Time definitely flies. Before we know it, another year has slid behind. They literally fly them years, don’t they.

This is why at their end I feel the urge to sit down and reflect for a bit on what my goals have been, how far I have got, and where I would like to be in one year.

Here is a brief overview of my yearly goals for 2017, let’s see how I scored:)

• Start my own olive farm: This goal has largely succeeded. In February 2017 I planted the first 45 trees (mostly olives, but also figs and pomegranates). Yes, hardly a “farm”, but definitely a beginning. Hopefully, the winter will be mild and they can have a smooth first 12 months soon. I am particularly happy for achieving this goal, as it had been a long-standing dream of mine. Now the trees are in the ground and they grow as we speak :).

• Concentrate my effort in a career: certainly the biggest achievement for the last year was the start of a new fascinating and inspiring job in Bulgaria in September. After numerous interviews and screenings, I got the opportunity to work for a large international company that offers virtually endless horizons and possibilities for a career growth, while working with a fabulous team of young professionals. At the current stage, I feel I am at the right place - there’s nowhere else I’d like to be! A feeling I hadn’t felt for quite some time.
  
  
• Keep far away from electronic devices: Quite a major failure, unfortunately. My old and scruffy Nokia that I was planning to use more and more got stolen (?!, who steals a 5 EUR phone..), and I even had to purchase a new phone. Could really do with less devices.
  
  
• Less energy in superficial contacts, focus on deeper connections: quite a success really. This year I spent much quality time with few people that truly care for me, and I truly care for. Those who love you will find you, reach out and be there.
  
  
• Reading in foreign languages: This year I have read a total of 21 books, mostly literature, but also history and other genres. Of all these 2 are foreign - a Dutch book about the Middle East (Joris Luyendijk - “A good man must hit his wife sometimes”, Een goede man slaat soms zijn vrouw”) and reading another novel in English (written by a Bulgarian) I just got. In brief, I have not quite reached the goal of 2 pages per day, but am not so far from it. Reading in a foreign language is definitely not as easy as I thought :).  
  
  
• Sport: I have kept up a very good record throughout the year, until I fractured my elbow in September. Since then my sports activities have declined, but I still maintain a decent record. I had to temporarily stop volleyball, but did start on jogging 2-3 times a week, which is very rewarding.
  
  
• Learn two pieces on the piano: I even learned three. Still, looking back, I’d have liked to learn more, as playing piano is a most pleasurable activity, a fabulous stress releaser and… simply beautiful.
  
  
• Attention to humans: Succeeded very much in paying attention to humans around me. In fact, it is a double-edged sword - sometimes being too social can lead to too many superficial contacts. Perhaps staying calm and silent is sometimes a bigger virtue than paying too much attention to everyone, that’s the lesson I learned this year.
  
  
• Be bored: had some beautiful moments of “boredom” throughout the year actually. Many at my favourite place on the coast - old town of Sozopol. Definitely a goal to take to next year, and to my whole life journey in fact. How beautiful is it to be with your own thoughts and self, simply contemplating?
  
  
• Achievements outside the yearly goals:

• Started learning Greek in September, finished the first level (A1) and signed up for the second level (A2).
• Started cooking slightly more than before.
• Started jogging - a new sport for me.
• Managed to, yet again, do a big “dive into the deep” by moving back to Bulgaria this time. It was a turbulent process - “new” old country, with a new job, re-establishing my life, and other challenges related to a change of country, including learning a new language and recovering from a nasty elbow injury.

Conclusion: This year has been most eventful for me, utterly colourful and even intense I’d say. It has cost a lot of energy, but has brought many positives back, too. Shared many beautiful moments with important for me people. I also took some crucial and most significant steps that I had postponed for some time, and that feels particularly rewarding. I let it go with a feeling of content, achievement, and with a thirst for a promising 2018!

How was your year? If you want to share, just drop me a message, I’d be most curious to hear your story!