Talk the talk, walk the walk /

New year, new me has never really worked for me. Or maybe it has. 

At least this year, me and Ruta tackled the monthly challenges to get into habit and keeping it as consistent as the life allows it. 

March has been a bit of a challenge. I have had 55% consistency rate for my set challenges - steps, daily yoga, no spend days and other things. That obviously is better than not having any consistency, but not as good as February was - at 76%. And January (the set 5 things) - at 100%. So that is the new year, new me curse, - the first few weeks you are so focused and motivated and being on top of everything that needs to be done, and after few weeks, months the motivation and consistency dies down. Little sad. 

So let's see what happened in March.

Wins - paying off the Halifax card, no more debt for me! Well done on daily steps, reading a book, study, fasting and colouring (even though the end of the month seems like a disaster :D)

Proud - finding new venues and contacts for work events, trying out different gyms (Urbn, Challenger)

Memories - lots of outings (unfortunately most involving drinks) - POPP day out and women's day at Thirsty Barber, Valletta with Valters, Chapels lunch with work colleagues, Brewhouse St Patricks with work colleagues, movie night with Aleks, St Patricks in St Julians, Sunday Funday with Valters, Drum n Bass in Hideout with Aleks

Grateful - Nikolett for taking me as a model for beauty course, mom and brother' help in paying the debt, and Ruta for always being supportive

Lessons learned - that is a good question. what have I learned, good or bad from the actions I did this month. Daily journaling might help answer this question. 

Unfinished - 50% or less on these challenges - daily yoga, no spend, no alcohol, no sugary snacks.

Improve next month - continue focused approach on basic areas of Physical, Social and Self-care, in addition to the established steps. Extra attention to daily activity, daily self-care and nutrition (mainly fasting, but avoiding sugary snacks).

April goals

Physical - FitOn body weight (plus kettlebells), TRX workouts (open day gyms)

Social - stay in touch with friends and family, even if it is a quick text (but better a phone call) 

Self love - read, meditate and write gratitude journal :)

That girl!

I am the girl that reads.

I am the girl that has finished the PT course.

I am the girl that goes climbing, salsa dancing and does yoga.

I am the girl that wakes up in the morning and meditates.

I am the girl that has financial stability.

I am the girl that dresses nicely and takes care of her clothes and shoes.

I am the girl that takes care of her body.

I am the girl that is cheerful and positive.

I am the girl that is honest and humble.

I am the girl that works hard but doesn't stress about things she can't control.

I am the girl that loves her family.

I am the girl that keeps in touch with her friends.

I am the girl that takes goals and achieves them.

I am the girl that has beautiful home.

I am the girl that organises dinners and invites friends over for a intelligent evening.

I am the girl that knows what she wants and is not afraid to ask for it. 

I am the girl that is proud of what she has achieved, personally and professionally. 

I am the girl that works out daily. 

Journal Challenge - Day 15 - Letter - Open on 12/11/2025

 *Write an encouraging letter to your younger self

Hey girl, 

You are awesome and you are doing the best you can. You have achieved so much in your life. The courage you have had to move countries, twice, without having a real prospect of what you going to do or where you are going to stay. And now, look at you! You are well loved and appreciated in the company you work at. You have lovely apartment in a nice area. You have few really good friends you can count on. And your family always supports you, even with the crazy ideas of moving.

You have learned a lot about yourself in the last couple of years and you are continuing to grow and learn and improve yourself. It takes time, but its the journey and it will never become easier. But you fight through!

You are becoming more and more financially accountable. You have paid off your debt and won't be back in this situation ever again! You have saved some money and spending it on experiences that create memories rather than short term pleasure items. You own beautiful clothes and shoes and household items that you are proud of and that serve you! You have a style and grace about you! 

You are fit and strong and keeping yourself in check with eating healthy and keeping active. It's been an up and down journey with the weight and looks, but you are finally here where you are happy and confident. You are part of community that cares about each other and fitness is big part of your daily life. Whether that means dancing all night, going on hikes, climbing or bouldering, you are spending your time being active! 

You have learned and grown a lot within the industry and are managing yourself. It could be within a bar where you are a managing partner and operations manager, or/and freelancing as an operations/office manager at your own company. This allows you to travel to places you have always wanted to go - back to States, to Japan, Indonesia and South America.

You are amazing, and don't ever doubt yourself. Yes, there might be some hard times, but you always come out on top. There will always be a way! Make it happen! Go girl!

Journal Challenge - Day 9 - My own company

 *Write about a time you enjoyed your own company.

Well, this is quite an easy one. I almost always enjoy my own company. 

Very recently I spend Sunday: doing a fun colour run, went to theatre and had dinner on my own. Even though the run would have been more fun with a company, but as I didn't even run, I think it was great. And I danced, like nobody was watching. Theatre was a modernised Shakespeare play, while still using the old language, so at points it was hard to understand, but overall, a little bit of culture that makes you think a bit more. And the dinner, after a long and a bit tiring weekend, was exactly what I needed. No one talked to me, no one bothered, I could just enjoy my burger and a beer, get a discount and walk home. Quite perfect day. 

Journal Challenge - Day 7 - Joy!

*What brings you joy?

Doing the little projects. Like today:

Getting ready (prepping) all the necessary things for the event. 

Bringing the games to the office.

Getting the cards done to add to my costume. 

Doing the decorations to give a bit more spirit to the place. 

Ordering the soft drinks for the night.

Journal Challenge - Day 6 - A skill

 *Name a skill you're good at. How do you feel when you are performing that skill?

I like being prepared. I am prepared. And that makes me organised. I feel good, accomplished because there are a lot of things that could go wrong and being prepared takes out the unknown out of the equation and any issues can be dealt with before rather than having to stress about it later - on the day or last minute. Makes me happy that I can actually think ahead of time, check what needs to be done and avert any problems. 

When sometimes things do happen and I haven't thought about it, feels like I haven't done my job. Even though I know that I tend to be a lot more prepared and ready for certain occasions than most people, I still sometimes don't give myself enough credit.

Note for future. I am doing a great job! 

Journal Challenge - Day 4 - A wish

 *What is something you have now that seemed like a wish back then? How do you feel knowing that you have it now?

I wish to work at Trident Park. It feels like accomplishment, but at the same time I feel like I'm not giving myself enough credit in achieving it. Or maybe the wish was not big enough in the first place so achieving it doesn't seem as big. 

At the same time, in general, am I avoiding to allow myself to have these big wishes just not to feel disappointed if I don't achieve it? What is the root cause?

Also, I wish to live and succeed in Malta. I am now living here, working and enjoying life. Of course, I have a well-paid job, probably better than a lot of OM in Malta. But is it well-rounded success? Again, I feel like I'm being hard on myself. 

Some wishes for future?!

I wish I travelled without worrying about money, security.

I wish to be debt free by end of middle of next year!

I wish I was fit and feel good about my body.