0Good morning 
Inspired by Kaylah‘s 15 resolutions for the new year, I figured I ought to note a few down myself, and really make sure these goals for 2012 aren’t unrealistic. I tend to expect too much from myself in order to have a sense of purpose, and the pressure is ON and I get turned OFF. I need to push myself, always, but I needn’t go overboard. So here are a few goals that push me to make some changes or keep up the good work, but that keep it fun and interesting and manageable most of all.
1. As you can see, I’m down with blogging. I’ve been enthusiastically posting the past few days; a new start helps. But it’s usually like that with me. I start a blog, and after some 15 posts, I give up on it. My first goal for 2012 is to keep this baby up and running, interesting for you to read and me to look back on.
2. Make more of my days & get the most out of my waking hours: getting up earlier and watching less TV will help (and if I do want to watch a little more TV than usual, do it in the office, in the background, while I’m working).
3. While I do want to make more time to be productive, I do very much value reading and want to do that more than I did last year. I resolve to read 50 books this year. I am too busy to expect myself to read 75, and even 60 would be overreached. But 50, that I should be able to do.
4. And while I’m on the subject of books: I buy too many. This is true. My pile of books that I still need to read is humongous, ridiculously large. Because I do want to read newer books on occasion (I want to buy and read Jeffrey Eugenides’ newest novel so, so badly, and I’ve yet to read Tina Fey’s Bossypants), I pledge to buy no more than 5 new novels this year, no more than 15 secondhand novels. Less if possible, though. (I’m going to fail this one though. One trip to England-land-of-charity-shops and I’m done for.)
Ya know, it would be good to apply this to other things too. Less over consumption.
5. Resolution number 4 means I keep some more money in my pockets. I should really try and save some money every month, put it away for later days.
6. No more piles of laundry. Keep it up and get it done. Laundry is (apart from cooking) the household chore I like best. So why is it the one I’m worst at? Seriously.
7. Wear earrings more often. I did not get holes punched in my ears multiple times back when I was a teen, only to never ever wear any earrings.
8. Stop procrastinating when it comes to executing photo ideas, self-portraits especially. Part of keeping up a blog has to do with having a more personal and valuable platform to share my photos. I need to make use of this, connect more. I hope blogging – a verbal outlet – will also inspire me to photograph more, to be creative, to have a visual outlet as well.
9. Eat more regularly. I think I will feel a lot better physically if only I change my eating habits. Make better choices, for one, and eat my meals at the same time every day when I can.
10. Try a new recipe every once in a while. I do feel we eat the same things too much. I’d like to get creative, try different dishes, and who knows? I’d also like to try some vegan dishes. Not because I want to be a vegan (I’ve been a vegetarian for 19 years, and that’s a decision I’ve been comfortable with completely, for just as long), but because I think I’ll be pleasantly surprised by how good it can taste. I’m saying it will force me to really get out of my comfort zone, recipe wise. It would be a starting point.
11. Photograph personal events and my every day life more often. When working as a photographer, it does get hard sometimes to view the world with your own eyes instead of “how it could look if I compose it like this and edit it like that”. I’ll be honest here, this is a photographer’s curse (not all of us, but some of us, the perfectionist ones, will probably agree): if it doesn’t make a good enough picture to put in your portfolio, why take the photo? While it’s those personal memories that got me into photography in the first place. I need to photograph my family, I need to just photograph our anniversary, and I need to keep taking photos of my grandparents. Because every time I see them, it could be the last time, and every smile I can capture in the meantime, that means so much more than any well-composed self-portrait could ever do. It MATTERS. Read this. It goes for anyone who considers having their photos taken by a photographer, but it also goes for photographers themselves in a way.
12. Keep organized. I’ve worked really, really hard the past… 4 months I think.. to get myself on track, get more organized. Yes, I procrastinate. I forget about some emails. But it’s already so much better than it was this summer. I need to keep this up. Take care of my mail, my bills, my administration and my communication. Keep improving. Especially now that I’m a business owner (still sounds so weird to me!).
13. Open myself up to new people in my life. This is a big one, but one I feel I should be able to achieve. So what if there have been bad relationships in the past? Doesn’t mean it’s always going to be this way. And if anything, I’ve only learned from these experiences. It’s time to let loose, socialize.
14. Don’t give up too easily. This applies to anything (not just Karin Elizabeth fotografie, although okay, it applies mostly to that). So what if things don’t go smoothly? Life is made up of giggles and disappointments alike. It’s falling down and getting back up again, with vigor. I’ve just started a business; I need to toughen up. Because I realize full well that it’s not going to be an easy year. I’ll be frustrated, confused, overwhelmed, disappointed. I have no illusions. But I’m also finally DOING it. Doing what I love and being my own boss while doing so. Having no illusions and being a realist doesn’t mean I need to stop being hopeful, and optimistic. Believing in myself is my most important tool.
15. Personal style – now this one really has been on my list for a few months now. I love wearing an old metal band t-shirt and sweatpants, and I don’t always brush my hair. It’s true. Or wear my contacts. I don’t really care much about always looking my best. Is that such a bad thing? Nah. I don’t think so. But I also realize that I’m going to be 29 soon. And I’d kind of like to look more like a responsible, awake adult from here on out. I’m a girl (woman) and I like make-up and bags and nailpolish, too. So let’s do something with it.
I could think of more. But you know what, anything else I come up with, that’s for 2013. I think 15 is enough for one year. I’ve got a pretty neat self-improve list happening here. I can work with this. I might actually even blog about my progress throughout the year; you’ll know I’ll follow through on my first resolution simply by posting about my personal growth in 2012, haha. Blogging! Blogging about cooking! Daily life! My new nailpolish! My business! I’m looking forward to challenging myself. And you know, I’m really, really stoked about this blog, too. It finally just feels right.
