New Year's Resolutions

I think the word of the year will be "arrive."
In a conversation, I want to really be present, focused, putting myself in the others' shoes, and actively wanting to be a better person for myself and my family as well as others.

In order to do this, I'll need to do some planning. So I'll be organized. So my mind won't be racing/distracted/cluttered/multi-tasking. I mean I'm sure it'll multi-task, but I'll be in control and aware.

Some things will be to set a weekly schedule. If I were a student, I'd have to do that so I'd get assignments in on time and I learned that the busier I am, the more I can do. By that, I mean that if things are planned for me, and I have deadlines, I make the most of every 15 minute increment.

I should watch less TV. That's hard since I don't even turn it on while on the computer at nights much since it sucks me into the shows and I stop typing/editing. I realize it's unproductive. But I do like to, while Julia winds down, or even after the fight of her going to bed is over, plop down on the couch with my husband. It's quiet no-brainer time.

I've heard, and fully believe, that one gets more recovery time from the stress of the daily grind when being active. Active recreation is better for the mind body and soul than inactive recreation (AKA screen time.) Yet I think it's a mental thing. If I don't get to nap or get to plop down on the couch and forget to do lists, I feel like I haven't had time to recharge. I know that's incorrect, and couch time is counter-productive, so I need to find a way to get out of that habit. Do you know how irritating it is to come in from the living room to find my dirty dishes in the sink still? Why did I reward myself with a movie when I didn't do my normal chores? I annoy myself. My punishment is to leave them for myself to do them in the morning. But that's wreckless b/c then, the kids are up, I want to be present (arrive) with them, but I have my dang chores to do. I enable myself to feel like I've done something with myself in the morning if I have done the dishes. Dude. I could've worked out or read to my kids which would've been way more productive if I had done the dishes the night before! It would've taken 1/3 the time since my 4 distractions wouldn't be awake.

So the moral of this story is that I am going to set aside time to plan, study, meditate, ask the Holy Ghost to be with me and I'm going to take more control of the minutes of the day thus allowing myself to be a better wife, mom, daughter, neighbor, and friend. I'll make enough time and money to do so.

I wish I had bullet points for my resolutions. I'll brainstorm some real quick. My patient, Steven Sherwood, said he does PMS for his. Physical, Mental, and Spiritual.

Physical - Um. I'd like to join a gym but that's not going to happen. I'd like it to be after hours or some time when I can go w/ Steven and take the kids there. Maybe I'll run a 10K or something. I want to get rid of my poochy tummy. Gross. I've lost more than the baby weight and have top abs, but the bottom ones are lazy fatty ew.

Mental - meditate/plan/organize/arrive/thrive

Spiritual - I'll really study the Book of Mormon since that's the book of scripture for Sunday School this year.

Oh, I also want to play duets with my kids. I want to play the piano while they play it or the violin. I'll start with the piano. That'll be one way to arrive with their piano studies.

I also want to figure out work. first, Fishy Face Phogography, I got a new website and want to be more awesome this year. Here's a start to my to do list for it:

• edit about me page
• general user friendliness and look and feel of website
• get new business cards
• send something to all past clients
• get Rania's proofs to her and order everybody else's and get them sent
• edit Matt and Hollie's session and Christmas
• Make a chart system for keeping track of all clients
• make sure all past client photos are sRGB and re-send galleries out
• get published somewhere
• make money
• set aside a day for ffp stuff (babysitters necessary and/or days off from CSD)
• buy a flash
• back up everything
• welcome video
• re-direct Thumbtack to my email
• categorize/tag/SEO my past posts and pages
• instagram more business images