Each month, I set aside time to reflect on the previous month: memorable moments, lessons I learned, how I spent my time, how I’m different, who/what I’m grateful for, improvements for next month, and goals to work toward. I try to be intentional in my personal development, and posting each month is a way to keep me accountable (as a nice reminder, it’s also built into my favorite planner 😉 ).

Three Lessons I Learned:

• Don’t let your “expectations” rule things out. When I was in Paris, I did some things simply because it was the “thing to do,” but I didn’t have high expectations. But some of those “checklist” items ended up being my favorites (Orsay Museum, Eiffel Tower…).
• It’s okay to be alone. And it’s okay to not feel lonely. I used to feel like I needed to be around people all the time. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more content with my own company. I like being around people, and I like spending time alone. There’s nothing wrong with either one.
• Don’t look at history as just “history.” Find ways to bring it to life, especially if you get the opportunity to visit historically rich places. Before going to Normandy beaches, I watched Saving Private Ryan (for the first time). That combined with a book about the Big Red One at Omaha made my visit so much more impactful. History doesn’t have to be boring.

Top 3 Highlights:

• Snowboarded in Solden, Austria.
• Climbed the Eiffel Tower.
• Walked on the beach in Normandy.

Monthly Motto:

Do it scared.

What big lessons have you learned over the past month? Share in the comments below!