2016 goals

(this is an old photo from summer.  man, i sure miss summer!)

i tried not to make any crazy new year resolutions this year.  i'm not sure if mine in the past have been  out of reach or not, i just feel like taking smaller steps to get to where i want is a good idea for me at this moment.  i am usually all about things like this...starting over or setting goals.  usually by the time fall comes around i am in full swing.  there is something about fall that always makes me feel alive. 

 however, for some reason, this year has been different.  i am in a different place in my life right now and to be completely honest, i am feeling like i am in a pretty big rut, lazy feeling super content... creatively and also just in general.  working from home for me has proven to be a challenge in ways that i had never thought about.  it takes a lot of structure, drive and determination to keep moving forward.

so now i am finding ways to improve my quality of life and to live more freely, happily, honestly, creatively, etc.  

this is what i've got so far...

1. move more

get active and healthy.  i used to be pretty active, but it's cold and i also make every other excuse in the world to not take care of my body.  yes, i am one of those annoying... "it's the first of the year, time to go to the gym," people.  i have a gym and crossfit membership that i pretty much don't use.  time to stop making excuses.  i've also joined this challenge to get me started and i am looking for friends and people in this area to join me on the nike running app (Mariann Reynolds) or to just join me running.  it's always good to have others hold you accountable.  

2. smile

i am mostly by myself most of the day, so this is a little weird.  but i am definitely going to try to smile more this year.  :)

3. adventure

i literally have all the time in the world (well, not really... but i can always make time) to adventure. the other day the topic, "what do you do for fun?" had come up in my day and it really bothered me so i brought it up later that night to john and asked him the same questions.  honestly, i was so taken back when i thought about what i do for fun because, to be frank, i don't really do anything.  i work for fun.  we both do.  pretty sad, huh?  life can be so short and we just never know when our last day will be so i will definitely be making this change. 

4. laugh

this one sort of goes along with smile.  i really just want to surround myself with interesting, intriguing, good, inspiring, hard working, healthy, creative, and funny people.  i would definitely say that i am more of an introvert.  i often talk about how awkward i am.  seriously though, especially when i am working with clients.  i literally walk away hoping that i didn't make them feel 100% uncomfortable with my awkwardness. haha.  i need to get out and socialize more!  where is this amazing group of people that fall in these categorizes that want to hang out with me?! ha

5. dance and be silly

life it just too sort to take everything so seriously.  john loves to dance and so many times i turn down the opportunity to dance with him because... i am not drinking... that sounds so horrible, i know.  i know that you don't have to be drinking or drunk to dance... but gosh it sure does help!  ;)

6.turn it off

i know i am not the only one attached to every electronic devise that i own.  my goal this year is to use it when i need it... working, blogging, catching up quickly on all of other people's lives and drama... ugh... and then turning it off.  especially when i am around others.  i really just want to be present. 

7. be positive

life is, oh so good!  we have so many things to be grateful for. it's time to focus on all that i have and not on what i want.

8. read

i really love to read a great book to read!  we are really into netflix right now, which seems to be sucking the life out of us.  reading a few chapters a day of a good book is on my list for 2016.  if anyone has any recommendations, i would love to hear them!  or if anyone wants to read something together, that would be super fun too.  i'm so nerdy.  

9. blog/write

what do you know, here i am.

10. finish things.

this has always been a tough thing for me.  i seriously don't know what it is about it.  i always have great ideas and love starting new things, however finishing them is always hard for me.  i think that is why my bachelors degree was such a great personal accomplishment for me.  life was so crazy, working full time and going to school.  there were so many ups and downs in my life around this time, but i just kept going... and finished!  and actually finished well!  and now i am a photographer and haven't even used my degree. haha. oh well.  life always has other plans.  but i plan to really work hard on finishing things that i start this year.  or at least really put it into consideration. ;)