It’s my birthday today!
I’m one of those people that loveee celebrating their birthdays. And I’m always making a few celebrations. One in Croatia. One in the Netherlands. One in… Well, you get the point.
To me, my birthday is a day when I’m reflecting to the year behind me. I love to celebrate good things. And to learn from the bad ones.
Although, I had a feeling like this year was pretty calm and not many things were happening, when I started writing this blog post, I realised it wasn’t like that at all. It was quite busy, and some things (especially in my business) changed drastically.
Here are some things I’m so grateful for this year
Blogging became my primary job
If you were reading some of my more personal posts, you probably know that last year in October, my son started school. This is when I’ve decided to focus more on my blog. And to slow down with my museum tours.
Being a blogger and creating content online was something I wanted to do from since I could remember. And it finally happened last year. I’m so incredibly happy about that. And I feel like I have to remind myself from time to time about how lucky I am to be able to do that.
I’m more location independent
This is the second thing that happened this year, and I’m really grateful for it. I’m writing this blog post from Croatia, where I’m spending six weeks this summer. Working online has that wonderful benefit of allowing you to work from anywhere you want. And I finally got to enjoy it this year.
*Read more about my summer plans on a link here!
I went to some incredible trips this year
In October last year, Marijan and I went to India. Our dear friends were getting married there, so we attended their wedding. But, also made a two-weeks long trip around the country.
The two of us love going to a few of those trips alone as a couple throughout the year and spend some quiet and relaxing time together. This year we managed to go to quite a few of them. We’ve spent a week in Dublin. And went on a two weeks long road trip around Croatia and Bosnia.
However, my favourite trip from the last year was my search for places related to life and work of Vincent van Gogh. It was so inspiring to visit some of the places where he painted some of his most famous paintings. And to see how his style changed with the scenery surrounding him.
Travelling is one of my favourite things to do, and I’m so happy last year was filled with it!
I started to paint again
Well, my work is closely related to art. Not only that I’m spending a lot of my time in museums, but also by creating colouring postcards as a part of this blog. However, after finishing university, I somehow stopped with creating art as my creative outlet. So, at the beginning of this year, I’ve bought myself some acrylic paint and an easel and started to paint again. It felt so good I’ve decided to do it as a regular thing from now on.
Things that could be better
Although I feel like many things did go well this year and that I’m finally getting to that point of my life where everything is okay, some areas definitely need improvement.
I feel like I focused so much on work during the last year, I have forgotten to take care of my health. I’m often sitting and working at my laptop for the whole day, and I can definitely feel that on my health.
I could also feel that I’m stressed quite often. And it’s something that would have never happened to me before.
So, to work on those things, I’ve decided to make a list of things I would like to do in the following year. And to put in a blog post, just to make myself accountable. Here they are…
Things I would like to do in the following year
#1 – Read at least a book per month
#2 – Start exercise regularly (either by going running or swimming)
#3 – Eat more vegan
#4 – Start working on a book idea I have
#5 – Partner Culture Tourist with a charity
#6 – Visit a temple in Thailand
#7 – Write a blog post per week
#8 – Go on a mum-son weekend trip with Karlo
#9 – Speak at the conference
#10 – Visit Portugal
#11 – Create one painting each month
#12 – Buy an original art piece
#13 – Work remotely for at least a month
#14 – Buy second-hand clothes more
#15 – Go plastic-free for a month
#16 – Go on a solo trip somewhere new
#17 – Visit a new museum each month
#18 – Read a story to Karlo each evening
#19 – Create a clear vision for the future and growth of Culture Tourist
#20 – Figure out where I would like to be in five years
My plan is to come back to this list on my next birthday and see how much have I achieved. Well, I hope I’ll be happy with a result…