Hey everyone, it's been quite a while. I'm not learning languages or helping others learn them, which is Journaly's main purpose, but I thought I'd say a quick hello. (Get ready for a lot of colloquialisms because my filter is low today.)

So what have I been up to lately?

• curbing my addiction to screens
• helping a new friend get used to the US
• saying goodbye to said friend without a proper last visit
• formatting text documents to be more readable
• training for a 5K
• improving bodily flexibility
• experimenting with home decor
• learning Python (the coding language)

Sheesh, and I wonder why I'm so tired all the time.

I might write more posts about these topics individually, if you're interested, but for now I’ll talk about my goal-setting methods.

I'm notorious for picking up projects and fizzling out soon afterwards. Frustrating? Demotivating? You bet. But I have learned from experience that a goal half-striven toward is better than a goal you never had the guts to set at all.

Low barrier to entry is my best friend, since it's the only way I can start or stick to things. Many people advocate for SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound goals. Not me. All I hear is a bunch of structure that I'll end up chucking out the window sooner or later.

Instead, I keep things on a simple [some would call it "stupid"] level. For example, my goal when I first started learning Spanish was "learn Spanish." Yep, you heard it, folks. The only criterium I gave myself was to do one thing related to that goal every day. Fortunately, I built an addiction to it and didn't need to consciously maintain the habit.

Oh the past addiction to Spanish... yeah, about that... [averts gaze]

I'll end this post with a quote that has kept me grounded in life. I hope you'll appreciate it too.

Much as we would like things to remain as they are, they don't. So we must learn to accept change with grace.

"Por mucho que quisiéramos que las cosas permaneciesen tal como son, no lo hacen. Entonces, debemos aprender a recibir el cambio con serenidad."