Living Abroad For 13 Years: What I Promised Myself

Because everyone talks about goals, goals can lose their meaning. They end up being just another thing on a todo list. Instead – I make promises to myself from time to time. Things I want to keep and stick with. This week I’m celebrating my 13th “Canaversary”. It’s been a hell of a ride ever since I left Europe, and long story short I would do it all again. To mark living abroad for 13 years, and coming near to the end of the Covid19 pandemic, I promised myself these things.

Making yourself a promise is like a writing a letter to your future self. I’ve done this a few times in conferences and trainings where the letter is actually mailed to you a few months following the event. You know that when that letter is coming 3 months, or a year, from the date you wrote it. When it arrives, you realize you may be in trouble with yourself as you didn’t do what you promised yourself. Accountability is the best way to help make goals a reality.

This list is not about the fluffy stuff like taking b…