CS Post Baccalaureate
2. Complete internal accessibility training**
3. Get promoted to Senior Software Engineer
4. Publish technical article (on external tech publication)
5. Speak at a conference on a technical topic
6. Take a UI design course
7. Take CSS for JS course**
8. Take a data visualization course X I started a course but got bored? Maybe not a calling for me
9. Take a leadership training/fellowship >> I participated in McKinsey’s Connected Leader Program
10. Take a ML course X Really stoked by the hype, but maybe not something I actually care for?
11. Take a security course**
12. Participate in internal tech summit >> Helped organize the DEI track of programming for Adobe’s Tech Summit
Recap: At the beginning of 2022 I got promoted and am on track to reach senior level in the next few years. Areas I need to focus on are: consistent deliverables, managing my time, and completing extra trainings at work. In addition, I believe I need to work on my office presence and presenting my work to wider audiences.
Goals achieved: 3
Goals thrown out: 2
Goals in progress: 3
Chess X
13. Complete lessons in chess.com
14. Enter a chess competition
15. Get an FIDE rating
16. Join corporate chess team for a season
17. Reach rating of 1300 in chess.com**
18. Reach rating of 1500 in chess.com
19. Read chess book I own
20. Travel to a chess competition
Recap: At the beginning of 2022 I was really excited about chess, but I found that the level of focus needed impeded my ability to do other tasks or pursue other hobbies. I stopped playing chess or doing chess puzzles because it became almost an addiction and I found myself fiddling with my phone constantly.
Goals achieved: 0
Goals thrown out: 8
Goals in progress: N/A
Fun/Learning
21. Complete Korean lessons in Rosetta Stone**
22. Take TOPIK I & II to measure Korean mastery
23. Complete Russian lessons in Rosetta Stone**
24. Test Russian mastery with in-laws and friend
25. Do boudoir photoshoot X
26. Do a pole dancing photoshoot/video X
27. Go busking
28. Journal (The Daily Stoic)
29. Learn up to 7th position on the violin X
30. Learn a concert solo piece for the violin << I took private violin lessons for over a year
31. Paint for 30 days
32. Read the Wheel of Time Series** X I can’t muster the will power to do this again. Maybe next decade.
33. Take a chocolate making class
34. Take a class on watercolors (in-person or remote learning)
35. Take Skillshare course on embroidery X I have plenty of materials and books without going online to Skillshare
36. Take Skillshare course on Watercolor Oceans X
37. Take Skillshare course on Illustration X
38. Take a masseuse course (in-person)
39. Work through my Ukulele exercises book
40. Write a song << I wrote a song for my husband to propose to him
Recap: I spent some time on Rosetta Stone with Korean and Russian lessons but it fell of my radar. In order to make sure I can meet these language goals, I need to spend at least 15min a day reviewing the language lessons. I am also not engaging in pole dancing anymore as there is no place to install the pole, however I did try aerial silks in my local community and it is incredibly fun! 10/10 recommend.
Goals achieved: 2
Goals thrown out: 7
Goals in progress: 2
Home
41. Buy a home << homeowners! 🙂
42. Move << Bye bye, California
43. Full unpack (lol, I never unpack fully when I move) << Actually done
44. Make a dedicated dressing area/vanity X
45. Make a hobby room/area << My own personal art room ❤
46. Make a home gym << Mostly
47. Make a study/library X I don’t think we have enough room at this time
Recap: Nearly all of home oriented goals have been achieved! The two that are no longer goals, are not very important and can be discarded.
Goals achieved: 5
Goals thrown out: 2
Goals in progress: N/A
Side Hustles
48. Blog once per month for a year**
49. Build an API X
50. Design a calendar/planner
51. Enter a short story contest
52. Little Tech Book Club – read 1 book per quarter**
53. Make a pet app with my friend X
54. Make a video game << Did this for a class I took, but going to make another!
55. Make a YouTube video
56. Make an AR/VR project
57. Outline a book
58. Write a book
59. Publish a mobile app to app store
60. Start a podcast
Recap: I think all of these goals are still applicable, they just are hard to keep in mind when I am working on my other deliverables. In order to accomplish these goals, I will get a large sign to place in my home office to remind me of what I can work towards to in my spare time.
