Each year I put together a list of a handful of goals for the upcoming year. I try to make the goals realistic but also things to better me as a person whether physically or mentally. For goals I've found that looking back on how I did, not only at setting goals, but also achieving them can be just as important as actually accomplishing them. So how did I do?

GOAL #1: READ 28 BOOKS - Achieved

I managed to just barely finish my 28 books for 2016, with only a couple of days to spare. However, when it comes to my stretch goals I was not nearly as proficient. Jenn and I started Chamber of Secrets but only got a couple chapters in. I bought a graphic novel (Saga) but never read it. And I didn't even buy a book of poetry even though I thought about it several times.

Stretch Goal #1 - Read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with Jenn - FAILED
Stretch Goal #2 - Read 1-2 Graphic Novels - FAILED
Stretch Goal #3 - Read 1 book of poetry - FAILED

GOAL #2: USE PRODUCTIVE APP WITH 250 DAYS OF PERFECT PERFORMANCE - FAILED (So Close)

You might be wondering what this even means. Productive is an app that has you track daily activities that you want to accomplish. For me these are simple things like brush my teeth twice a day, workout, play elevate, and wash my face. Simple small tasks that the app makes into a check list and reminds you on throughout the day. Sadly in 2016 I was just under hitting my goal completing 242 perfect days using productive.

Stretch Goal - 300 Days of Perfect Performanc - Failed

GOAL #3: RUN 250 TIMES IN 2016 - Achieved

I began running in the summer of 2015 and I set some lofty goals for 2016 with my goal to hit 250 runs in 2016 and a stretch of 300 runs with an average distance of 3 miles. I'm insanely proud to report that I ran 330 times in 2016. I've grown to expect, and even at times look forward to my morning run. As much as its for my physical health its a nice stress reliever to clear my head and enjoy the mornings.

Stretch Goal #1 - Run 300 times in 2016 - Achieved
Stretch Goal #2 - Average > 3 miles per run - Failed (Avg 2.7)

GOAL #4: KEEP WEIGHT < 140 LBS AT YEAR-END 2016 - ACHIEVED

This is one of those goals that I'm incredibly proud of. Along with running I've tried to eat better, smarter, and keep myself at my best weight. In 2015 I hit weights as high as 160 lbs which not only looked bad but didn't feel great either. I'm proud to say that I not only achieved my goal but met the stretch goal as well.

Stretch Goal - Never go over 140 lbs for the entire year - Achieved

GOAL #5: PURCHASE AND DRINK 4 WINES OVER $30 - FAILED

Sadly I did not achieve this goal as it was written. However Jenn and I did start moving away from getting the rather bad wines at Trader Joes and are now frequenting Total Wine which seems to have far better wines. However, I believe all of the wines (outside of 2 which were purchased in Paris (Mumm's Champagne), and Florence (Chianti)) we did not buy two other $30 bottles of wine.

Stretch Goal - Enjoy more then 20 bottles of wine in 201 - We enjoyed roughly a dozen in 2016.

GOAL #6: WATCH ALL OF THE STAR WARS MOVIES (EPISODE 1-6) - FAILED

As I write this post Carrie Fisher just passed away after having a heart attack on a plane from London to Los Angeles. Although I did read Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel and saw Rogue One in theaters I never got around to watching Episode 1-6 of Star Wars.

GOAL #7: WRITE 24 CHEF JOEL & JENN POSTS IN 2016 - FAILED

As of this post we've only posted 10 Chef Joel & Jenn posts in 2016 (which does include a Pastry Chef Jenn & Joel). In all honesty of all the goals this was going to be the hardest to achieve. If I started to include variations on what I cook during the week maybe but we just don't always have a ton of time to do a brand new recipe each week.

Stretch Goal - Add three of the recipes into the work week rotation - FAILED

MOST IMPORTANT GOAL OF ALL: BE A BETTER HUSBAND - Partial Success

As I write this Jenn is on a cleaning rampage through our apartment so probably safer not to ask her opinion on this right now. However, we were on a walk the other night and we were talking about how far we both have come since we started dating thirteen years ago. I continue to want to be better. To buy her flowers more, to surprise her, to make her laugh more, to be more spontaneous. I did some of that in 2016 but I should have done better. And I plan to.

Recap Goals of 2016 - How Did I Do?