New Year, New Goals

One of my favorite quotes is from a book called Do Hard Things.  If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.  Seems like common sense right?  But for some reason it seems I always get stuck in the same routine and performing the same tasks but I expect change.  If what I was doing before wasn't working, why would it now?

I guess this is why people make New Year's Resolutions.  At the start of every year, people think of changes they want to make in their lives and try to follow them as long as possible, usually lasting only a few weeks or months before they forget about them.

 

So this year, I am going to be making some major changes in my life but they won't be "New Year's Resolutions" because they are changes that will help me reach goals for the upcoming year.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to be evaluating this past year and looking at what I want to do/accomplish next year.  By setting tangible goals, the smaller changes I make in my daily life will not only remind me of my overall goals, but hopefully they can help serve as check points reminding me that I am on the right track as long as I  follow them.

So if you wish to do the same, you should look at the following categories:

• Health
• Friends
• Family
• Business/Work
• Personal
• Travel
• Income
• Savings
• Giving
• Service
• Spiritual

Think about this past year and think about what went well and what didn't go well this year in each of the categories.  After writing these down, think about what you want to see stay the same and change in the upcoming year.  This will better prepare you for making your goals.

After you have decided on your goals for the new year, make a list of how you will get there.  This could include changes in your lifestyle, additional actions you may need to take, or mindsets you need to change.

In any case, once you know where you going, it is much easier to figure out how to get there.

By the way, if you want a more detailed approach, Chris Guillebeau's blog is where I first learned this method..

How to:

I promise I will actually write something myself soon instead of linking to what other people have to say but until then ever wonder how to be unremarkably average?

Happy Thanksgiving!

An article to help you reflect a little on Thanksgiving Day - written by Jon Foreman - lead singer of Switchfoot

looking down looking up

Things are looking down and looking up but really I'm just trying to look straight ahead.

So I failed to get yet another job but that just means it wasn't the right one for me.  I'm looking for a photographer to shadow so if anyone knows of one...I found an awesome on in Tennessee which this is the kind of commercial photography I want to get into.  Hopefully that will work out!

I got my business cards in the mail but unfortunately in the mail at home I'm at Amy's but until I get my website up and going I made a facebook to start socially networking myself!  Tell people to check out facebook.com/katiehawkinsphotography if you want to spread the word or know of anyone who needs pictures.

Not much going on right now but I'm excited to see where I will be in a few months because in the past few I've already come a long way.  Or so I think anyway!

mountains, work, and left overs

This weekend, mom, dad, Andrew, Jennifer, Amy and I went up to the mountains of Tennesse to get away. We stayed at Cherokee Path Cabins and it was so nice. Amy and I were in the hot tub most of the time and if you don't believe me let me just tell you our swimsuits were never dry all weekend.

hot tub with a view!

(I'm talking about the mountains not Amy and me!)

Saturday, I took the fam on a trail to one of my favorite overlooks of the mountains. It never ceases to amaze me.

Technically we were in NC for the hike

It was nice just to get away and spend some time with family and nature with no distractions. It was definitely a great way to end my first week of work. Sadly, I will not have a hot tub waiting on me Friday night. But I'm going home where my bed will be waiting for me (Amy and I are sharing a full bed which I am pretty sure it is named for the fact that when both of us are in it, it is FULL!).

I definitely was not ready to leave because work was waiting on me. This dreaded feeling of the coming work week made me realize I'm all grown up...for the next two weeks anyway!

I have never been a fan of left overs and after spending basically 6 months overseas where there were no microwaves, I fell even more in love with freshly made foods. Well, when you don't get home until 5:30 and then have many things you wish to do, I am beginning to see the attractiveness of leftovers. I will probably succumb to them this week.

the return

and I mean it this time!

Since my last post I have become a college graduate and lived at home for several months like any good graduate would. Thankfully, I have a temporary job for a few weeks and I have a possible full time job in the future.

I have been doing some freelance work as well and that is slowly picking up. Hopefully by this time next year, I will have enough clients to have my very own photography business. Ahh to dream. But as Roy Williams said,"Be led by your dreams not pushed by your problems."

That really is the way to live life. Always looking ahead to good things and not distract yourself with the petty problems. Too often they seem to pull me down until all I can think about are the negatives. But no more!!

My problems will not direct my path but rather my dreams will shape my future!

Ten Ways the World Could Be Better

The world could be a better place if...

1.   Goldfish (the crackers) counted as a daily serving of vegetables.

2.   the standard letter paper size is A4   

3.   the world went Mac (although I would settle for PC and Mac compatible) 

4.   doing  the right thing was always the popular choice.

5.   those with extra money put it to good use rather than constant extravagant spending on the latest trends

6.   people could learn to put others before themselves

7.   people realized that Christianity is not a religion; it's a relationship and lived accordingly.

8.   people refused to settle for good but rather excelled for great.

9.   people could get 3 meals a day instead of some people eating all day and others going days without eating.

10.  people worried about their soul half as much as they worry about their appearance.

Lack of Motivation + Blog = Procrastination

but not just any form of procrastination...semi-productive procrastination which means your conscience does not feel quite as heavy with guilt.

I sit in the mac lab trying to find some inspiration but alas it is still lost so in the mean time, I have a few tennis updates to share with you.

Today, the women took on the Saints from Limestone College.  They were the preseason pick to finish first by the conference coaches earlier in the fall.  Last year, we lost pretty bad but were able to compete with them on most courts if my memory serves me correctly.  But back to today...

Some of their girls were hurt so they only had 5 that traveled which means we automatically get a default in number three doubles and number 6 singles.  So going into doubles we were up 2-0 but after losing at 1 and winning at 2 we were only up 3-1 going into singles.  

Gabby won at 1 but Ashley lost at 3 making the score 4-2.  Christine soon finished winning and giving us the last point we needed to win.   Lyndsay and Cameron went on to win their singles (they only played an 8 game proset).  

Tonight, there was a nutrition seminar for all the athletes which was very informative.  A lot of people showed up which is to be expected when they are all required to come.

Since inspiration has not yet found me, I suppose I should go and find it.

Four Score and Seven Years Ago...

...was the last time I updated my blog

I suppose it is now time to start writing again.  I have exciting news.  The moonboot has undergone a redesign and is back in business!

It is almost April and it is snowing outside.  The power went out for a while.  Not too good.  I am ready for warm weather but mainly graduation.

For my Omega (senior research project) I am making a magazine which focuses on becoming a better person from the inside out and will have challenging articles (or i hope they are anyway) for 20-28 year olds.  

I am excited mainly for the advertisements.  I love coming up with the slogans and concept ideas.  For example: 

for some reason the colors changed during the upload

(the cingular character is supposed to be orange not blue 

and the text black but you get the idea)

I can't wait to see the finished magazine!!