Bye bye 2025. How'd I do?
Looking back on last year's resolutions.
The new year is very nearly upon us!
This blog thing is just plain fun. I’m not taking it seriously at all—just writing when and what I want. Last year, when I was taking it a big more seriously, I wrote up some 2025 Resolutions.
Now, let’s see how I did!
Regardless of these resolutions from last year, this year was amazing. We got married, biked in the Netherlands, saw freaking windmills, raised a lovely puppy, saw many old friends, and got outside a whole lot.
Anyway, these were last years’ resolutions:
(Personal) “Shirk my cellular responsibilities.” (-5/10)
Yeah, no. Failed at this one. A helpful reminder. I even downloaded Threads again after a good long break. Phones are still my problem. Gross.
(Personal) Quit buying new stuff. (8/10)
I did pretty well here. Selling my daily driver and buying a bike was a wonderful idea. It wasn’t hard and has saved an incredible amount of money. I drive the van when I need to and just don’t miss that little sedan at all.
New cars do not save you any money. Nor are they more reliable. The math doesn’t work out. I don’t spend anywhere near a car payment to keep the van rolling each month. Not even close.
Most of my clothes are approaching a decade old, too. It’s a great feeling. When I started buying quality clothes, new or thrifted, the costs hurt pretty bad. Now, they’ve paid for themselves over and over! I tend to buy secondhand for everything too. Online consignment is great.
(Personal) Eat a little smarter. (5/10)
Probably about the same. I really enjoy the farm share and I want to grow a little bit bigger garden this year. Food is food.
(Work) Only take on deeper tasks. (7/10)
Definitely a good trajectory here. We take on more, bigger projects and less small stuff. I love the small stuff; I just don’t have time for much of it. I want to find a way to do the small, fun things but can’t seem to figure that out.
(Work) Don’t worry about growth. Serve instead. (9/10)
Did I do well here, on accident? Aspire grew a lot this year, by most every metric. We have an absolutely amazing team. I can’t remember if I really worked to grow or serve more, though. I just want to do impactful work.
(Work) Work with who wants to be in the room. (7/10)
I only want to work with and work for people who want me in the room with them. Fortunately, I seem to find plenty of those people. I hope this will only improve over time.
(Run Club) Collaborate as broadly as possible. (5/10)
This is one piece I haven’t figured out yet. People and brands “want” to collaborate but, so far, we don’t fully align. I haven’t found ways that collaboration really helps out the club or its members. With a notable exception, though, from Iron Tree Brewing Company, which is an excellent home base and even put up our flag!
In terms of run community collaboration, too? It’s great. We work back-and-forth with the Blacksburg Striders a lot now and are really forming a great regional community of runners.
(Run Club) Tighten up the mission and solidify. (2/10)
This year, we might have gotten looser. I started out last year thinking we’d form the non-profit organization, have a scholarship fund going, and be “real” by now.
We’re bigger than ever, with more committed folks. But as an organization, it’s looser. Maybe that’s just community. One big, crazy family.
(Run Club) Build community affinity. (7/10)
One year better in the community. More people know about us. I hear about run club in odd places more often. People tell me they love to see it. We’re doing well here.
“The big one”: Build only for those that are open to it. (7/10)
I don’t quite remember why this one felt “big” last year. I think I was experiencing some frustration with people who were terminally unhappy with a lot in their own lives and it bled into work.
Not everyone is open to growth. Not every place, either: I’m still not sure if Christiansburg truly wants to improve or not. But time will tell and we’ll keep making friends and running in town!
Great year! We enjoy the run/walk club. Thanks for making it all happen.