January 14, 2017Charlotte Graham

Reflections and Resolutions

This post was originally scheduled to go out on January 1st, however with the deluge of new year’s related talk, I decided to delay it a bit to allow myself more time to think about my resolutions for the new year.

At the risk of sounding cliche, how on earth did a whole year already pass?? Seriously, wasn’t it just New Year’s Eve of last year? Although I didn’t quite complete all of my resolutions from 2016, I really have learned and grown a lot, and I consider that an achievement.

After all, isn’t the point of life to continually grow and learn? Well, maybe not the ONLY point of life, but at least a central point of it.

Any who. Today I want to reflect on the year that has passed, and lay out some goals for 2017.

Looking back on 2016, I am grateful for friends and family who have supported me through good times and bad times. It was a year of mostly ups, but a few rocky patches surfaced. I moved hundreds of miles and multiple states away for the second time in two years, an experience which I do not wish to repeat any time soon! (Moving sucks!!!)

I also resigned from a job under very bittersweet circumstances. While I absolutely loved what I did as well as loved my direct peers, there were some totally not OK things going on regarding my physical office situation that I could no longer tolerate. I miss my coworkers dearly (thankfully a few of us are planning a girls’ trip at some point to catch up!), and I miss the content of my work.

Looking forward to 2017, I am thrilled to start my new job. In addition to that milestone, within just a few days of the new year I will be completing the 2017 Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando.

Marathon, Disney trip, new job … man, I sure am starting out 2017 with a bang!

As for goals and resolutions, I’ve divided them into realistic ones and icing-on-the-cake wish list ones:

Realistic goals/resolutions for 2017:

  1. Cultivate new relationships, and deepen existing ones.
  2. Get a marathon PR.
  3. Query agents for the book I’m writing.
  4. Continue to grow this blog.
  5. Improve food photography skills.

Somewhat unrealistic wish list goals/resolutions for 2017:

  1. Run the Dublin Marathon.
  2. Get my book optioned by a traditional publisher OR self-publish it.

Yeah-right-dream-on goal for 2017:

  1. Seriously start to turn my creative passions (writing, blogging, food photography) into a career.

So, what about you? Any goals or resolutions you think are out of reach?

Charlotte xoxo

19 comments

  1. I don’t think the last one is a ridiculous notion at all. Bloody difficult, yes, but certainly not beyond you. I think it’d be cool if we both managed to get published this year 🙂 Good luck on the marathon front too

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • I empathize with that sentiment. I have a really easy time seeing the skills and talents of people around me, and subsequently encouraging them. But when it comes to my own talents and skills, I feel like a fraud, and when someones gives me laudatory feedback I think for sure they must have mistaken me with someone else. All of that is to say, you are a superb writer and have readers rooting for your success!

        Liked by 1 person

      • This whole comment could have been written by me. I feel exactly the same way. My self critical nature always has me wondering whether those who compliment me are blowing smoke up my arse (I love that term). Kinda like when you tell a child they’re an amazing artist when they’ve done some squiggles on a piece of paper 😂 I can also echo the sentiments as far as your writing abilities. I love your eloquence and use of big words. Big words are like porn to me. Haha

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Great goals for the new year! I really hope you will get your book published and you get to expand your creativity. It’s in the stars for us Leos and Sags to expand our creative side this year and get some sort of recognition for what we do😉. By the way, what camera do you use for your food photos? Right now I use my phone for my beauty products/flat lays, but this year I want to invest in an REAL camera. Good luck with all your goals!!! 🌻🌼🌸

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Aw thank you, Jey!! I appreciate the encouragement! I use a Canon EOS Rebel t6i with the standard lens it comes with (55mm I think?). I love it!! Speaking of photography, I need to learn your secrets on doing flat lays. Yours are seriously the best!!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • You’re welcome! My goal this year is to invest in an entry-level Canon DSLR camera as well, because I’d like to take my blog photos to the next stage. Haha that’s so nice of you, well I just do my best and play around with props and make use of sunlight.🌞 Later this year I will write a post on how I create my blog photos (flatlay for beauty products in particular). You should definitely have a look at photographers who specialise in food photography and learn from them. Also Check out instagram for #flatlay #foodphotography #foodflatlay #foodgram. Hope this helps. Xxxx

        Liked by 1 person

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