Buen Dia Reader,
So January is already coming to a close, along with many resolutions. Not because they weren’t good resolutions or because we “failed,” but because sometimes our expectations shift — or we don’t yet have a clear path to our goals.
I’m not a big “resolution” person. I tend to focus more on intentions and small wins. I find those are what actually drive action. 🌱
One of my intentions this year for Girl Meets Fire has been to engage more with subscribers and create more video content. So far, I feel like I’m staying on track.
The harder part about resolutions comes around June. Do we still remember those resolutions then? And if not, what helps keep us on track?
For me, that’s my planner. Because one of my intentions is to connect more with my subscribers, I wrote out the theme for each weekly email during the first three months of the year — just the theme. The subject line comes later, once I’ve had time to sit with the idea.
What I like about working from themes is that I no longer have to rack my brain every week trying to figure out what to talk about. I also shared this new email approach with you at the beginning of the year.
That counts as accountability because now you know what my intentions are, and you might expect to see more emails from me. If these emails aren’t your jam, it’s completely okay to unsubscribe. No hard feelings. 🥰
No matter what your resolution, goal, or intention is, there are three things that usually need to happen for it to come true:
• A clear goal
• Execution
• Accountability
The goal could be eating out less, learning to draw, or traveling more. Then you create a starting point. Don’t try to eat the world in one bite — it won’t work. Smaller steps that build satisfaction and confidence matter more than all-or-nothing success.
For example, this email series I’m creating. Some emails are long, some are short. Some point back to a recipe on the site, some don’t. But they all focus on shedding light on a kitchen problem or mindset to help you cook more — even if you’re not cooking my recipes. 🍳😉
So let’s apply this to those three examples.
If you normally eat out five days a week, could you eat out three days instead? You’re not breaking your goal — you’re breaking a big goal into actionable steps. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
For learning how to draw, if you only draw stick figures, could you focus on learning one body part well — or even try something more abstract, like Zentangles?
For travel, this next idea actually came from my husband. Look at the farthest north, south, east, and west you’ve ever traveled — then slowly expand from there, even if it’s just three counties over. 🧭
Accountability works because you’re sharing your goal with someone else. That helps you follow through instead of quietly abandoning it. The other person can also encourage you along the way.
For me, I look at how many people open, click, and reply to my emails. That tells me some of the small changes I’ve been making are working.
But accountability only works if the goal is meaningful to you — which really comes down to your why.
Why dine out less? Why learn to draw? Why travel?
I want to build connection. This website was created primarily to teach people how to cook while shedding light on Puerto Rican culture and traditions. I love replying to emails and helping friends with recipes, and the rewards of teaching someone how to cook a recipe, a knife skill, or a technique make it all worth it.
That’s my why — to make you feel empowered, capable, and confident in the kitchen.
So what’s your why for your goals, resolutions, or intentions? Did you pick any of the examples I mentioned — eating out less, learning something new, or traveling more?
Thank you for giving me the space for this New Year reflection. I hope it helped you as much as it helped me. ✨
Hasta entonces!
P.S. Remember to show yourself grace. You have a whole year — not a month — to work toward your goals.
