something about the new year coming makes me think of what i’ve accomplished, what i’ve yet to accomplish, what i must accomplish… you get the picture. i certainly am not exactly where i pictured myself at 27 years old but most days, i quite like my life. i’m not sure what i’d be doing had i not met and married steve and became an insta-mom. would i be working a silly, has-nothing-to-do-with-my-major office job? would i be back in school getting my masters? would i be living near home or traveling? who knows. obviously some of my dreams had to be put a bit on the back burner when my life became what it is. that’s ok. but, what are those dreams now? to be sure, they’ve changed in the last five years anyway. i know myself better now. what i’m capable of, what i really enjoy, what i am good at. so, with those things in mind, here are some things i hope for in 2012 (and, the following years):
i really want to get more skilled at graphic design. i have told steve recently, “i should have majored in this.” it is so much fun (the very little i do) and i want to do more and more. maybe an intensive saturday class in photoshop?
i want to get more skilled behind the camera. maybe, even, start taking pictures outside of my family (gasp!)! whether for pay or not, it’d make me feel more legit and i think i’d love it. it seems that it’d be a great job for a mom… make your own hours and work as much or as little as you want. speaking of, i’m saving up for a lens and these two are top of my list right now. which do ya’ll prefer (and why?)? 24-70 or 24-105?
i want to take that trip with the family.
i want to live elsewhere for a time. whether steve takes a short-term teaching job at another school, or does research elsewhere for a sabbatical project… i really want to truly take up residence in a place other than here for a time. i like it here though and i want to come back. but six months or so in europe? vancouver? southern california? i will take it.
i want to relax more as a mom. i want to take my kids’ interests more seriously and not assume it is a fleeting-will-be-gone-tomorrow whim of theirs. i want to be on the computer less during their waking hours (i hate it when they’re so tv-computer minded and i realize i’m not setting the best example). i want to read to them more.
i’ve struggled with prayer and what it means and whether there’s any point… but i want to do it nevertheless. when my family gets in a car day after day, there’s nothing i can do to keep them safe from some crazy person on the road, i say a little prayer. it seems a little trite and whether it’s just lip service or not, it’s all i can do and so i do it. and i suppose, if there ends up being a purpose to it, i’ll be glad to have done it. thus… prayer’s sticking around, i think.
what are yours?
Love both graphic design and photography for you. You would be brilliant at both (are brilliant already at both). Plus Parker could be your little artsy sidekick.
Let's trade lives? You could come here and Steve could own the grocery store, and we could come there and Mike could profess about college things? I'd probably be more into this exchange than you, but think about it, okay?
And for me: visit my dad more often so Everett gets to know him, get that book published, and teach Mike to relax about the store and take a vaca every now and then.
Triple yes to the graphic design and photography and quadruple yes to living someplace else. I have to admit that the thought of my husband graduating law school and getting a job someplace new is all sorts of exciting for me.
@elizabeth, i don't know… a little stint in the south? we might be into that. free chocolate ice cream because we OWN THE STORE? i'll take it.
@dancing branflake, seriously! it's exciting to think of the possibilities.
These are so great Bridget. It is so hard to "find yourself" (sometimes again) after becoming a mom.
Take that trip. It looks amazing. Especially the part where you visit the Great North. 😮 I half thought you might be dreaming of Italy again…as am I.
@susan, oh i am dreaming of italy too!!
I love this! I love that you allow yourself to dream. I think it happens all too quickly that, once we become adults and realize the limitations of our paychecks, we stifle our dreams and confine them. I love to dream and do it often! 🙂
I agree wholeheartedly in needing to be more aware of my children's interests. They do come and go quite quickly, but I want them to be more important to me entirely because they are important to them.
In 2012 I would like to host guests who have never visited us before. I love having people in my home and think it would be phenomenal to have a family come stay for a week or two and just to do life together (I would fit well into the family who's many generations live together under one roof)! I always tell my cross-country friends that they're welcome anytime they decide that Minnesota is a destination for them … but somehow the cold state isn't all that appealing! 🙂
I would like to be better about cleaning my house! Even if it means taking one room every day to deep-clean. The spider webs are slowly taking over and I need to retaliate! 🙂
This list could go on and on .. I just may have to do my own blog post about it! 🙂
Such a great list! I can relate to elements of all of those, particularly struggling with prayer. I've seen it work firsthand in one instance and then I slacked off and was the recipient of the 6am call from the boyfriend saying he was in an accident (not hurt badly thank goodness). So everyday when he leaves for work so early and I'm still sleeping, I send out a prayer just in case. Better to cover my bases than not, I suppose.
