A few months ago, I subscribed to a magazine called "Whole Living" because, well, it wasn't expensive and I thought I might learn a thing or two about being healthier in a natural sort of way. Turns out that most of the recipes are way too fancy (shiitake mushrooms and brown rice en papillote ... I couldn't even begin to guess what that last part means) or a little too "natural" (roasted beets with edamame and arugula ... I like cookies) for me.
There is, however, a great section in the back called "10 Thoughts on Whole Living" that I think makes the subscription worth it. Each issue, the editors present you with 10 one-sentence, thought-provoking ideas. I literally sit staring at that page for an awkwardly long amount of time while I think through each one. Here's one of my favorite's from the January/February 2012 issue:
"The new year isn't a do-over; it's an opportunity to take your next big step."
What an awesome reminder. You know that I love lists, which means that I like clean slates and tying stuff up in a neat and tidy way. If I'm going to eat healthier, I'm going to start on Sunday. And if I'm going to suddenly be the type of person who always keeps her Inbox cleaned out, I'm going to start on Jan. 1. But ... that's just not always realistic. I know this, yet I struggle with this control issue every day.
So, this year, I decided I wasn't going to make resolutions (does anyone actually keep their resolution for the entire year?? Seriously, if you do, I want to meet you!), I was going to make goals. I wasn't going to magically start over on Jan. 1 and suddenly become the person I've always wanted to be, I was going to place hurdles in front of myself so that I could slowly and realistically move forward.
This type of moving forward has never been so apparent to me as it is in my new photography world. I'm fairly new to this gig and I want everything to be done NOW. But ... that's just not realistic. I can't update my website, write a blog post, order business cards and become better at Photoshop in one day because, well, I have another job! And I have to work within my means. But I will get there, and I so, so, so appreciate my 2012 couples for placing their faith in me and cheering me on. I had absolutely NO expectations when I started down this path, but just 2.5 months after telling the whole World Wide Web that I was a photographer and hoping for the best, you all proved to me that I can do this, even if I have to take it one hurdle at a time. Thank you.
This year, I hope you too find a balance between work, family and "you" time. Whether you're flying by in the fast lane or hopping hurdles with me in the slow lane, I hope 2012 is one of your best.
