Twenty

The festive season has officially come to an end, 2017 is underway and I'm sure you are all struggling with those new years resolutions.

I'm not really a huge fan of setting unrealistic challenges at the start of the year, despite being an organised overachiever. However, in honour of my 20th birthday (which falls on January 9th) I'm going to create my very own 2017 bucket list.

I want to share these rather personal goals with you all to hold myself accountable. I know that I will do anything I properly put my mind too, but if I share them with my little community of followers I might just be more inclined to tick some more off.

1. Travel

I feel like everyone wants to do more of this but I really want to go to New York in June/July. Jacinta and I have a skeleton plan but I need to make the effort to book something.

2. Drop a Dress Size

After working my bum off last year I really thought I would be at happy place with my weight loss but, to be honest, it's harder than they all say. As amazing as I feel I want to look better, be more motivated, focused and happy. I would love to walk into Forever New and fit into any size 12.

3. Laugh

This takes the cake of clichés but all too often I get bung down in Uni work and forget the importance of a good laugh. I want to have more fun in 2017 and say yes to leaving the house. I know I need to restore some balance between work and play. I want to give myself the chance to live a little whilst I am young enough to party without responsibilities.

4. Build My Journalism Contact Book

In terms of my career I want to get as much experience as possible. Having already started working part time at the Glasshouse Country and Maleny News as well as interning at the Brisbane Times, I want to use this year to launch into the journalism world. I am hoping to secure some sort of full time journalism related employment after I graduate, so here's hoping I give myself plenty of opportunities to network with the right people in the right places.

5. Accept That I Am Enough

I think I put a little too much emphasis on what other people think I should be doing or should have achieved by now. This year I want to become totally okay with being who I am and accept that just because I'm not doing what everyone else is or focusing on what other people think is important I am not anything less.

May this next year bring you and your family health and happiness. I hope you all achieve something new in 2017.

#ashleighdwan #beyondthestory #journalism #2017