I'm trying harder to see my family more often in 2012. They're only 3 hours away and yet life gets in the way and I only see them every other month or so.
Love your blog, your honesty is always so refreshing!
love the idea of putting these thoughts and goals on paper. will be doing this for sure. oh, and i would go with the 24-105 lens… i feel like it's a bit more versatile and you won't feel the need to switch lenses all day. i think that would be a great everyday lens.
this was all so well said. i too want to get better at photoshop, graphic design, photography. i have been taking some classes. i am taking a one-day photoshop basics class in january and i can't wait. i get so frustrated when i try to use photoshop now and things don't work that SHOULD WORK!!!!
the prayer stuff…that hits so close to home for me. i struggle with that so so much. especially after living in the south for a couple years where its seems like EVERYONE has this all figured out and i don't. i guess i take the same path as you-better to do it and not be sorry later?? i just feel like i need a little guidance in that area, but not from a really intense person that will feed me all their ideals and not let me discover my own. does that make sense???
the new year for me: stop letting the little things stress me out or ruin my day. not worry so much about what other people think about how i look, what i'm doing (staying at home rather than returning to work), my writing style, my parenting decisions, etc. spend less with my computer and phone and more time with my baby, husband, a good book…
Prayer. I love that one. And yes, there is a purpose. It's good to give it to Him. He cares for US. He wants us to trust Him with the gifts we have been given (Kids, husband, etc). Typed in what is prayer…and this came up.
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/prayer.html
Prayer's good for the soul. Keep it up sister!
@jenni, i love that you're actually in classes! how are you finding the time? you're inspiring me, girl!
@kami, cleaning. that's a good one. adding it… and house guests! love that one!
Yes! I married at 20 and wonder, from time to time, what my life would have been like if I had had a little more time before becoming a real, live *adult.* I have had some opportunities recently to take some photos of friends and family and have really enjoyed it… 🙂
What a great list Bridget. Photography and Graphic design are both a big yes – you have already got skills. Maybe you could do a little side gig with Ashley, an apprenticeship. As for the bits about mothering, does the list of how to improve as a mother ever really end?
You are inspiring me to take some time to sit down and reflect. Thank you!
I could totally see you in graphic design and photography. You have the creative eye for it!
In the new year I hope to be more active and thankful for the small (but wonderful) things that happen in the day-to-day! xo
The classes I'm taking are just one day (Saturday or Sunday) intensives…4 hours or so. I started with a really basic "how to work your camera" and worked my way up from there each month. This class focuses on how to take good pics of your kids…perfect!!! I was going to take a college photog class, but like you said, with what time??? I bet you can find something similar near you!!!
great post! i need to make a list of new years goals too! a saturday class on some type of graphic design sounds so fun. and, a short stint living somewhere else doesn't sound so bad either 🙂
I really love this post. I too (as it seems everyone on here?) want to get more into graphic design and I have recently ventured out and taken photographs for other families. I even did one with a dog, which was a first for me! I have so much fun creating and wish that I could do it more full time…but I work 40 hours a week and do my photography, and have a one year old.
I think we should do a swap like on The Holiday. I live in Southern California and have always wanted to see Boston and wander around the East Coast. I love the photos of you strolling down the city streets with the beautiful houses over there!
I'd like to really take some risks this year and push myself to not be nervous about persuing my own dreams that please ME.
Happy Holidays 🙂
-W.
@wendy, wouldn't that be something, blog-friends switch?!
Those are all great ones!
Mine are to hopefully do an internship in Washington DC, save for a couple weeks to a month in Europe after I graduate, to cut my marathon time by 1/2 hour by the end of the summer, etc.
ps: I do the same thing. When I get in the car- I always say a prayer in my head before I go somewhere and many times when I have done that I have been just inches away from an almost-crazy accident. 🙂
Now I want to go write down my lists of what I want to improve on, change, adventures… for 2012. It will hopefully be a big year for us with getting into school, moving, and me getting brave enough to try our 5th fertility procedure.
