2016 - The Year I Was to Improve

For those just now joining me, this is my annual review of the last year.  At the beginning of each new year, I choose a word theme for the next year that I want to incorporate into my life in all possible ways.  For 2016, I chose the word improve. I'm not sure it was the right word for me this year. I chose it and then never thought about it much. You can say I was a bit side-tracked for 365 days. For the record, I'm finding it harder to stay focused these days. There is a lot going on in my life and the lives of people I care about.
 

THINGS THAT WENT WELL

• TRAVEL  Last year, besides the annual trips we took to the Oregon coast for reunions, we did a lot of Sunday drives. Since discovering Manito Park in Spokane, we've been up there a couple times. Sometimes we'll drive 100 miles to visit a favorite thrift store and take a picnic lunch. These short trips are as wonderful as the longer drives. I like the undivided attention we give each other in the car. My annual girlfriend trip to a Montana hot springs will remain my favorite week of the year. I loved every minute of it and especially soaking in the hot springs pool.  If I were to say my friendships have improved because of trips like this, it would be an understatement.
• PHOTOGRAPHY  I got out a few times with my photo walking buddy and also on my own to improve my skills. Recently, I've been working on a project to organize my thousands of paper photos that I've been storing in tubs. It's time to send some of these photos to people who will really enjoy having them. I've had a camera in my hand since I was 13 years old. Sometimes I feel a great responsibility to make sure events are documented. Through FB, I invited anyone who was willing to sit for photos to short sessions around town. I picked up quite a few new locations. I feel like my skills have improved a bit over the year. I definitely had fun with it. 
• DOG TRAINING  This year, I found a new dog trainer who has helped me with some issues "Remi" is overcoming. Perhaps they are my issues. She is a much better walker and she is riding in the car better. Dogs just want a job.

 THINGS THAT DIDN'T GO WELL
 
• We got lost quite a bit this year. Those kinds of events are happening to us more often. One of us has dropped the ball on checking the map before leaving. Even taking the map seems to be problematic for us. This could improve.
• I completely dropped the ball on minimizing my household items. I'm still buried in stuff that needs to go live somewhere else. A new resolve with this!

Perhaps the word improve wasn't such a bad choice after all. Ideally, what happens with choosing a theme word is that it stays with me. I try to incorporate it into everything I'm doing. Past years words have included minimizing, develop, create, and improve. For 2017, I've chose the word move. I've given it a lot of thought. Recently, a 91 year old volunteer for the local police department is giving up his position. Because of hip problems, he can't move quite as well as he would like. 91 and still moving. Lesson learned. Not only do I want to move more physically, I want to move my ideas into motion. I want to move excess crap from my life. I want to move my dogs. You get the idea.

Do you have a theme word for 2017? What will it be?

 

love, susan

2015 ~ A Creative Year in Review

CREATE

 



I've come to love reviewing my year and coming up with a new word theme for the new year. Never in 56 years have I been so excited to take a look back and see what has worked and what hasn't in my life. I have been looking through my albums of photos for 2015 and I am amazed at the number of images I have taken of friends and family this year. I opened up a photography page on FB in late 2014, a place where I share favorite photos along with an open invitation to anyone who wants family photographs taken, all for fun and for free (that's a post I'll write soon).  So many good things have happened as a result of suiting up and showing up for free shoots. I was invited to photograph a friend's wedding which I swore I would never do again after the last one. It is nerve-racking to be the documenter of such an important day. What if you miss the great kiss? But I said yes. It was so much fun!

They were happy with my work and from that I was asked to take their annual Christmas photos (pictured here). Nothing makes me happier than having a reason to charge my battery and head out the door on any given Saturday.

I've met new friends through my photo page who trust me to take their family photos. They can't really know how much it means to me to be able to focus on bettering my skills. It isn't about the camera. It's about people. Learning to be comfortable from behind the lens.
 

