Life has changed significantly since then. I started a new job in August 2012, which has been quite a change. Not only that, but I have met and been with an amazing man since the end of last November. A new job and a new relationship took priority over a lot of things the past year, one of which was keeping up with this blog. I occasionally would check my "stats" and feel like I was missing out on some great opportunities. Pinterest brings a lot of traffic! So I am back. With some new ideas and inspiration and exciting things to write about. (I plan to do a catch-up post in the near future, but there are more important things to get to today).
In reading through some of the blogs I follow, I came across this amazing idea to carry me into and through the next year over at Little Baby Garvin. Several amazing ladies are linking up with each other (and who ever else wants to join) to share their New Year goals and aspirations. What intrigued me about this idea is the challenge to come up with one word that encompasses the heart of what you want to accomplish in the coming year. You have probably seen several words pop up on blogs and instagram (my username is staceycarleen) this week (#making2014count, #olw, #onelittleword). It seems in a world where there is so much rush and chaos, we as a society are getting to a point where enough is enough. It is time to slow down, narrow down, and use one word to guide us, year by year. So I thought, what a better way to jump back into the blogging world? Which brings me to my word for this year...
If you ask my parents (and probably some friends and past boyfriends), commitment has always been a struggle for me. I would start playing a sport, and quit. Start a new hobby, and quit. Start a new job, and quit. You get the idea. This issue affects a lot of different areas of my world, which is why I thought it would be a good foundation to live by this year.
This year, I want to commit to learning how to use my new camera. Michael got me one for Christmas, which is something that I have been wanting for a long time. Years. If you have kept up with my blog before, you know that photography is something I have considered trying to pursue professionally. I want to commit to learning how to photograph, not just be a person with a good camera.
I want to commit to being healthy. I know health and wellness is on just about everyone's resolution list, but for me this has been a long-time goal, and something that I....you guessed it, QUIT! I have been successful in losing weight before. I have been successful in being in good shape before. Heading out of "young"-adulthood and into being a real, live, grown-up, there are a lot of things, events, and reasons for me to be HEALTHY and in shape. It's not about looking great in a bikini (though that would be nice). It's about longevity. Learning habits and living habits I want my (someday) kids to have. Being able to be active if I want to join in on a fun 5k next weekend, instead of missing out.
I want to commit to living more. Loving more. Creating more. Learning more. There is so much to life that I know I miss out on because "I don't feel like it" or "it's not worth the hassle". I want 2014 to be a year that I look back on experiences and events and memories...lots of them. Not just a handful of good days because the rest just kind of ran together.
I could elaborate on how else I want to commit this year, but that really isn't the idea, is it? One word. One goal. One heck of a year.
I plan to make 2014 count by committing to commit. Plain and simple.
Join me!
PS...I also plan to commit more time to blogging, so be sure to stop by again soon to see what's cookin'!
