Juliana Moves

I can’t believe that 2022 is practically over. This year was the most present I’ve felt since the pandemic started and yet January 2022 still feels like it was a different lifetime. I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster this year and it was quite the experience. I don’t know if I would say it was fun the whole time, but it was definitely worth it.

I say it every year, but I LOVEEEE all the good vibes the new year brings. I love seeing people reflect on their year and set goals for the next. People seem to pause and take a moment to evaluate their lives and prepare for change and I like that a lot. That being said, I’m really not into new year resolutions. I think that phrase is loaded with expectations and people often feel shame for not sticking to what they probably arbitrarily chose to write down. On the other hand, I am a recovering goal-setter. I enjoy setting goals and working towards them, but I also get swept away in the process of goal-setting for the sake of goal-setting, rather than chasing something I actually care about.

Last December, I decided to try something different and made a list of aspirations for 2022. These were things that I wanted to do more of, but I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself to accomplish them. If I made a SMART goal for each one I would’ve overfixated on them and lost sight of the point: to have fun and better myself on the regular. I wrote these aspirations down and hung them on my fridge as a constant reminder of the things I aspired to do more of (or start doing).

Every now and then throughout the year, I would check on the list and make a mental note of how it was going. Sometimes I would see something that I inspired me. Other times I would realize that I checked multiple items off the list without even meaning to. And occasionally I would glance at an item on this list and think “yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Nonetheless, I always enjoyed reviewing the list of aspirations and never once felt guilty for not “accomplishing” something. I am looking forward to making another list of aspirations for 2023, but I wanted to officially reflect on this year’s list…

Juliana’s 2022 Aspirations (aka Do More Of List):

• Camp 3+ times

Hey, I went camping twice! We went camping for Patrick’s birthday in April and then again in July. We tossed around the idea of going again this fall, but it was so busy and then so cold. This will almost certainly go on the 2023 list again.

• Go bikecamping

Nope. So many half-hearted attempts though! We keep saying that we want our first bikecamping experience to be really enjoyable, so we flake anytime there’s the slightest chance of rain or if it’s too hot or cold. I think we just need to bite the bullet and go for it on this one.

• Put on a dress and go outdoors (farmer’s market, picnic, etc)

This is such a funny aspiration. Did I put on a dress and go outside in 2022? Probably LOL. But I think the heart of this aspiration was just to do more whimsical outdoorsy stuff? One day this August Patrick and I had nothing to do on a Sunday morning, so we went to a local farmer’s market. We ended up being inspired to try tomato/mayo toast, so we bought fresh tomatoes from the market and then country white bread and Duke’s mayo from the grocery store. It was an awesome day. Probably wasn’t wearing a dress, but memorable nonetheless.

• Make some eco-friending swaps at home

Hmmm, I am not sure about this one. I think I did a better job at being aware of my environment impact than I had been since 2020! I’m at a phase in my life where I’m just busy enough that I’d rather pay more for convenience (such a privilege, by the way), but I am also keenly aware of how harmful convenience often is for the environment. I’d say the closest I got here was that I started bike commuting into our DC office once a week!

• Buy a few pieces of clothing that I’ll love and wear for a long time

Yes! This year I was bit by the shopping bug, weirdly. However, I think I did a really good job of buying higher quality items that I’ll wear for a long time. For me, that included jeans, blazers for work, and a few nice dresses for some events I went to throughout the year.

• Travel more

Wow, I feel like Patrick and I travelled a lot! Weekend road trips, some flying, and just a lot of fun. In June we rented a cabin in West Virginia for a long weekend. I could not recommend that enough.

• Take a spontaneous sick day and go to the beach (for legal purposes this is a joke… (it’s not))

So, fun fact: my work instituted an optional compressed work week with Fridays off, so our beach day was totally legit and not an abuse of sick leave! We went to Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware for the day and it was fantastic. This was also the day that Roe v. Wade was overturned, which was sucky news to hear about on the beach, but it was still a really fun day in the sun.

