2016 has definitely had its ups and downs (more downs than ups it seems). As the insane year is finally coming to a close, I think it’s a perfect time for me to reflect on the GOOD that has happened this year. I’d like to share these moments with you, and hopefully bring a little sunshine to your week. Here we go – My Top Moments of 2016 – A Year in Review!
Professionally
Being promoted to Editor in Chief – I started writing for The Daegu Compass shortly after arriving in Daegu. This year, they asked me to take on the role as Editor in Chief. It has been a challenging and incredibly rewarding experience.
Networking with some awesome bloggers – I’ve made a concerted effort to put myself out there with blogging this year, and have met (errr kinda) some wonderful bloggers – Duke Stewart, The Next Somewhere, Hair to There, and many many others have really welcomed me in to the blogging world and have been great inspirations to me.
Teaching Tailgating to elementary school students – I was able to choose my lesson this year at Global Station and it was so much fun getting to teach Korean elementary school students some of the aspects of American tailgating culture.
Realizing how much I enjoy teaching adults – I’ve been fortunate enough to teach a Teachers Training Course, two Intermediate Principal’s classes, and two Intermediate Citizens classes. The students have all been an absolute delight and I hope I get the opportunity to teach adults again.
Finally sticking my neck out there – My friend Michael has been telling me for ages to let go of my fears and really put myself out there with my writing and photography. It FINALLY sunk in about a month ago (I’m a bit slow sometimes) and it has really paid off. The few wins I’ve had over the last month have given me the strength to push even harder over the next year. Thank you Michael 🙂
Exploring
Seeing Adam and visiting Tokyo – One of my very best friends from England, Adam, met me in Tokyo for summer vacation. It had been a long 4 years since we had seen each other and it meant the world to me that he made the huge effort to come hang with me.
Eating Kobe Beef with my besties – I took not one, but TWO trips to Japan this year. On my second trip, with some of my favorite Daegu people, I got to eat Kobe beef IN KOBEÂ – an absolutely amazing experience and a wonderful trip with my friends.
Glamping for the first time ever – My good friends Nancy, Joseph, Arlene, and Jonathan invited me to go glamping (glamorous + camping) with them in Gyeongju. It was the perfect level of roughing it and I had an fantastic time – especially when Joseph played DJ.
Finally making it to the Garden of the Morning Calm – The ONE place I absolutely wanted to visit in Korea was the Garden of the Morning Calm. I finally made it there this autumn and it did not disappoint.
The Food
The Food…enough said – This has been my year for food – just LOOK!!
Personal Growth
Learning to speak my truth – A couple friends have been working with me to finally put myself, my health, and my needs first. I have bad habits of saying yes when I should say no, allowing inconsiderate people to remain in my life, and not listening to my body when it tells me to slow down. I’m finally learning how much happier (and healthier) I am when I put myself first for a change.
Making friendships that will last a lifetime – Over the past year, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet Michael, who has become a second brother to me. He has been there for me through thick and thin and challenges me to let go of my fears and stand up for myself. Within the past couple of months (always happens toward the end of my stay somewhere), I’ve also been lucky enough to meet Gwendolyn. It didn’t take me long to realize that she and I will remain good friends for the rest of our lives. I’ve met some absolutely amazing people over the last year – my G-Station peeps and the Sinmae/Wolchon crew particularly. I consider myself very fortunate to call you my friends 🙂
2016 has been a rough year in many respects, but it is really important for me to take a step back and focus on the positive. Thank you for reading my ‘Year in Review’. I welcome 2017 with wide-open arms and look forward to achieving my goals in the new year! Linds xoxo
It was wonderful to continue working with you as a blogger and I hope we can stay in touch, even if we’re not in the same country (or state) any more. Looks like you had a wonderful 2016 and looking forward to see what you’re up to in 2017. Thanks again and all the best, Lindsay.
Thanks so very much for reading and always supporting me! Hopefully I can catch up with you and the Mrs in person someday 🙂 All the very best and looking forward to your new adventures!
Congratulations on all your achievements this year! Wow, so proud of you for being the new editor-in-chief of The Daegu Compass. I’ll be sure to check out some of your writing! And I am so honored to have been mentioned on this list. Getting closer to you this year for sure has been one of my highlights as well and I’m so lucky that I am continuously being led to such wonderful human beings! That tailgate post was one of my favorite posts reading about this year! May 2017 only be a year full of growth and happiness!
Thank you so much for reading my post and commenting and being an all-around awesome person 🙂 I’m gonna miss the tailgating lesson for sure, but looking forward to new adventures!
Also, I added your link on my year in review! Thank you for inspiring me to write out my roundup! Sometimes I need the extra push to motivate me to get my blog in order 🙂
You rock!! Thanks so much! I too need a good swift kick in the arse every now and again…. I feel one coming up soon haha 🙂
KIRSTY MAC: This post is fantastic and it has really inspired me to do more traveling and to try more food. This year will be awesome for you! Keep inspiring others and writing great content!
Thanks so much ^^
“errr kinda” I think it’s how funny how we as bloggers can make other blogger friends.. and sometimes never even meet in person, haha. I’m assuming what that errr kinda means. I’ve got some cool blogger “friends” around the Korean peninsula and I’ve never had the opportunity to actually meet face to face yet. I’m glad to hear Garden of the Morning Calm doesn’t disappoint. That’s still on my list and I NEED to get there sometime. Congrats on the Daegu Compass! ^^
Exactly what I meant by ‘errr kinda’ ^^! Definitely make a point of getting to the garden at least once! I’m trying to get back there for their lighting festival before I go back to the USA. Thanks for reading 🙂
Congratulations, Lindsay! Being promoted to Editor-in-Chief is no mean feat. I will be looking forward to more posts from you, both your writing and photography. More good vibes and great opportunities coming your way this 2017! Cheers!
