This is Part 2 of my two part 2017 Year in Review. If you haven’t read Part 1 you can find it here.
In Part 1 we covered my intention to live a values led life and I talked about how I had structured my 2017 goals around my core values. I assessed how I went against the first 4 of my 9 goal areas: Spiritual and Emotional; Health and Fitness; Connection; and Self-Development and Growth.
In this instalment I have a look at how I went against the final 5 of my 9 goal areas.
5. Character
As I mentioned above, each year I review my values and 2017 was no different and this year I also structured my goals around my core values.
I read as many books as I could. Actually that’s an outright lie. I spent more time on Social Media (especially Facebook) than I should have, when I could have used that time to read more books, a pastime I really enjoy.

Over five long and painful sessions I had my full sleeve tattoo finished – and I have no regrets. The fears that held me back from getting a sleeve tattoo all these years were faced down and I feel liberated and at peace with my decision. For so many years I have wanted to do this and have let the fear of what others might think stop me in my tracks, keeping any tattoos I did get in places more easily covered up.

Part of my character that I want to nurture is to allow myself, to push myself, to go outside my comfort zone on a regular basis. I did this in 2017 through undertaking a 6 week pole dancing course, spending 5 days in the backcountry of the Snowy Mountains on a mountaineering course and also (rock) climbed Mt Tibrogargan in the Glass House Mountains in Queensland. I tried at least once a week to do less drastic things to stretch the edges of the comfort zone but I feel these three things in particular were such a big stretch outside my comfort zone they require mentioning.
2017 saw me wishing to live more intentionally and in that light, I committed to living the Four Agreements (Miguel Ruiz). It was harder than I thought. The four agreements are: Be impeccable with your word; Don’t make assumptions; Don’t take anything personally; and Always do you best. If you haven’t read this book I would highly recommend it. I’ll keep committing to living these four agreements into 2018 and beyond and know with practice and conscious effort, I’ll get better at it.
6. Wealth
An important one in order to allow me to do all the great things I want to do!
Together my husband and I renovated an investment property and will have that on the market for rental soon. There I go – another flat out lie. Ok I had little to do with it except to ask how it was going, and my husband actually renovated the place, not me. I’m not really into it.
We also committed to throw some more money on our home mortgage and we were successful in this. The big aim now is to get it down even further and I must say I am revitalised after reading the Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape. An easy read (I got through the entire book in two sittings) and with some great advice – some will suit us and some not, but I’m willing to try new things.
7. Career and Mission
I clocked up five years in my current executive public sector role and signed up for another five. I’m not really sure what my career looks like into the future but right now, I’m feeling like I’m making a difference and stretching out from my traditional role. 2018 will see more planning in this regard.
I had the pleasure of mentoring a very skilled, intelligent and driven professional woman, albeit our relationship was brief as she took the opportunity to take the leap over the ditch to take up a seat at the executive table (a jump up in position) in New Zealand. These are the women I love to be around – they see they are better than this, they see that they can do more, be more – and rather than sit around and lament that they can’t be all that where they are, they get up and go somewhere they can be all that. I loved the process of mentoring her and particularly taking her through the Strength Profile tool and helping her see where her unrealised strengths were and what she could do about it.
After a number of years of procrastination, I launched Life Support as a website and Facebook page, prompted by the 30 Day Blogging Challenge that I came across on Facebook. I am over half way through the free 30 day course and it’s been really useful and enlightening. The development of my website www.lifesupportaustralia.com has given me an avenue to share my stories and my learnings from life, and holds my blogs and some other general information. I have many plans for Life Support and will be launching a product through it in the coming year. I’ll keep you posted.

2017 saw me undertake training in Mediation. That’s Mediation not Meditation. In 2018 I will undertake my final accreditation before adding Accredited Mediator to my portfolio. A friend recently told me she understood mediators to be peace makers – I like that analogy.
8. Recreation and Travel
Oh I so love travel – adventures are the best way to learn. It’s about that exhilarating feeling of teetering on the edge of the unknown. I can never get enough of it. So in 2017, I completed my fifth trek across the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. I never get tired of this one and I love leading and guiding my trekkers to achieve what is, for most of them, the single most physically, mentally and emotionally challenging adventure they have ever undertaken. I get so much from this gig that I don’t know if I could ever give it up. My knees might tell me a different story in the coming years but until then…bring on the next one!

I trekked the Green Gully Track in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park – a five day trip carrying all you need on your back, with some amazingly beautiful landscapes. A challenging experience, providing confidence and growth every step of the way.
As mentioned above, a five day mountaineering course in the backcountry of the Snowy Mountains gave me some skills and experiences that I will never forget. You can read about it here – needless to say, sometimes you get more than you expect!
On the lighter side, I wanted to see more live music in 2017 and I have loved actioning this goal! It’s taken me to new places, with friends and family, and I’ve gotten to see and sing along to James Taylor, Bernard Fanning, Kasey Chambers, The Waifs, Doug Anthony Allstars, Midnight Oil, The Village People, Marcia Hines, Sister Sledge and KC and the Sunshine Band!
9. Home and Lifestyle
I love our home – it’s an old house near the beach. It has a wonderful energy and it’s my sanctuary. I love where I live.
This year we started developing a renovation plan for our home and I’m really looking forward to making some improvements that are around lifestyle choices. Hand in hand with this is my commitment to simplification. I have over the past few years realised that I have too much ‘stuff’ and instead of me owning my stuff, it’s owning me. No sooner have I given all the rooms a spring clean and donated box loads to the Op Shops then I start again! Yeah I know, the key is to stop replacing that ‘stuff’ once I’ve tossed it. Still learning this.
Bring on 2018!
So there it is – my year in review 2017. Too often I move from one achievement to the next project and don’t take any time to celebrate what I’ve achieved. This review is a way for me to take a breath, recognise where I nailed it, and where I didn’t (and why) and refocus for 2018.

One key question that has come out of taking the time to review my 2017, is this:
Why is that I don’t have any trouble keeping promises and commitments to others, but I don’t keep the promises and commitments I make to myself?
Something to ponder for 2018.
Whatever your 2017 held for you, I urge you to take the time to review it.
If you haven’t already done an exercise around identifying your Values then I would recommend you do so. It drives everything for me these days – including my goals and resolutions for each year. After all, it’s hard to be yourself if you don’t know yourself. I can take people through this process (it’s one of my favourite things to do) however if you do an internet search on ‘free values determination tools’ you’ll find a few there.
Thanks for the memories 2017! Another year I am blessed with challenges and with good health and loving friends and family. I hope you were too.
Let’s rock 2018!
“Let your life be your message” – Mahatma Gandhi