Last Updated on February 21, 2023 by Kirsten Raccuia

A Look Back at 2019 + 2020 Goals

I have to admit, I love January. It’s hopeful. It’s promising. It’s ambitious.

And then there is February.

All the promises, resolutions, goals that I make in January, all my good intentions, go out the window. I know I’m not alone. Most people don’t even make resolutions because they know they won’t keep them. I’ve fallen into that group some years.

Who hasn’t?

Other people make the resolutions, stick them in a drawer somewhere, never to be found again. Unless you are me, and you find them 2 years later.

I’ve said it before, I’m not the best at follow-through and this year wasn’t much different. My first goal of 2019 was…wait for it… to be consistent and finish things. I was referring to a couple of courses I was am still taking. 

It wasn’t a particularly easy year for me business-wise. I am just getting comfortable declaring that I am a writer, even though it’s how I’ve earned money since 2014.

I now have the confidence to ask for the job because I am good at what I do.

That is a big statement for me and worth all of my unfinished resolutions. Self-growth baby! This will be the year of me! But before we talk about this year, let me review 2019.

Travel

Continents visited = 2

North America: Chicago, Connecticut, Boston, and Maine

Europe: Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus

Countries Visited = 6

1. America

Chicago, IL.:

The whole gang. That’s gramma at her 100th birthday.

I went home for about 6 weeks to visit family and friends. I spent a month in Chicago helping my mom find a new apartment. It was a major challenge, but we did it and got her moved in as well. I wasn’t able to spend too much time with my 102-year-old gramma because she was sick and had the shingles. I’m looking forward to spending more time quality with her this summer.

Then a few days before we were heading to Connecticut, my aunt suddenly passed away. She was a healthy 76-year-old woman who we had just seen a few days before. Ironically, we had been talking about how healthy she was and how good she felt. Then three days later, while eating lunch and chatting with my uncle, she had a fatal pulmonary embolism.

It rocked all of us. It’s not supposed to happen like that. My gramma is 102, just saying.

Connecticut:

Going to see Mark’s side of the family is always fun for me. I am happy to say that I married into a beautiful family whom I love dearly. They are a big Italian family who loves to eat and drink as much as I do. It’s a good match. But also on the east coast are some of our best friends. We don’t get enough time with them but are happy to have any time all when we live so far away. From America, we flew to Greece via Zurich.

2. Switzerland:

We were only there for a couple of long layovers. I took the train into Zurich and spent a few hours wandering the town. Unfortunately, I was there so early that most shops weren’t open.

I was freeeezing and wanted a coffee, but the only place open was Starbucks, which I think is the worst tasting, bitter, burnt coffee on the planet, so I went without.

3. Greece:

We spent 3 weeks in Syros doing our first home exchange. We loved every minute of it. Staying in a home for three weeks was a complete departure for us. We don’t normally spend that much time in one place but it really changed the way we think of travel.

Then we visited Mykonos, Delos, Santorini, and Paros. I had been to Mykonos and Delos before, and a lot had changed. I wasn’t super impressed with Mykonos. It’s great for a party but feels like it could have been anywhere in the world. It’s so touristy that it lacks the Greek feeling that some of the quieter islands have.

Delos is a very well preserved archaeological island that is a must-see if you are in the neighboring islands.

Santorini is as beautiful as everyone says it is. It took my breath away more than once.

Paros was an unexpected love for me. It’s cute, quaint, and I wanted more time there. My advice, skip Mykonos and head straight for Paros.

4. Cyprus:

Cyprus wasn’t really on our radar. But a couple of friends were staying there for a few months and knew the island inside and out. There is no better way to see a new place than with great friends who know the ropes. I am pretty sure we saw every little village on the island and drank them out of ouzo.

They took us to the Turkish occupied north of the country, which was unique as it was beautiful. A definite must if you are in Cyprus.

5. Thailand:

Our year couldn’t be complete without a quick hop to Phuket. It’s only an hour flight and rarely more than US$100. It’s a perfect beach getaway.

6. Indonesian Borneo:

We went to Pontianak for Mark’s dragon boat races. It was a cute enough town, but we were there during the burning season. They burn the palm oil plantations to get them ready for the new crops. It creates terrible unhealthy haze and is not a good time to go.

Islands Visited = 9

1. Langkawi
2. Phuket
3. Cyprus
4. Syros
5. Santorini
6. Mykonos
7. Delos
8. Paros
9. Borneo

Random but very cool experiences and achievements:

TV & Movie Work

Since moving to Penang, we’ve had a lot of opportunities to work on a couple of different TV series as well as a few movies. This year we did a German documentary about our expat life.

We are in a Japanese Movie called The Confidence Man JP, which is coming out in theaters soon.

