Reflecting

Approaching the new year feels a little different this year. Not only are we entering a new year, but it’ll also be the 1 year mark since my symptoms firsts began. Instead of focusing on resolutions in the new year I think a lot about what has happened this past year. I still haven’t quite processed it all. Blood draws, MRIs, lumbar puncture, brain surgery, now I understand what it truly feels like to be poked and prodded. New diagnoses, doctor consultations, FMLA, health care directive, challenging neurological symptoms, cancer treatments. It was truly all a whirlwind and now here we are closing the chapter that is 2022.

I decided to try and spend less time reflecting and more time focusing on goals moving forward. For me it’s important to always have something to work towards so I wanted to identify some goals (publicly, so I can hold myself accountable lol).

Cooking

Thanks to my parents I now have a Crock Pot Express which is basically an advanced version of an instapot. I think this is going to be huge when it comes to needing to cook more. I used it for the first time to make chili and it was an easy process. It doesn’t require much energy and it’s quick. My goal is to get in the kitchen more – chop fresh veggies, cook the meats sitting in my freezer, try new recipes. Less frozen meals and more fresh home cooked meals, which will naturally mean healthier eating. My immune system needs a healthy balanced diet so I’m grateful to have a new tool that will motivate me to cook. Comment below one of your favorite instapot recipes for me to try! ☺

Grow Kiss My Astrocytoma

Kiss My Astrocytoma is the name of this website as well my Etsy shop. I have visions of expanding that brand which requires much more knowledge on business and marketing than I currently have. My goal is to spend time educating myself and pursuing ideas on expanding the brand. I’d also like to make a decision on if I want to pursue my MBA so I need to spend time learning if that route would make sense for me.

With the right plan and tools I know I could grow this. My cousin has drafted up some really cool ideas for shirts, hats, etc and she is very talented. Seeing her designs made me realize that I really could expand this beyond just a website. Comment below or reach out to me through the website if you have any advice to share!

3 year plan

Another goal I have is making a 3 year plan that includes moving South. I’d love to get out of MN sooner than that but it’s difficult as all my roots are here. My immediate family is here, my job, my medical treatment team, etc. Being with my family is more important to me than being somewhere warm. I plan to spend these next couple years figuring out how I can have the best of both worlds ☺

This 3 year plan needs to include a career plan with identified professional goals. I have a great job but am always looking for growth. I have a masters degree in Clinical Psych too so I’m excited to see how I might be able to apply that more in the future. My 3 year plan will include mental and physical health goals as well.

My list of goals continues, but to keep it achievable and realistic, I’ll leave it at that. I will still be on chemo for the majority of the new year so I’ll be dealing with fatigue and other side effects throughout that time. Hopefully a good opportunity to learn patience with myself. This time next year I’ll be reflecting and writing again, and I hope that I’ll be writing about how much I kicked ass!

♡ Hailey

Coming Up on Kiss My Astrocytoma

Health Anxiety

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