2013: What I've Gained and What I've Lost

Facebook can give you your year in review with the highlights from the things you posted. A have to tell you, mine kinda sucked. Because I don't put every success and failure on my status updates (trust me, I would be unfriended with all the whining), there wasn't much to show for this year. In an effort to be a little more grateful for what I have, I've decided that the best way to do my year in review on this blog is to break it down in terms of what I have gained over the past twelve months and what I have lost.

What I've Lost in 2013
*The will to work for pennies. Clients looking for a masterpiece written for just $5 will have to find another sucker.

*Inhibitions about sharing my writing with people I know. While I've always been glad to share my work with strangers, it's another thing to be vulnerable enough to hand it over to friends. Family--I'm still working on the courage to get to that point.

*The idea that dreams fade. These dreams I keep in my pocket aren't fading away--they are just evolving to fit into my life the way it is rather than the way I want it to be.

*10 pounds. Hey, losing isn't always a bad thing. ;-)

What I've Gained in 2013
*Perspective on my career. I can't possibly keep my head down and quiet, yet still find success.

*The will to try. Convincing me to do something out of the ordinary isn't my strongest suit. But I've definitely been trying to try more often.

*Knowledge that freelancing is not as easy as it used to be. I don't think that it was ever easy, but it has been more lucrative in the past. If I have to bow out to concentrate on my writing career, I'm okay with that.

*The vision to see that nothing is impossible--I just haven't found the right path yet.

After the year in review, the next logical step is to talk about all the New Year's resolutions I want to make. Most resolutions are pointless because by Valentine's Day you have given up, and who needs the double disappointment of eating chocolate alone in your room and knowing that you have failed? Okay, so I'm assuming everyone spends that holiday celebrating the same way I do... Anyway, resolutions are not for me. I'm going to set some personal and professionals goals, but they are scaled to my current situation and completely attainable as long as I put in the work. Now if I could just get someone to pay me a salary for being my fabulous self, I would be all set for 2014. ;-)

Starting Back to Day 1

Today is my birthday. I've been up all of one hour and already the excitement is kind of over. Birthdays have never meant much to me (or to anyone else for that matter) so I keep them quiet, keep them to myself, and let a another day pass by.

What I do make a point to do on my birthday is set new yearly goals. I think the whole New Year's Eve resolution-setting is arbitrary. After all that holiday celebrating, who wants to start something new? I choose to sets goals on my birthday instead, because it seems to me a person would want to make sure they have at least one goal accomplished before they turn... whatever age (mine happens to be 27 this year).

My goals for this year? Unfortunately, they have to be the same as last year. I didn't get anything published, though I tried very hard. The other goal was a little weight loss/health kick, which I sort of accomplished. I'm 2 lbs. from where I wanted to be. Just shows me that almost isn't acceptable anymore. If I want something, I'm really going to have to go for it. After all, I'm not getting any younger!!

Eventful Weekend

I'm still working hard on my weight loss goal for the year, and I certainly managed to get in my exercise this weekend. I spent most of the weekend with the nephews. They are a hoot and also really, really energetic. And even though this was the weekend for love, I did not falter and delve into a box full of chocolate candies. Nope, instead I was well aware of my singleness and left it at that. I had plans to write a sappy poem either about the holiday or about being single, but the humor didn't come through for me.

I did, however, manage to complete my first roll on my Diana Mini. I was scared this morning when I rewound the film. This was my first time doing that on an analogue camera and I thought I messed it all up. When I finished rewinding, the counter didn't reset. Luckily there is advice everywhere on the Internet and I found the answer to my question. I managed not to break it and can't wait to get the film developed!

Writing is... slow. I managed one article last week. I hope to complete much more this week all while saving myself from another month of paycheck to paycheck living. Stress is high, but it only makes me more determined to get through.