I’m writing this from my couch on the first day of 2025. I found myself yesterday scrolling through the photos I took in 2024, and I was struck by how many cool moments I had that somehow slipped to the back of my mind: Things I did for the first time, places I traveled to with family and friends, moments of comfort in my home.
I also spent some time reflecting on my reading goal last year: 100 Books in 2024. I didn’t get there. Instead, I read 76 books. That’s still the most I’ve ever read in a single year. (My previous record was 63.) As I think back, every time I set a 100 thing goal, I don’t meet it: 100 days of do yoga in a row was a fail and so was my 100 day writing streak back in college and the 100 days outside I attempted during the pandemic.
So, here’s what I have to say about not meeting my goal. I’m good with it.
This goal helped me make time for myself and one of the things I love most: Reading. I found myself looking forward to more books and sharing my journey with fellow readers, both in person and online. This goal brought more joy into my life and kept writing and reading top of mind all year long, not a forgotten resolution that dropped out of sight before February.
So here’s to failing at a number and celebrating the good that holding such a lofty goal did.
Here’s to setting a new record in 2025: 78 Books, here I come!
Sydney M. Crago 