Tuesday, January 8, 2013

this new year. this clean slate. (december 365+1)

And my 365+1 is complete!

New Year. Clean slate. Time for Change. Yes, change is my "one word" I've chosen for 2013.
I had a big, long, rambling blog post going and then I looked at it, highlighted it, and hit delete. I think a simple list of things I would like to change will do...

~  change my eating habits
~ change my exercise habits (um, which basically means get off my hiney and do something. I'm contemplating a half marathon. Maybe...)
~ change my parenting - lighten-up a bit on some things and focus a bit more on the more important issues going on with Max.
~ change my thinking. I can't really explain this one very well, but I tend to think worst case scenario about just about everything. I tend to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I can go from 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds. I'm a "reacter" (apparently that's not really a word, but I just created it.) I need to work a bit more on being a thinker first - putting things in perspective - and then reacting.
~ change the people I surround myself with. Seek out the positive, supportive influences in my life and spend more time nurturing those relationships. I tend to find and seek out the company of the people who never have free-time and are just plain too busy with everything else in life. I'm a firm believer that you have to carve out the time in your life for others around you - for kids, your spouse, your friends. If you want to have relationships that grow, you have to make the time to nurture those relationships.
~ change the amount of time I spend reading the Word. I'm looking forward to re-connecting with the Bible Study group I was part of last year. 
~ change my photo-snapping habits. 2012 was the year of the iPhone and all of the wonderful photo editing apps. I even completed a 365+1 with my iPhone. 2013 will be the year of the Nikon! I will pick her up more often - hopefully daily!
 (I'm sure I'll think of a million more things I need to change about myself in the coming months...and maybe I'll come back and add them to the list.)

Twenty-thirteen will be a year of big change. Of that I am certain.
What are your goals this year? Do you make resolutions? Choose a word to live by for the year?

5 comments:

Carla said...

This is a great list. I'd stick with this first before you try to add things. You don't want it to be so long that you feel like a failure if you don't get to them all.
I haven't really made any resolutions. I think I just want to set some goals for myself. Still working on what I want those to be exactly.
My word to live by is the same that it has been for the past 2 years -- believe. Faith will also work. After my divorce I needed to believe everything was going to be ok. . . that we were going to be ok. I need to believe that I can get out of this financial hole that I'm in because of it. I need to believe in myself -- as a mother, a friend, a photographer, a manager, etc. There's more but you get the idea.
I can't wait to hear about how these changes are going. Good luck friend!

Aaron said...

I like your list. I'm reading a book right now that is sort of similar that you might like. It's called Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin and it's about her "resolutions" at home. You may find it's similar to what you're describing here. What I like about it is that she keeps reminding me that the only person I have any control over is MYSELF. I would love to ask people in my life to change and accommodate and do more for me but in actuality I can only control ME. What I sow into this world and others I will reap. Good or bad. And I hear you on the year of the iphone. I decided yesterday that I need to put my phone away more. Then my mind started objecting... "what about the camera!?" it complained. So I decided I could just keep my Canon close to hand and then I win twice. :)

Love your list. Love your word.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Andrea. I love this!!! I am very excited for you. It's very interesting how similar we are, in our goals and with our personalities. I can identify with just about all you've said. What you said about being a thinker.... wow. This is all I've been thinking about (yes... thinking) for the past month. I purchased the break out on CM "Connected - Shooting from the heart" By Anne Wick. One of her exercises was to take the Myers Briggs test (I'm an ISFJ) it was so eye opening and unbelievably accurate. I am not exactly sure how, but reading the personality traits helped me focus on my strengths and weaknesses in a more concentrated way. If you're like me (a thinker) you might find it fascinating as well. --- I also like Gretchen Rubin, but couldn't stay focused with it... too much photography taking up my free time. I wish you LOTS of luck and am excited to transition from IG to blog world with you :) It will be a great year!!!

penandview said...

I think this is a good healthy list. Yes pick up your Nikon!
My word is "intention". Will share more later. But it's been good so far.

Marvett Smith said...

Love this! Change was my one little word for 2012, and I made some serious changes. Like huge! My word for 2013 is Build. I'm hoping to post more about my word for the year later this week. These are awesome goals my friend!