Happy New Year 2018

Every year on New Year’s Day I follow my social media news feeds chock full of resolutions, goals, words for the year, etc.
Instead of making resolutions I’d like to create a vision for what I’d like my life to look like in 2018. A page I follow on Instagram @yogajournal put up a post last week about taking inventory of your life before you create your vision. They recommended that the reader inventory the following items in your own life:

*Career
*Finances
*Romantic life
*Community
*What part of the world you live in
*Your home

I am currently a Real Estate Broker/REALTOR in my professional career. I am also a mother of four which is a lot of work so I include this because being a mom is in line with a career in many ways!
I make a good income running my own business, and while I don’t have as much investment as I would like for retirement I recognize that I am very blessed with what I do have.
As far as romance is concerned-I am married, and my husband and I have had a long road of trial, pain, and separation from one another.
I am very active within my church community. I would like to become more involved in things within my city.
I live in the Midwest in a small town within the city limits of Indianapolis, Indiana. Home is a 4 bedroom 2.5 bath 2 story house in a suburban subdivision shared with my husband, 4 children ages 11, 15, 18, and 20, our dog Max (an 11 year old miniature pincer with an attitude), 2 bearded dragons, a crested gecko, a blue tailed skink, and a spiny tailed lizard.

My life is beautiful. It’s crowded, chaotic, lonely and loud. Stepping into the New Year I want to set my intentions for what I really want my life to look like. Maybe in a year from now. Maybe sooner, later or something different. When it comes to taking inventory, this is what I would like to see this time next year:

I’d like to remain in the Real Estate industry. I would like to own more investment property. My long term goals include owning commercial real estate for additional income, a multi-unit residential property for additional income, residential rental property for investment and rental income, and I’d like to own a retail business plus a restaurant business. My immediate focus, of these goals, is I’d love to open a coffeehouse, and a home furnishings shop. I love working with clients, helping them buy and sell residential real estate and enjoy the occasional commercial work. I feel like these business plans all work together naturally while utilizing more of my skill set.

That kind of encompasses my financial goals. Basically I would like to be generating enough income from my investment properties to support my lifestyle into retirement.

As far as romance goes...I really need to focus on myself. Being in relationship with myself. What I don’t want is to drag the unhealthy relationships that I am currently in through 2018. I want to focus my energy, and time, on relationships that help build me up so that I may achieve my highest heights! I don’t want romance. I want love. Fantastic, call it like you see it, honest, transparent, calm, peaceful love. Maybe that is not real. But will you ever get what you want if you don’t have the courage to ask for it.

As far as Community goes-I just want to make a difference! I would love to get more involved in the regeneration of the Garfield Park Community. I’d love to help the marginalized folks within that community. I’d love to operate businesses that give back to that community. I want to be a part of making the area great again!

Sometimes I desire to live across the country. Maybe California, where I was born. Or Arizona, where I feel such a sense of peace. New Mexico or even Mexico! For now I think that I will stay put in the Mid-West. See my children off into the world. My youngest will graduate in 6.5 years. I will be 50 when he graduates. Sounds like a great time to see more of this great country. Perhaps he will desire to attend Arizona State?

For now I will focus on my home. I would like to downsize. Having 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths with two living spaces and 2 dining spaces feels...excessive. There’s so much space, and so much waste. I am attracted to a more minimal lifestyle. I would like to simplify our lives by downsizing our home as well as our physical attachment to things.

If there was anything else to add it would be that I’d like to spend more time outdoors, even if it’s just for a cup of coffee on the patio. I’d like to continue my focus on my mental health, as well as improve my physical activity level and clean up my diet some. I’m hoping to commit to writing a daily journal entry but have never been very good at maintaining this focus so I make no promises on that.

Here’s to a new year, new you!

Leticia