A Georgia Peach Abroad

"You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream" -C.S Lewis

It's that time of year again where people start reflecting on the person they are and make plans to change into the person they want to be. I was never really one for New Year's Resolutions, but I am thinking about setting one or more and really making 2015 my year. 

Having dreams and goals is something I have really been struggling with lately. I am blessed in that so many of my lifelong dreams have come true in the past few years. I have been struggling to set new dreams and goals because it has been awhile since I have had to make new ones and for that I am thankful, but I have been a girl without a dream for quite sometime. 

This has got to change, so I am setting some long and short term goals for myself.

Goal One: Be fluent in Dutch. So much of my life here is in English and it is super easy to get by without learning Dutch, but I feel like I am missing out in so much as well. I live here, I love it here, I need to be fluent. 

How I'll get there: 

• Practice for at least an hour every day, be it duolingo or from one of the many books I have purchased.
• Have more Dutch nights at home. Once a week, speak nothing but Dutch and watch Dutch programs from the moment we wake up.
• Make an effort to have more one on one time with some of my Dutch friends so I can practice. Bake them lots of cake in return for their immense amount of patience.

Goal Two: Write a novel and have people read it. I've been saying I'm going to for years, and now that I finally have it mapped out in my head, I can put pen to paper or hands to keyboard. 

How I'll get there: 

• Set a goal to write every day. Add it into my daily schedule and hold myself accountable. I know that although I love staying up late and consider myself a night owl, I am actually most productive early in the morning from about 8am to 10am. First thing I am going to do when I get up in the morning is write. 
• Self-editing will happen, but maybe only once a week. Editing often gets in the way of the writing process and while I do love editing (other's people work) it can slow down the writing process. 
• Attend my writing group meetings, although this will have to wait until Feb. I love and miss my writing group and it is so great to have a community that encourages you.

Goal Three: Start my own business and become financially independent. I'm not ready to disclose the information yet, but this is something that I have always wanted to do and I feel like I am finally ready. 

How I'll get there:

• Have a clear plan. This includes a business plan, how to find investors, how to market it.
• Educate myself. I want to be an expert and in doing that I need to learn as much as I can.
• Register at the gemeente so I will be legal, I can't do this until I no longer am employed at my current company, but it is coming soon!

These are really my big 3. Of course, there are some smaller ones in there, like I am dreaming of Prague and Dubrovnik and I want to learn to sew.

Do you set new year's resolutions? Do you keep them? What are your goals for the new year? 

Dearest blog, 

I abandoned you for 6 months, believe me when I say it wasn't intentional. But, I can't make myself write when I am sad. You see, I have been struggling with depression since I was 14 and after 14 years of being manageable, it suddenly wasn't anymore. I was naive enough to think that even though I love living here, and live with my other half it wouldn't find me, I could escape its clutches, that my brain chemistry would somehow re-write itself and I could get better on my own. 

 For me, my depression manifests itself as sleeping all the time, reneging on my responsibilities, and being a complete slob and bum who won't do anything to help herself. Loek is incredibly patient, and I do not envy him for having to live with me at my worse. May was the hardest, but when I thankfully decided it was time to admit that something was wrong.I went to the doctor and have been taking anti-depressants since, and I am finally starting to feel like myself again. It's still a struggle, but one that I feel like I am finally getting on top of again. I want to get back to you dear blog, I miss writing, I miss my readers, and I miss the interactions and friendships that came from this space. While I can't promise I won't abandon you again, it is my intention to continue to take care of myself and to do the things that make me happy.