It seemed like a good idea back in 2017 to keep track of all that I achieved during the year. However, as the years continue to get busier and busier, I’m starting to think that I need to draft this post at the beginning of the year and just add to it as I go… Anyway, here’s what I can remember from 2019!

• Continued to seek help for my mental health
• Celebrated my brother’s wedding!
• Celebrated both my grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversaries
• Said goodbye to grandpa
• Completed my second Master of Education in Educational Research at Charles Sturt University
• Crocheted a baby blanket
• Traveled to:
  • Orlando and New York with Lynette Noni in January
  • Melbourne with Kirsten at Easter
  • Townsville in July with Drew
  • Sydney for the Australian leg of the Edinburgh Tattoo with my mum and nan in October
  • Wagga Wagga for my graduation with my mum and gran in December
• Attended two school camps:
  • Year 8
  • Year 10
• Attended three school events:
  • Year 12 Formal
  • Year 8 Dance
  • Year 10 Social
• Continued mentoring students in the Conrad Challenge for 2019/2020
• Assisted with the following iCentre functions:
  • Lynette Noni’s “Vardaesia” Launch (a RLaG event)
  • International Women’s Day with Fleur Ferris (a RLaG event)
  • Literacy Week
  • Read Like a Girl with your Dad, with Tristan Bancks
  • Lynette Noni’s “Weapon” Launch (a RLaG event)
• Coordinated and assisted with the following book clubs:
  • Mount Alvernia Readers Cup Team
  • Mount Alvernia and Padua Joint Book Clubs with Clare School and Elizabeth Hayes School
• Presented at the Australian School Library Association Annual Conference in Canberra at the National Library (I think I have officially peaked…)
• Moved the gym! (Far out that was an intense start to the year…)
• Either ran or heavily supported the following competitions through our gym, Valhalla Strength – South Brisbane:
  • Rise of the Valkyries – an all female strongwoman competition
  • South East Queensland Strength Series, Rounds 1, 2, and 3
  • Brisbane’s Strongest Man and Woman
  • Australian Strongman Alliance (ASA) Nationals
  • Record Breakers Show at the Ekka
  • Pretty and Powerful – an all female powerlifting competition
  • Ragnarok – a novice powerlifting competition
  • Flying Kiwi Special Olympics October Cup – hosted in Queen Street Mall
• Reffed my first strongman competition
• Attended regional shows for strongman competitions:
  • Townsville Show for Townsville’s Strongest Man and Woman
  • Mount Gravatt Show for ASA Nationals
  • Brisbane Show (Ekka) for the record breaker events
• Rehabbed a torn ACL in my right knee
• Started training for the Walt Disney World Marathon in 2021
• Ran 10km at Bridge to Brisbane in under 80 minutes (my goal was 90 minutes)
• At the time of writing this I had achieved my goal of reading 52 books
• Continued the gym book club (while this will continue into 2020, there will be changes)
• Continued to sing at Vespers Services as Nazareth Lutheran Church (I don’t think I missed one all year)
• Cultural experiences included:
  • Frozen on Broadway (WOW)
  • The Book of Mormon at QPAC
  • Queensland Symphony Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  • Queensland Symphony Orchestra presents Cinematic
  • The NASA Exhibit at the Queensland Museum – their After Dark Show on May the 4th was epic!
  • Edinburgh Tattoo in Sydney
  • Puffs (so good I went twice!)
  • Devin Townsend at The Old Museum
  • Enchanted Garden at the Roma Street Parkland

My goal for this year was “simplicity.” To do less, but do less better. I know it seems like I might have taken on just as much, if not more, than I did in 2018, but I have reached the end of this year feeling like I have achieved my goal. I said no to many things. I’ve cut back even further for next year. I’m picking main things to focus on and letting the little ideas pass me by for another time. I’ve basically learnt to do hard edits on what my heart thinks its capable of sustaining, and what my brain knows is actually possible. I’m proud of my progress; 2019 has been a great year and I’m looking forward to 2020 even more.