• Go to organized runs or track practices

I did this, thanks to Erica! She found a running group at one of the local running stores, so I just followed her lead and started going too. After my 45 miler in April, I took a decent chunk of time off of consistent running, so I sort of fell off from going after that – truth be told!

• Go kayaking more

Mission accomplished, except not kayaking. Patrick and I considered buying kayaks, but our car doesn’t have roof racks and they are pricey SOBs. Instead, I bought Patrick an inflatable SUP (since I knew he wouldn’t buy one for himself). After using it once, he decided he did enjoy it and bought a different SUP for himself. So I guess I ended up buying myself a SUP? Classic Pat move. Regardless, we went together a few times this summer and Patrick went on his own a few times too!

• Figure out a post-50 miler gym plan/routine

Yes! I got the Naked Program app and have been following it (roughly-ish) since April. I went a little overboard this summer trying to balance the gym with cycling and running, so I had to back off for a bit. I think I’ve found my groove now though.

• Make one day a week extra special

Started strong and then fell off quickly. This one takes a level of planning and intention that I could not maintain (lol). I like the gist of what I was trying to accomplish here though and want to renew that energy moving forward.

• Read more books

I’m not actually sure if I read more books than 2021, but I definitely still consistently read – which was what I set out to do with this aspiration! I mistakenly forced my way through some pretty boring books this year, so at times I went a few days without any reading at all, but ultimately stuck to reading on a near daily basis. Add me on Goodreads!

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2022/107118000?utm_source=twitter

• Go on more day hikes

Patrick and I hiked quite a bit this year! Less running this summer allowed for more time hiking and I enjoyed that. During Memorial Day weekend/my birthday, we got passes to hike Old Rag in Shenandoah and it was fantastic. I think an aspiration for 2023 will be to finally go backpacking.

• Volunteer at one (or more) running race

I never got around to doing this, but I’d really like to. I selfishly don’t want to give up a whole day of my weekend, which is ridiculous because I love volunteers when I’m running a race. Races literally can’t happen without volunteers! 2023. It’s happening.

• Figure out finances

Hmmm, I mean yes? I had some things to figure out in terms of some benefits I get through work and I got that sorted. I’ve been super wishy washy about spending tracking though and I’d like to be more consistent with that.

• Plan more run projects

NOPE! As I’ve mentioned on this blog, after my 45 miler in April I was so burnt out. I spent all summer trying to push through burnout and it sucked. I’m finally at a place where running is fun and joyful again and I don’t have anything on the calendar or any big project I’m going after. I might try that out for a bit and see if inspiration strikes me along the way.

• Ask for a raise

Hell yeah. Asked for a raise and it turned into a full-blown promotion. Love it!

• Plate meals, set the table more often

I use the kitchen table as my desk, so this year I tried to just… move my crap off when it was time to eat dinner. I wouldn’t say we set the table in any fancy way! We definitely kept cooking new recipes and making legitimate meals, which I love to do.

• Make little videos/montages of photos and videos

This is hilarious. I did this once, in January, and it was so poorly made and cringey to watch. I love seeing well done videos and montages though, so it’s something I’d like to get better at – I just do not have the patience for it.

• Journal or blog more

The best laid plans, am I right?? I think I blogged here maybe 4-5 times this year? Could’ve been worse! I say this almost every time I finally write something, but I really do enjoy writing here. I just can never decide what to write about. Maybe I’ll just find a list of random topics or prompts and go from there. If anything, this serves as a good creative outlet for me and is like a little time capsule of my life.

In fact, I updated the layout of this blog recently and ended up scrolling through some older posts. I came across one from May of 2020, in the heart of quarantining, where I was wondering what life would be like when I moved to Virginia and what job I would have and how I would adjust. Juliana in May of 2020 could not and did not even imagine the life I am living now! I am so glad that I basically have an online diary to go back and read my thoughts and see my growth and development over time. It is wonderful.

Hopefully I will be back soon with my 2023 aspirations. If not, happy holidays and a happy new year to you all!