Every time the new year comes, people talk about their resolutions. We all have things that we want to change in our lives and hold ourselves more accountable for. I’ve never really been good at the whole resolutions things, so this year I’ve decided to write down some goals for things I want to achieve in 2017. By having these goals publically in the open, I’m hoping that anyone reading these will help me make sure that I am keeping on track in achieving them.
Write (or Type) More
So this goal I have already started to get a jump on. At least once a week during 2016, I found myself saying that I should write and blog more. It’s really not that hard to do, I have a lot of thoughts that I want to get out of my head and I know there are at least a few of you who want to read them.
To be more precise with this goal, I would like to make sure that I am publishing at least one post per week. It is my hope that I will be doing more than that, but one per week feel attainable right now.
To kick this goal off, I got myself reacquainted with blogging through the My Year at the Movies series I just completed. It was a lot of fun, though exhausting, and it got me really excited for the prospects of 2017.
In terms of the types of posts I plan to write, I hope to do advertisement and commercial reviews, movie reviews, photography how-to pieces, and interviews. Additionally, I will be writing a piece on any new experiences I have or places I go. With the interviews I mentioned, I am hoping to have the chance to highlight some really awesome (and creative) people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.
Do More Photography
I thought about just writing in this description “shoot more,” but maybe I should explain more. Photography is a big piece of my life, I shoot so much, and it still isn’t enough. I want to do more photo jobs, shooting headshots, weddings, events, concerts, whatever. I need to keep shooting and keep improving.
One major area I want to do more in is shooting film. I know have two fantastic medium-formate film cameras that I need to use more. I want to shoot more landscapes and environmental portraits with these cameras. They have such a great quality to them and give the images they produce and amazing, almost three-dimensional quality. I want to share that with you.
I want to do more portraits, not just headshots, but environmental portraits. Whether for album covers or author photos or whatever they are needed for, I want to help make the people who need it look their best.
Getting back to shooting concerts would also be great. It’s been a while since I did any shows, having moved away from doing it at work. Maybe I’ll start sending some emails to see if anyone needs some photo help while on tour in the area.
I also want to make sure that I get some gigs in. It’s really hard to make your own projects happen if you aren’t making money from your craft. I’m hoping to connect with more folks and actually get hired to do more work this year to help my visions come to life.
Speaking of which, I have two, possibly three, major projects that I am looking to get started this year and will be posting about them soon.
Visit 5 or More Cities That I’ve Never Been To
I don’t travel enough. There are so many places around the country that I have never been to and I need to change that. Within the first 3 months of 2017, I will actually be crossing two cities off the list.
At the beginning of January, I will be going to St. Louis, MI with Rutgers University Alternative Breaks. Community service work is an awesome way to get a glimpse at a city and learn more about what they have going one. While there, we will be working with Kingdom House, and I am very excited for the work that we will be doing with the St. Louis community.
I will also be visiting New Orleans, LA for the first time in March. I’m really excited for this trip because of the rich culture, food, and creative scene that I have heard the city has. Based on what I have been looking at in the area, I think there will be plenty to write about that trip and share with you here. I will be staying in the Central Business District, between French Quarter and Garden District, so if you have any suggestions for awesome things to do or see in the area or folks that I should connect with, definitely let me know.
Outside of those two, I will be seeking suggestions for other cities I should visit in the area. Be sure to send your suggestions my way so that I can make my list. I also would love a traveling companion, so if anyone wants to go together, just let me know.
Eat Better, Drink More Water, Be Healthier
I guess this is the most resolutiony one of my goals. I have been eating the best lately, I haven’t been drinking enough water, and I just generally have been unfair to my body. I’m going to get it together in 2017.
In terms of eating better, obviously I want to eat more healthy foods, but I also just generally want to eat better things. As I travel, I hope to eat new foods that I haven’t had a chance to try yet, as well as local favorites. I also hope to try to cook some new recipes and expand my skills in the kitchen.
Outside of my intake, there will also be more walking, more hiking, and more exercising in general.
This one might be a bit boring, but I have to take care of myself.
Take More Time For Me
Before my dad passed, one piece of advice he had given me was to make sure that I took time for myself. I have always been a worker, fully dedicating myself to wherever I was working and not taking the time I needed to regroup and relax. My dad always had this way of being right.
Constant exhaustion and continually feeling stressed out are no ways to live. I’ve never been good at using vacation days, and always seem to have a stockpile of them. I’m not going to do these things anymore.
I am going to take more time for myself, give myself breaks, use all of my vacation days, and find time to just breathe.
I can’t wait to take the time to enjoy my time with myself and hopefully use it to create something worth sharing with you.
So that’s it, those are my goals for 2017. What are some of yours? What are you going to make happen this year? Do you need help sticking to them?