Goals achieved: 1
Goals thrown out: 2
Goals in progress: 2
Relationships
61. Ask my brother to move in << My brother is moved in
62. Help my brother get a job in tech** Figuring out what he actually wants to do tbh
63. Get engaged << Asked my boo to marry me
64. Get married << Got married in our backyard!
65. Go on a honeymoon << Just Maui’d
66. Gift my partner an outfit << Bought stuff during our honeymoon
67. Go on a friend vacation << Portland girlies trip for bachelorette party! I will plan more trips going forward 🙂
68. Send mail to extended family once per year X
Recap: Many of my relationship goals revolved. I am removing goal 68 because I realized that it’s not actually a priority of mine to build relationships from the ground up with people really far away from me. I would rather invest that energy and time on the existing relationships in my life.
Goals achieved: 6
Goals thrown out: 1
Goals in progress: 1
Travel
69. See Aurora Borealis in person (Northern Lights)
70. Visit Bora Bora
71. Travel to see a F1 race live** We’re going to in 2024
72. France
73. Germany
74. Japan
75. Family trip to Korea
76. Mexico (again)
77. Trip to go dog sledding
78. Spain**
Recap: I did some travel! I visited Goa in India and I finally got to see heaven on earth Hawaii (Maui). My husband has already suggested several trips for us next year and I am so excited and lucky to have a type A planner in my life! We technically saw Aurora Borealis on the flight from Goa but it was very small and subtle, so I am leaving this unchecked!
Goals achieved: 0
Goals thrown out: 0
Goals in progress: 2
Volunteer
79. Build an open source project for the Adobe Digital Academy << Started an open source project
80-82. Volunteer on 3 events for HOLA (Latinx/Hispanic ERG at Adobe)
– Volunteered with HOLA at El Centro de la Raza
– Organized a concert for Hispanic Heritage Month + NOCCO
83-85. Volunteer on 3 events for Techqueria (Latinx tech community) X
86. Find an open source project to contribute to (at least once per month)** I decided to spend more time volunteering with FreeCodeCamp
Recap: I finally started the DA open source project and I could not be more stoked. A few of my peers have already contributed and I’m looking forward to it taking a life of its own. I have not been as engaged with Techqueria as of late, I find engaging over Slack to be really tiring, so I need to find other opportunities to give back within my scope. I will soon be joining the board for a nonprofit, which should scratch my volunteer itch and also provide face to face engagement for me.
Goals achieved: 4
Goals thrown out: 3
Goals in progress: 1
Wellness
87. Play Supernatural VR every day for 90 days in a row X
88. Beat Ringfit Adventure (Switch) X
89. Complete The Walk App X
90. Complete Zwift Academy
91. Cycle 100 miles (again)
92. Cycle 200 miles
93. Enter a pole competition X
94. Get a Spartan Trifecta X
95. Get Invisalign (maybe?)
96. Talk to doctor about nutrition >> I did an elimination diet and have eliminated most sources of gluten from my diet
97. Master the handstand
98. Master a headstand
99. No-kick pole invert X
100. Master the pull-up (at least 5)**
101. Train and fun a half marathon with a friend (I walked the last one -_-‘) X
Recap: I am removing some of these game/app based goals as I don’t find they align with my lifestyle. I am not participating in Spartan races on my own and I don’t like to run at all… haha. However, I recently did find that I enjoy weightlifting and Peloton, so this is a venue for me to explore! 🙂
Goals achieved: 1
Goals thrown out: 7
Goals in progress: 1
I can say with nearly 100% certainty that I will not complete all my goals by September 2024, primarily because I went on a life side quest (of anxiety and ADHD) and forgot that I had made this list hahaha!!! However, after taking a little time to review and see where my priorities lie, I am glad I made this list in 2021. It gives me a great snapshot of who I was and of where I was going and now my updated list can do the same for future me. Having this list also helps me to look at what has worked and what hasn’t and how I can structure my life in a way that it makes me happy and enables me to reach my dreams.
Progress so far! 61.39% of the way to finish by Sept 2024
Happy New Year! I hope 2024 is a year where you can find growth, fun, and love. I’ll start thinking of my new 101 list in September and figure out what I get to take into the future and what needs to stay behind 🙂
XOXO,
Illustrated by Meli 