"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? 

I am linking up with Melyssa from the Nectar Collective for her Weekly Wishes link up. Each week you are meant to come up with weekly goals and share some love with your other linkies. On an unrelated topic, I have noticed that the more I work in an international office the more I say the word meant. Actually, a lot of my vocabulary has changed. 

Last week. my only goal was to celebrate my 2 years of living in the Netherlands. I didn't get to celebrate quite the way I wanted it to due to Dutch weather being well, Dutch weather. We did however book a trip on the 3 triple border (The Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium) for a weekend in December!

This week, I want to focus on 4 things:

• Continue to be a morning person. I really feel so much better when I wake up early, but I love being in bed, so it is a long struggle.
• Finalize my plans for NTVN- Tune in on Wednesday to find out what the heck that means.
• Send off some of the packages I need to send. The only time I hate not having a car, when I have to go mail something big!
• Meet my targets at work. I had a really kick ass week last week, and I want to keep it up!

What are your plans for the week?