New Year's Resolutions - The big picture

Be happy with what you have,

not sad for what you don't.

This idea has been running through my head since 2010.  It is how I decided to look at our trip to Europe.  I was so excited to be going to Italy, France, and England.  But, I knew we had a limited amount of time and honestly, we could have spent weeks there and not seen everything each city had to offer.  So what did we do?  We mentally decided to not worry about the stuff we couldn't get to, but be grateful what we could get to.  

Florence?  Didn't see the David. Paris?  Didn't see the Mona Lisa.  I know!  What were we thinking?  We were thinking there's so much to do, let's just take the city in rather than stressing over getting into a museum (did I just say that?!?!?!?).

From that trip forward, I have tried to keep that thought in mind.  Be happy with what I do get to do, rather than upset over what I am unable to do.  It's amazing what this mindset has done for me overall.  I've been much happier with life.  It's made me realize there will always be things I will be unable to do, but if I focus on those I will be unhappy.  If I focus on what I am fortunate enough to do and experience, life becomes so much more bright and filled with opportunities.

This year my goal is to keep this idea upper most in my mind.  I know there will be times when I won't, but all I can do is try.  The first few days of the year found me in Jamaica.  We consciously decided to not go on any excursions.  This of course meant we didn't get to see anything of the area, but it allowed us to just be.  Relax.  Enjoy each others company.  And when we did actually leave the resort, we stopped at Margaritaville for a drink.  Sure, we could have taken a shuttle to the famous Rick's Cafe, but you know what?  There's always next time.  And if there isn't a next time, then I am perfectly happy with the trip we had.  No regrets.

So, I started off the year with this thought in mind: Be grateful for what you experience, not upset with what you haven't.  Hoping to focus on that all year long.

New Year's Resolutions - Get back to photography

After losing my job in 2009 I thought I should follow a dream to be a photographer.  I love taking photos and I've learned a lot about photography over the past couple of years.  I've learned composition, I've learned about my camera, and I've learned editing.  I'm not perfect, but I know my skills are much better than they were.

When I started volunteering at the Archives in May 2011 I stopped photographing things, unless it was something big.  I got caught up in "working" again and didn't take the time to go out with the camera like I used to.  I have photos of things we've done, but the big photo stuff really revolved around vacations.

Walt Disney World in February 

Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend

Bascillica of Notre Dame in August

Montreal, Canada

Sunset in December

Negril, Jamaica

I need to get back to just going out and taking interesting photos.  Bringing the camera with me more often.  Taking the chance when doing everyday activities to take images.  I also want to try to get more portrait and couple/family photo experience this year.  It's something to strive for.

New Year's Resolutions - Bike 40 miles a month

Last summer I decided to try my hand at a duathlon.  This meant I needed a bike, which I just happened to inherit several years ago, but had done nothing with.  So, the bike got new tires and a tune-up in March and I started riding in April. 

Turns out I really enjoyed it.  I started off at the same park I started my running training at.  It was a loop that is generally used for walking or running, but whatever.  It was helpful when doing bricks during training.

The duathlon did not go as planned.  I was sorely disappointed in it, but the positive is I really enjoyed the biking I did to train.  And long after the duathlon was over, hubby and I would hit the Rail Trail and bike.  It was fun and with the weather so hot this summer, biking gave us a chance to stay active without getting too hot.

So, this year I want to bike on the weekends.  Last summer we started a routine where we ran on Saturday mornings and biked on Sunday.  I'd like to keep that going come April and get in 40 miles on the bike.  Will we be perfect every month?  Probably not, but I'm hoping that by making it a goal that we get our butts out there and ride!

New Year's Resolution - Run 25 Miles a Month

Next on the list of New Year's resolutions is to run 25 miles a month.  Last year I had three months where I only ran 5 miles each. It wasn't the worse thing in the world, but if I am a runner then I need to act like one.  I have to be consistent and that's what I want to try for this year - consistency.

With that in mind, hubby and I joined the local YMCA tonight.  I know you don't need a gym membership to get in a good workout or to train, but last January and February taught me that once the sun goes down I will not run.  So, the gym membership will help me get in my week day runs especially since the branch I will use is a 5 minute walk from my office.  I have high hopes that my weekday runs will actually happen now.

So, what's on the running agenda this year?

March 11 - Kelly Shamrock 5k
March 17 - Yuengling Shamrock 8k
March 18 - Yuengling Shamrock Half Marathon

And then there's the rest of the year.... LOL!  I would normally run the Baltimore Women's Classic, but I believe I'm heading out of town that weekend.  I've done the Harrisburg Mile several times, but after last year's debacle I'm not sure I want to do it again.  I have duathlon in my mind again.  Looking to the Catfish duathlon in July as a come back race.  Not sure of this though.  There's chatter about doing the Atlantic City Half Marathon in October.  Not sure about it, but it's been bantered about. 

So, that's my goal - 25 miles (or as close to it as possible) a month or 300 miles this year.  And of course, I have to figure out what races I want to run.  I have March covered, it's the rest of the year I'm at a loss for.