reach for the sky.

It's that time of year again... time for New Year's resolutions to be made.  Traditionally, I know that people make their resolutions more along the lines of wishes... something that they would like to see happen, but have no intent on actually working towards.  I have learned to be a bit more realistic with my resolutions.  I set yearly goals for myself. No, the goals aren't always completely reached, but I strive to do my best. And I set little mini-goals that I can actually reach along the way, treating it more of a "to-do" list than a wish-list.

Here is what I want to work towards this year:

 2010 Resolutions

1. Build my Business. This is one of my main focuses for the year. With the goal of eventually being able to depend on my photography business as my sole source of income, I have a lot of work to do. What I'm shooting for:

• minimum of 2 sessions a month. 
• get my images published. (note: this is already being accomplished! My images will appear in the March issue of Orange Coast Magazine, which will be available for sale in February!)
• get new marketing materials in place: keep up with blog and newsletter, create sample albums and even a compilation book of some favorite sessions for a good overview look of what I do. 
• keep up-to-date on accounting! (whew...this one piles up fast!)
• shoot at least 3 weddings this year!!! (I've got one booked already...)
  

2.  Get Healthy. (let's get PHYSICAL, physical...)  ah, yes... I'm going to be one of THOSE people crowding the gym in January. But I really, REALLY need to get healthy... this goes beyond wanting to lose a few pounds. I just don't FEEL good anymore. So, here's the plan:

• eat better. (more homemade meals, less fast-food.)
• exercise (walking the dog, walking on the treadmill, wii fit...whatever!!! Just get up and DO something. at LEAST 3x a week.)
• sleep more. Easier said than done... but I need to make this commitment to myself...less time at night on the computer so that I can wind down and go to bed just a bit earlier. I need my zzzzz's.. I'm sick of carrying this matching luggage below my eyes. Seriously.
  
• relax! I'm a total stress-monger. Time to lessen that, if and when possible. Tony's been trying to convince me for AGES to take up yoga. ironically enough, I don't think I have the PATIENCE for that. ha! hmmm... maybe as a wii game? (can you tell I'm addicted to that already???) But seriously, I need to relax more. I've actually gotten a LOT better ever since Jasper joined the household. Seriously...he's like my little chill pill. But I want to pay attention to my body's signals more, and then take care of myself. Pamper myself. Actually USE the gift certificates for massages...I've got TWO saved up! Get a mani/pedi every once in a while. Continue to read for fun. Just breathe...  
  

3.  Stay true to my SELF.  This kinda goes along with the "relax" above, but I wanted to go into even more detail with this one. I want to stay AWARE of myself. I feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day already, and I don't want to lose myself while trying to cram everything in. Between my secretarial job, the photography biz, being a wife, running the household, taking care of the dog, and all the other miscellaneous roles that I have, I don't want to fade into the background. I want to stay PRESENT in my life. That was my "word of the year" of 2009... "present." Because I wanted to remember that each day is a GIFT, and in the other form of the word, remember to stay aware and THERE in the moment; be an active participant in my own life. So... I want to continue focusing on this in 2010.

• Don't take on projects just because they are paying gigs. Keep my schedule and my sanity in mind. 
• It's okay to say NO to potential clients, to family, to friends...
  
• I don't ALWAYS have to photograph everything, and I don't always have to keep my GOOD camera with me. It's okay to enjoy other areas of my life just as much.
• Stay aware of when I'm stressed.  Don't ignore it... and actually address the cause.
• Remember that no one can make me feel inferior, insecure, a failure, etc. without me allowing them to do so. Take responsibility for my emotions. And pay attention to what they are telling me, too.
  

4.  just DO it.   Easier said than done. (But I'm gonna try.) I am a list-maker (as you can tell by this posting alone). I've got post-it notes all over the place reminding me of what I should be doing at any given time. I plan and plan and plan, and do some research, and make more lists, and research some more, and then think about it, and then get other people's opinions, etc. It's exhausting, and nothing ever seems to get done. So, I need to think a bit less and DO a bit more.

5.  Simplify. My life is feeling a bit CLUTTERED as of late. Both physically and emotionally. So, it's time to clean house, so to speak.

• clean the HOUSE!!!
• organize the loft area upstairs so it can actually be USED for something.
• don't feel the need to save every scrap of paper or ticket stub. 
• Don't buy stuff unless I really really REALLY want it. And have room for it.

Whew! I've got a lot to do this year. Better get started...