Thank you so very much Wendy! Best wishes for a wonderful 2017!
What an awesome year. I have also been trying to get stricter with myself about recognizing my needs and taking care of myself. It’s a long learning process. And trying to pursue my passions a bit more, they often seem to get pushed aside in the day-to-day rush. I hope your 2017 is just as rewarding and delicious!
Thanks so much for reading! It’s really difficult to put yourself first, isn’t it?!? Super-easy to push things aside when life gets in the way. Best wishes for a fantastic year ^^
It looks like you had an awesome year Lindsay! Congrats on the promotion at the Daegu Compass! I also love connecting and meeting new bloggers, we have met so many other great creatives this year too and it made me want to surround myself with more and more interesting people each year! Also, your trip to Tokyo looked like a blast! Cheers to another fabulous year in 2017!
Thanks so very much – it has been a pretty great year personally and professionally 🙂 I hope to connect with even more bloggers over the coming year – really makes all of this so much more meaningful. Very best wishes to you both in the new year!
2016 was a kinda rough year for people eh? Us too. But good strategy to focus on the wins – and it seems like you had some great ones. Congrats on the Editor-in-Chief posting, and for speaking your truth. Funny that this should be the most natural thing to us, but somehow it’s always the most difficult. The Garden of Morning Calm is worth it? Somehow I have in my mind that it’ll be cheesy somehow… Best wishes for an amazing 2017! 😀
I was really worried that I’d be super disappointed with the garden, but I wasn’t! I happened to make it for the chrysanthemum festival and it was presented very simply and elegantly! I recommend it, you can even do a full day loop tour of the area and hit up Nami Island and a few other places 🙂 Cheers to a good 2017!
Garden of the Morning Calm is amazing indeed! It was one of the best places I’ve been in Korea. I went there last Autumn and went back this winter to see the lighting festival. Congratulations on your professional and personal growth. You had an amazing year. Have a great year ahead!
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! How was the lighting festival? I may make the trip up there in a few weeks…. Was it super busy/crazy?
And thanks! Have a great year as well!
What an honest post and good on you for sharing your ups and downs from this past year. I think that putting yourself first and making truly sincere and lifelong relationships are two of the most important things you can and should always strive towards. Keep your head up, keep doing great and hope you have a wonderful 2017!
Thanks very much for reading and commenting! I do like to take regular time out and reassess, it really helps me keep focused and keep moving forward! All the very best for 2017!
Lots of ups and downs but we should always look at the bright side. I hope you’ll have a better 2017 ~ more exploring and not just the Garden of Morning Calm since there is so much more to see in Korea. More food – I hoped you like the Filipino food you tried.
Thanks for reading 🙂 I’ve seen quite a bit of Korea over the past couple of years and have really enjoyed it! The Garden of the Morning Calm was just that one place that took me ages to see – glad I finally made it 🙂 I LOVED the Filipino food my friend Arlene cooked for us – was my first time and am looking forward to trying it again 🙂
Although there were negative aspects to 2016, I think its awesome that you can focus on the positive, because clearly there were a ton of accomplishments. I really enjoyed reading your reflection piece, as I found instances quite similar to my own (especially the “speaking my truth” part. Also Congrats on your new position, such an amazing opportunity. ps. You have sparked my interest with this glamping.. hmmm I might have to try this!
Thanks so much for reading 🙂 I really identified with your last post as well! I totally recommend giving glamping a shot! I’m definitely gonna try it again in other places 🙂
Fantastic stuff, Lindsay! I really enjoy reading reflective posts like this, and I think you did a great job sharing the good with us. It appears you had quite a productive year…,may 2017 bring you more success and growth 🙂
Thank you for reading! All the very best for a wonderful year to you as well 🙂
This is so awesome Lindsay!! Don’t you find that assessing the past year has tremendous benefits, not only to make sense of what happened, but also to set clearer goals for the year ahead. You know, I am a big fan of the Daegu Compass (I also live in Daegu), so it’s awesome to hear you are editor in chief! I’d LOVE to get together over coffee and chat about life as an expat, Korea, writing and so many other things. I will be back in Chicago to visit family until the end of the month but I will reach out when I return. Hopefully you wanna meet too 🙂
Sorry for the slow response! Work has been INSANE this week! I couldn’t agree more, reassessment is helpful in so many ways! Would definitely love to catch up with you next month – find me on FB and we’ll sort it out! Cheers 🙂 PS – have a great time in Chicago!
It looks like you had an amazing year, Lindsay!! Congrats on your new post as Editor in Chief of the Daegu Compass! I love hearing things like this, it’s so inspiring for me as this year I’m trying to get more freelance writing work. You have eaten some amazing food, too! I’m off to Japan soon and even though I won’t be going to Tokyo, your pics made me pretty damn excited all the same. I hope your 2017 can top 2016! Happy New Year!
Thanks so very much ^^ Sounds like a great goal – I’m trying to get a bit more freelance work myself! Ohh, have an amazing time in Japan – where will you go? Happy new year!!