Last year when I chose the word create, I didn't think of it as a word in terms of art only. I wanted to create time and space to do the things that really turn me on as a human being ... every day. I feel like I accomplished that, and more. Here are a few highlights of what I can remember of this year: 

• I photographed families and friends May through December.
• Read 22 books (a bit short of my goal of 52 but I'm not beating myself up about it!)
• Took Remi to an agility class (BIG FUN!)
• Traveled to Spokane with life-long friends and visited my new favorite Manito Gardens
• Got creative in the kitchen -- made homemade tomato sauce from scratch for the first time ever and tried a summer squash alfredo recipe with a friend
•  Started emailing my son and step daughter on a regular basis to keep in touch

What didn't work well in 2015? I can think of nothing. Weird. Okay, if I have to think of just one thing it would be indoor shoots. I hate harsh flash lighting, especially when there are children to photograph. I will be studying and finding ways to improve this over the next year. There. I said it.

So here is the part where I choose my theme word for 2016. I've learned to listen to that voice in my head that comes from a good place. The voice that wants me to do well and be happy. It's been telling me to improve.  Improve on what I already know. Improve in areas that need attention. I know what those areas are. Writing, reading, better eating habits, better housekeeping, better communication, better relationships, better time management, better dog training.

In the past, my theme words have been minimize, develop, focus, create. I think improve is a great word to add to these life-changing ideas.

Here goes!

Do you have a theme word? What is it? Tell me!

love, susan

 

A Year (2014) in Review

The end of year is sneaking up on me fast. It always does. First of all, I want to once again say thank you to a guy whose blog, The Art of NonConformity I've been following for a long time. He created a movement that is making a difference in the world. He is the reason I started reviewing my year and focusing on the next. Thank you, Chris Guillebeau!

Last year I chose develop as my word for resolution. In previous years I chose minimize and focus. This, in lieu of a resolution, is a concept that has served me well. I have developed in key areas I focused on and am pleased with the results.

Develop Friendships: Last year I kept up friendships with a few special people. Meeting for coffee, long photo walks, talking on the phone, thrift shopping, meeting for dinner and simply keeping in touch. My life is full with a high-maintenance husband,  3 dogs, 1 cat and a full time job. My friendships are like the sand that fills in between the rocks in a jar that appears it's too full to contain anything else. I love my friends!

Develop Better Eating Habits: This is a constant battle for me. Meal planning on Sundays and  creating a system for freezing lunches that include vegetables has increased extra time in the morning to use in better ways.  Pre-measuring and containing food has helped with portion control.

Develop a Reading & Writing Schedule:  I can do better in this area. It is a guilty pleasure that, like a lot of other things in my life, I can really binge on and then I don't get anything else done. That's not a bad thing. I need to continue paring down the things I don't want to do to replace with activities I enjoy. I've filled an entire journal with "morning pages". This is a huge accomplishment for me.

Develop a Cleaner Home: I hired a domestic goddess to help me keep my house in order. Best decision I made last year! I've worked hard to get things picked up off the floor so when she arrives (twice a month) it makes her job easier. I hate clutter and yet I'm still living in it. It's a work in progress and I'm not done yet. My new rule to live by when shopping for clothes:  If I don't love it, I don't buy it.  I also have started taking questionable items in my closet and placing them to the forefront. If the item isn't worn that week, in other words if I avoid wearing it, it gets dropped into the goodwill box on Friday. Why hang on to stuff I don't wear?  This is a very difficult process for me but I'm getting better at it every day.

Develop Photo Walking List:  Several walks last year with select friends helped form an idea for keeping a list. Photo walking is very personal to me and I've noted that it is not everyone's cup of tea. I have a great friend who loves going as much as I do and we accomplished several walks this year. We drove to Walla Walla in October to a great old cemetery.

I've been thinking about what I want to work on next year and I am torn. So many words come to mind:  READ, WRITE, PHOTOGRAPH.  Yesterday it came to me that what I really want to do is create.  That's it!  2015 will be the year of creating.  I can hardly wait!

How about you? How was your year? Did you have a theme word? How did it work out for you?  Do you have a goal for 2015?  Tell me!!!!

love, susan

#AnnualReview