When I think about New Year resolutions a lot come to my mind. (From here on out I will just call "them"
NYR's because I get tired of typing it out.) I guess it's just that special time of year that you
analyze the past 365 days and think about how you could improve. I'll be honest I don't really believe in making one
NYR and then crying when you failed at it come March 5
th. But I do enjoy looking back and trying to jot down ideas or goals that I think I need to add, subtract or improve on.
I do have one goal this year that I do plan on completing. My 52 Weeks of Photography is my actual NYR. To read about my photography adventure this year please read my photo blog at:
http://capturinggracephotography.blogspot.com/
For life outside of photography I do have some goals to keep 2010 healthy, happy and holy.
What would one of my blogs be with out a list?
For the "Holy" part of my life...
1. Read at least one chapter of whatever Bible book I am reading and then pray. (Right now I am reading through Luke.) And thanks to the Holy Spirit and my sisters in Christ I have been doing this ritual for a few weeks now. It has been such a blessing and I want to continue my morning tradition in this fashion.
2. I am going to volunteer at the Pregnancy Resource Center. This plan has been in the making and I just need to do the last part of the volunteer process, the interview. After that I should go through some training and I will dedicate one day, four hours, every week to volunteering at PRC.
3. I am always blessed from the Bible studies I do with ladies from church. Currently I am going through "A Praying Life" with a few sisters. I want to obviously continue and finish that study. After that study is finished I want to continue on with another study with my friends. I think it is such a blessing and every study has helped me grow closer to God and learn more about God. I don't want to have months of down time with out an extra study. (Which means if I have to organize one, I will!)
No more doughnuts? ...For the healthy part of my life:
1. No more doughnuts! Just kidding. I have never been a firm believer in completely taking something out of my diet. I do believe in taking full advantage of God blessing me with taste buds, with food that has great flavor, and a lifestyle to enjoy it all. So I will. However... (ah, yes there is always a "but") Every year, every day I struggle with the concept of portions. I don't know where this idea "dessert every night" is lodged in my head- but it's there. I need to use a fork and a knife and cut it out. (Sort of like the movie... eh, never mind.) Basically I need to rethink how much I eat. My portion sizes are too big and I don't need that much sugar in my life. Hopefully this (and healthy goal #2) will aide in a healthier lifestyle and few less pounds on the ol' body.
2. Walk, bike, hike, swim, jump rope, dance, yoga, stretch = MORE! I need to keep this body moving. I really, really, really want to take full advantage of Washington Park and the fact that in 10 minutes I could be on some nice hikes, away from it all, breathing in that fine pine air. (Okay, really it's evergreen air, but that didn't rhyme with fine.)
3. I do not need ice cream every night. I do not need brownies every night. I do not need cake every night. I do not need chocolate chip cookies every night. I do not need Trix every night.
(Just so we are clear- I don't eat all these things every night- just one of them.)
"If it makes you Happy..." (Sheryl Crow) ...For the happiness in my life:
God. Check.
Health. Check.
Photography. Check.
For everything else there is MasterCard... or my list:
1. Camping. I love camping. So does Dave. Hmmm... maybe we should try to camp more? It's hard, I know. It seems like such an easy task- grab a tent and some marsh mellows and hit the road. However in the summer it's hard for David and I to get a few days off of work together. I don't know why we can't just go for one night- I guess it doesn't seem worth all the effort? Who knows, maybe we'll throw in a few one-night-wing-it-camping trips. But my goal for this year is to simply double the camping outings from one, to two. WOW. I think we can handle it.
2. Money. Can money buy you happiness? Well I think the saying is "No, but it sure helps." That's not my goal though. The good Lord has blessed us with two fine incomes, we just need to get a grip on everything else. We really need to cut our debt down. We have a plan. The only thing that is messing it all up is our desire to do "fun" stuff. (Which I am like 98.2% guilty of and David is the other 1.8%) I have been praying that God would help both of us find satisfaction and happiness in non-tangible things. I don't mean just buying things. You can touch food and wine and movie tickets. If we could be hard-core about saving this year than I think everything else will start to fall in place. We will watch that debt snow ball itself down the hill, over the ledge and we'll never see it again. Than we can move on to bigger and better things.
(This is why we are only camping twice and that is the only two things we will do this entire year! ...Totally kidding.)
The rest of my happiness list might have to be an entirely different post. I'll have to accumulate a list of things to do for free or cheap. I will end with saying that happiness is never a goal for me- because it so easily attained. I am happy with my life, husband, job, house, family, friends, possessions, etc. I could go on and on. All of these things in my life would mean diddly-squat though if I didn't have true happiness and peace with God. Which, of course, I do. After that, everything else just falls into place. (Or out of place- but I will always have Him to rely on.)
Happy 2010. May your life be as blessed and happy as mine.