Our 2016 New Year’s Resolutions

With the new year upon us, Chris and I decided it was time to sit down and figure out our resolutions for 2016. Typically, our resolutions revolve around travel and the places that we want to visit. This year, we decided to dig a little deeper and focus on things that would bring us true growth. Check out a few of our personal goals in the post below.

Stop Comparing Ourselves to Others

We catch ourselves constantly attempting to define our success (or failure) by comparing ourselves to others in the industry. “So-and-so has been to more countries” or “It looks like so-and-so is making more money.” The truth of the matter is, we don’t know how well others are doing and we really shouldn’t care. I want to be able to celebrate in my peer’s success instead of let it get me down. As good old Teddy Roosevelt put it…

Comparison is toxic. It doesn’t propel us forward. If anything, it’s the opposite. Chris and I are going to strive to make 2016 the year that we focus on our own success without constantly comparing ourselves to others. Which brings me to our next resolution…

Be Content

This goes along with our first resolution. We sometimes are so concerned with what others in the industry are doing that we don’t take the time to be grateful for what we have. We have so much to be thankful for that I don’t even really know where to start. For starters, we have a job that we absolutely adore. We have multiple opportunities to travel the world and get paid. If that’s not a dream job, I don’t know what is.

Our successful partnerships have allowed us to put a roof over our heads, food in our fridge, stamps in our passports, and most recently, a baby in my belly. Chris and I also have each other. Something that I think we often take for granted. We’re literally around each other 24/7 and still genuinely enjoy each other’s company. To travel the world with someone you love is a priceless gift. One that I don’t want to ever overlook.

I want to make sure that I spend this year being truly content with what I have. We’re healthy, happy, and incredibly rich in  friends and family. We often times let our struggles overshadow the amazing things that are happening right in front of us.

Be Present

This is something that I’ve been needing to work on for a while. I’m terrible when it comes to being present for strangers and loved ones alike. I often bury myself in my phone or computer when there are conversations taking place. There have been numerous times throughout the year when Chris was attempting to have a conversation with me but I found myself getting distracted by checking our Instagram stats or seeing who left a comment on our Facebook. It’s rude. It’s inconsiderate. It’s not how I want to live my life.

I want to truly be present for people, moments, and experiences. When it comes to travel, as much as I want to capture everything through the lens of a camera, I also want to take the time to relish in what I’m experiencing.

With a little baby entering our lives in a few short months, I want to practice being truly present so that it’s no longer a struggle between my phone and personal interaction. The people I love deserve so much more than that.

Slow Travel

This one could either be the easiest or the hardest resolution to keep. Our goal is to travel at a slower pace this year. It’s a habit that I want to start before the little one arrives. Too often, Chris and I will book a trip and then find ourselves cramming in as much as we possibly can so that by the time we leave, we’re both physically and emotionally exhausted. For example, our European trip this summer originated from us attending our friends’ wedding in France. What was initially supposed to be a quick trip across the pond, ended in 6 weeks spent traveling across Spain, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, France (obviously), Luxembourg, and Italy.

Now, I’m not complaining. The only thing is that we ended up spending a pretty penny to visit all of those places and were exhausted by the time it was done. The constant moving and packing (and unpacking!) has started to wear down on me. Now that we’re both 30, we find ourselves enjoying traveling at a slower pace with longer breaks in between destinations.

We’re also going to have to start accounting for the time changes and jet lag when the baby arrives. In a way, that might force us to spend more time adjusting to a new destination once we arrive.

So there you have it. A few things that we want to consciously work on in 2016. Stick with us over the next year to see how our travel style changes and evolves. As of right now, we have no idea what to expect.

What are your resolutions for the new year?