As for the lens… I LOVE my 24-70. I use that and my 50 1.2 for every shoot I do. If I have toddlers who run I switch to my 24-70 so I can zoom in and out faster to keep up.
And I was thinking about this last night actually: I want to be able to have my tiny apartment clean so when people want to come over I welcome it and don't go into major panic cleaning mode so we can actually have visitors. I DONT EVEN HAVE KIDS?! How can we not keep this place clean? I don't get it. Bring on 2012!
I love this list. I definitely want to do more photography, and I want to learn ballet. I'm keeping 2012 simple.
My husband has also struggled with prayer and found Philip Yancy's book on prayer very helpful and encouraging!
New Follower! Thanks! Shay http://raisingdieter.blogspot.com/
i think it's so important to have a life to-do list!
it's easy to forget how much is completely and totally do-able when the day-to-day can be so all consuming.
graphic design and photography are perpetually on my list, too… always wanting to improve and learn.
oh, and my vote for you living elsewhere?
i'll give you one guess.
Thanks for sharing. You have encouraged me to stop and think about what I want in the upcoming year (and beyond) your wants are ambitious but also realistic. I hope that you are blessed with the ability to read each one!
bridget! you should audit a class an alum!
Those are great goals you have for 2012! Gosh. I can't believe it's going to be another year already!
Crazyness.
I hope you achieve each and every one of those goals, because they are great!
I signed up for some classes starting this spring. It feels good to be proactive instead of wishing I was doing something, but then sitting around on my ass watching Parenthood and eating Skittles (I don't actually like Skittles).
You should totally pursue photography/graphic design. It's just fun to take a class or learn a few new things, if nothing else.
I like this post.
I like this list and it is inspiring me to come up with my own.
🙂
this is a great list. the trip with your family would be amazing. as would living somewhere else. i hope you achieve these things 🙂
there was a post on meg's blog (or-so-i-feel.blogspot.com) about how maybe the act of praying is prayer enough. how the fact that we have the urge to pray is enough to be our plea. i'm not explaining it totally right, but you should go read it. it's within the past 2 weeks probs.
and do the exchange thing! my r.d's husband had a sabbatical so they decided to go to costa rica for 4 months and loved it. it's a chance to experience a different life. try it 🙂
i hope all this comes true for you this year 🙂
I am with you on prayer being an area to work on in 2012. I am going to consciously work to find what works for me!
I love all of your ideas! Please do share if you end up taking some type of graphic design class. I have the very same two goals – learn more about graphic design and photography. Still trying to figure out a way to save up for a nice camera.. Maybe Santa will be nice and get one for me 🙂
love this list Bridget. I just wanted to let you know that a few years ago, I had the same goal to live abroad. It took some time, a lot of work, and saving, but my husband and I are finally doing it and it's the best thing we've ever done. I know adding children to the mix makes things a bit more complicated, but you CAN make it happen if you really want it! I've seen lots of families over here who have moved around with their kids, and everyone in the family is happy. I hope this provides some encouragement for you, and that you & Steve can make this dream come true!
Happy Holidays to the Hunts!!
@the haute housewife, i love that! i think half the battle is the question: CAN PEOPLE REALLY DO THIS??? and you are! where are you going?!??
We moved to Montpellier, France last April! And we brought our dog 🙂 We'll be here for 2 years and we are having the time of our life! Travelling all over the place and eating our way through every city! We're in Italy right now for Christmas, we'll be in Amsterdam after the New Year and in Barcelona a few weeks after that. Think of the possibilities! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
okay i just wanted to tell you – you've got a vision, and you've got a way of making everything aesthetically pleasing. please do more photography and design. you really were made for it!
a graphic design class is such a good idea! i want to do one. googling now.
Hey Bridge. I'm kind of a lurker here, fellow New Englander, used to live on the North Shore. I like your list and your blog. I thought I would throw out there a great book on prayer that has really changed it for me: A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. by Paul Miller. I love it because it is down to earth and very real, and yet full of hope. Look it up, I highly recommend.
Blessings to all of y'all!