And a look back on Dear Jane Travel accomplishments in 2023.
Dear Jane,
As the year comes to a close, I’m here to interrupt the Japan content with some New Year’s resolution commentary and festive rambling.
In prior years, I’d set a number of categorized resolutions (we’re talking 20-25 goals spread amongst 5-6 categories of my life, one of them travel, of course). But at the end of 2022, I was burned out (but not as burned out as 2023 would get me), and I couldn’t imagine trying to be productive, let alone planning an adventure or two elsewhere in the world. So, I didn’t set any goals for 2023, ready to let things play out.
Did that work out for me?
On January 1, 2023, I still had 20 out of my 20 vacation days from 2022 to use, and they would expire on March 31, 2023.
Also, on January 1st, Spanish (but now Japanese) Caleb reminded me that I was welcome to crash on his couch in downtown Madrid whenever I wanted. In a weird-for-me moment of spontaneity, I booked some flights the same day for a trip later that month and managed to salvage 7 of my 20 vacation days before losing them to the soul crushing grind.
Fast forward to March 31st, and Caleb texts me announcing that he was accepted to the JET program and would be moving to an unknown location in Japan in July. I celebrated by booking some flights to Japan and used almost all of my 2023 vacation days in one go!
Sometime between January and March, I was invited to an October wedding in upstate New York. And then in July, my then-boss asked if I wanted to go to a conference in his stead, and I got to go to Florida in August (I thought it would be great training for Japan’s summer weather L.O.L.).
Did you know that Google Maps has this cool stalking feature? I get monthly email updates summarizing everywhere I went during the previous month. Here are some fun statistics:
What did Dear Jane Travel Accomplish in 2023?
- Total Countries Visited: 3
- Total New Countries Visited: 2
- Total U.S. States Visited: 4
- Total New U.S. States Visited: 0
- Miles Traveled: 18,275 (That’s 73% around the planet.) (Updated 1/13/24)
In the end, travel worked out for me in 2023, even without set goals. Actually, a handful of my repeatedly carried-over and chronically unaccomplished goals were achieved this year, including getting a new job.
I’ve left the performing arts to work in travel, and I’ll be able to travel for work. Per my contract, though, I can’t write about those adventures here. But that’s okay because the company specializes in luxury group travel, and that’s the opposite of what I write about here. You can follow me on Instagram at @dearjanetravel to get commentary-less story updates of those trips.
This past year had some very low lows and some great highs. I’m content to personally go another year without putting pressure on myself, but I’ve got some big dreams for Dear Jane Travel. This blog was an unexpected outcome from 2023, and I want it to thrive.
What are Dear Jane Travel’s Goals for 2024?
- Glow Up! I’m working with graphic designer Angela Yen to make reading this blog prettier on the eyes, as well as develop a brand identity.
- Become a Trip Advisor affiliate partner. I’ve actually already submitted an application for this, but I don’t expect any response until next year.
- Become a Get Your Guide affiliate partner. I’ve heard it’s hard to get into their program.
- Make $0.01 through affiliate marketing. I’ve become an affiliate partner with Lonely Planet and Klook, and as I stated before, I’m working on Trip Advisor. I’m committed to only working with companies that I use personally (and, obviously, like to use) as a traveler.
- Enjoy the art of blogging.
My long-term goal is that Dear Jane Travel will generate an income that will support my travels in a sustainable way. I know that that’s quite a few years away, but I look forward to it. Thank you for supporting me by reading this.
I hope that 2024 continues on the momentum 2023 created for both myself and you! If it was a difficult year, lean into the resilience that has kept you going, and you will make it through.
Have a wonderful New Year!
<3 Katherine
PS – Do you have any travel goals for 2024 or any goals in general? There are a lot of lists featuring the hottest 2024 destinations out there. Feel free to leave a comment with your New Year’s goals, general or travel related, and subscribe if you haven’t already. 🙂