My favorite media moment was staring in a Malaysian Airlines commercial. It will be used for the next year as the country promotes Visit Malaysia 2020. It will be on TV as well as on some Malaysian Airlines flights. It was a very cool experience, and I am really proud of how it turned out.  Watch it below.

I was awarded one of the Top 100 Expat Blogs & Websites To Follow which is a major achievement for me.

These are the blog posts you guys love the most:

Top Blog Post:

Life as an Expat: What You Need to Know. It also happened to be one of my faves to write. It was so honest and raw, and one of my more vulnerable posts as well.

Runner Up:

Pros (and Cons) of Being an Expatriate in Malaysia 

Top Travel Guide:

Best Areas to Stay in Phuket–A Complete Travel Guide. I need to do the same for Penang. It’s on the content calendar. And I’ve checked a few things off the F*CK-IT List.

Writing in Numbers

Blog = 75,141 Words Written:

Posts Published: 35

Freelance = 22,659 Words Written:

I wrote for 11,464 words for International Living magazine.

I also wrote an article for one of my fave travel websites The Culture Trip about the Hidden Bars in Penang and hope to do more. It should be published soon.

I just started writing for a real estate tax blog, and it is super challenging, but I love that about it. It’s so out of my wheelhouse that it takes me longer to research about the topic than to write about it.

Trying to make taxes fun to read is def one of my biggest challenges. But it has proven that I am a writer who can write about anything and enjoy the process.

MAJOR aha moment. 

That means I’m doing exactly what I am supposed to be. Last year this time, I felt I was floundering. I was unsure about which way to take my career. Now I know I am on the right path.

What I Achieved and Learned From My Blog in 2019:

1. I have to say, I’m feeling pretty proud of my blogging efforts. I have been consistently writing one blog a week since May, and I’ve really enjoyed doing it.
2. I realized how much I love writing. Sometimes it takes me too long because I want to be a perfectionist. But I never mind doing it.
3. My best blogs aren’t travel related posts, but expat life posts. Which means I am starting to niche down, and that’s a good thing.
4. I only have 145 email subscribers, but I have 1200-2000 visitors per month.
5. I hit 11,553 page views for the year compared to a measly 1496 in 2018.
6. Learned a lot of the tech stuff behind the website, SEO, linking, collaborations, guest posts.
7. Wrote 35 posts for the year vs. 2018 when I wrote 12. So in that way, I was def more consistent.

Books Read = 13

I love reading and have started numerous book clubs, but I don’t make enough time for it. This year Woman in the Window was the fave. I don’t normally read thrillers, but this gripped me from page one! Apparently, they are making a movie about it due out this May.

At the moment I’m reading Handmaid’s Tale but I’m not loving it. I’m about 200 pages in and it still feels so disjointed.

I am always looking for book suggestions, so mention your fave book in the comment box below.

Goals for 2020

I never wanted to be a writer.

But someone convinced me I could do it and took a chance on me. It changed my trajectory. Sometimes the things you say yes to, that seem totally outlandish, are the things that make the most impact on your life. Be fearless my friends (but be balanced).

What I have figured out this year is that I don’t need to be a famous blogger. That doesn’t drive me. What I want is to make a good living by freelance writing. And I learned that from Location Rebel, one of the courses I am in the middle of. (By the way, if you are looking for a side hustle or another stream of income check out his courses. Sean Ogle is the real deal.)

Health:

Well, of course, there are the usual suspects: workout 4 times a week (2 cardio and 2 weights) and drink less; however, I’m typing with a vodka-soda on my desk.

Lifestyle:

This year, I want to be fearless and more balanced. Not sure how that looks, but I don’t need to know all the details, I just need to know what I want. The rest will be filled in. You don’t always need to know the how in order for the end result to be achieved. 

Career:

• I want to grow the blog because it makes me feel good
• I want to boost my domain authority
• Obtain a broader readership
• Be a better resource for people who are thinking about moving overseas or becoming a digital nomad
• I want to continue on my path of freelance writing, picking up a few more regular clients
• I need to learn to write faster so I can fit in more clients
• I’m hoping to add another stream of income into the mix with Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA)

Travel:

I’d like to travel to five new countries and use home exchange instead of paying for accommodation. Or stay in hotels in exchange for an honest blog review of the place. 

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Thank you for all of your support in 2019! It doesn’t matter if you’ve been with me from the beginning or this is your first post, I am grateful you take time from your busy life to take a peek into mine.

XO, K

Now it’s your turn! Tell me your 2020 goals in the comments below. I love comments, I really do!

P.S. Thanks to Helene in Between’s year-end linkup which was the inspo for this blog.

P.P.S If you want to read some of my past goals read New Year = New Me.