Category: Blog Posts About Me

Reflecting on 2018 & Charting New Paths for 2019

I’m thrilled to unveil my brand new interactive experience: My 2019 Resolutions & 2018 Year in Review. This project became much more than just a simple tracker—it evolved into a meaningful journey of reflection, celebration, and intentional goal-setting for the upcoming year.

Screenshot of Jeremy Person's interactive 2019 Resolutions & Year in Review
Click on the image to explore the interactive experience

Why I Created This

Looking back at 2018 helped me appreciate how far I’ve come, while planning for 2019 gives me clear direction and purpose. The process of creating this interactive tool made me more intentional about both my celebrations and aspirations.

What did you accomplish in 2018 that made you proud? And what dreams are you chasing in 2019? I’d love to hear about your journey in the comments below!

Join the Conversation

What reflection tools do you use to look back on your year? How do you set meaningful goals for the future?

A Brief Encounter: My Memory of Anthony Bourdain

Always moving forward, yet seeking solitude in a crowded world.

A Moment of Recognition

If you have ever had a conversation with me and Anthony Bourdain is mentioned, you know I once saw him at a Phoenix airport. I glanced up while waiting for my flight and saw Bourdain walking down the terminal alone. I almost immediately knew it was him.

I suspect he could detect that in my eyes as we exchanged glances. He gave me the short, “I know you know who I am and thank you for leaving me alone” sort of glance, and he continued on his way. I will forever remember Bourdain as someone always moving forward but seemingly wanting to be left alone.

Unfiltered Honesty with Unwavering Compassion

I respected Bourdain because very few people in life have the ability to courageously speak their mind while remaining open-minded. Society is enamored with the unfiltered “what will they say next” personality until they say something over the line. Bourdain seemed to always understand that line and gave us just the right dose of reality when unpacking lessons learned during his world travels.

Christina spent some time in Nicaragua and I love hearing her stories. One of the stories she told me is what she saw during her weekly travels to La Chureca where she saw some unmentionable things even Bourdain couldn’t show on television. During the segment, Bourdain seems understandably troubled by what he was seeing as well.

Anthony Bourdain Nicaragua Clip

“He had a softer spot for kids. During a Q&A at the Prospect Park food festival Googamooga in 2012, Bourdain called on my 9-year-old daughter, who asked the best way to cook a unicorn. Not missing a beat, Bourdain smiled and shrugged: ‘Rare.'”

His Enduring Legacy

Bourdain will be missed by many, but especially me. His ability to connect with people across all walks of life, to showcase humanity in its rawest form, and to tell stories that needed to be told has left an indelible mark on how we see the world. Perhaps what made him so special was his genuine curiosity about others and his willingness to be changed by his experiences.

Bourdain’s Approach to Understanding the World:

  • Break bread together — Food as the universal language that opens doors
  • Listen to each other’s stories — Genuine curiosity as the foundation of respect
  • Recognize our shared humanity — Finding connection across cultural divides
  • Speak honestly — Truth as a form of respect for your audience
  • Be willing to be changed — Approaching the world with an open mind

In a world increasingly divided, we could all learn from Bourdain’s approach: Break bread together, listen to each other’s stories, and recognize our shared humanity.

Mid-Year Check-In: My 2018 Resolutions Journey

A visual journey tracking my annual goals and personal growth

Jeremy's 2018 Resolutions Interactive Dashboard

*Click to view my interactive 2018 resolutions tracker *

Time flies! We’re already halfway through 2018, and I realized I neglected to share my annual resolutions project with you here on my blog. This interactive dashboard represents one of my favorite “personal time” creative projects I work on each year.

Why I Create These Interactive Resolutions

For me, resolutions aren’t just a list to be forgotten by February. They’re a visual reminder of my journey and aspirations. Creating this interactive experience helps me stay accountable while practicing my creative skills.

Visualizing goals provides powerful motivation. When we transform abstract resolutions into tangible dashboards, we create a constant reminder of our commitments and progress. This visualization turns fleeting intentions into concrete action plans we can track throughout the year.

Explore My Interactive 2018 Resolutions

Mid-Year Reflections

Reaching the midpoint of the year provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on progress made and challenges encountered. June offers a natural moment to reassess priorities, celebrate achievements, and adjust course where necessary.

The most valuable aspect of tracking resolutions isn’t just measuring success—it’s gaining insight into our patterns, preferences, and priorities. Even goals we haven’t yet achieved provide valuable data about where we might need additional support or strategies.

The Creative Process

Creating an interactive dashboard combines several creative disciplines—data visualization, web development, user experience design, and personal storytelling. This project allows me to practice these skills while creating something personally meaningful.

The best personal projects often serve multiple purposes. This resolution tracker not only helps me stay accountable to my goals but also serves as a creative outlet and skills practice. Finding these multi-purpose projects creates natural motivation to complete and maintain them.

Your Turn: Mid-Year Check-In

I’d love to hear what you think! Have you kept up with your own 2018 goals? Feel free to share your mid-year progress or setbacks in the comments below.

Join the Conversation

How do you track your personal goals? Have you found creative ways to visualize your progress? Share your experiences or questions in the comments!

2017 Resolutions

Better Late Than Never: My 2017 Resolutions

Because sometimes life gets in the way of your best-laid plans

Beautiful landscape at Roloff Farm 2016
A moment from my adventures last year — one of many inspirations for this year’s goals

Who publishes their 2017 resolutions in May of 2017? Me, of course! I’ve been busy, people!

Life has a way of filling up your calendar when you least expect it. Between work projects, family adventures, and a few unexpected detours, my annual tradition of sharing resolutions got pushed back a bit. But as they say — better late than never!

For my eighth consecutive new years resolution post, I decided to create another custom PHP page to track my progress throughout the year. This interactive format helps me stay accountable while practicing my development skills. Two birds, one stone!

Explore My 2017 Resolutions

What about you? Have you stuck with your resolutions this year, or have they evolved as the months have passed? Let me know in the comments below!