What do I hope for in 2014

Posted on January 2, 2014January 2, 2014 by Dusty Roads

What do I hope for in 2014? Oh let’s see…Peace in this world, no more hatred, a cure for cancer, our soldiers home from foreign lands, joy for everyone, no more hunger, no more bigotry, shall I go on? But in my little corner of the world where it’s the small things that I can change I’ll address those little goals and challenges I mentioned a couple of days ago..

Ah yes, those Goals and Challenges.

So here goes.

Lose 50 lbs. (I’ll fit in the tiny airplane seats better, I’ll look better and I’ll feel better.)
Set up a budget (my job change affected my finances so I need to start putting money aside for the extra’s that pop up.)
A photo a day (keeps the camera “TOM” top of mind and will help me continue to improve my skills)
Home Improvement ( the little condo just collects clutter. Time to clean it out, shampoo carpets and maybe get the bedroom painted)
Plan my vacation (I know, that’s what you are all waiting for )
Keep up my blog
Work on friendships and personal relationships so they stay strong and healthy.

So the game plan is…

Health/ Weight Loss

A before picture taken on the first day plus measurements and weight to be updated in a log monthly.
Walk…weather should not be a factor. Start with 1/2 hour daily for month one and evaluate at the end of the month.
Eat healthier. Cut back on carbs and increase salads and veggies and good protein.
Consider buying a bike in the spring depending on progress.

Finances

Open a savings account
Deposit $50 per pay period toward expenses like property taxes and time share maintenance fees .
Pay off the credit card. The balance snuck up over the holidays.
Open a pre paid credit card through AAA for travel and vacation

Hobbies

Take the camera on the walks for my daily photo.
Upload the best of the day. At the end of the week see which photo got the most hits and save it as the photo of the week.
End of the year make a photo book “Best of 2014”
Get a head start on my photo cards for the holidays.
Add more Birthday and special occasion cards to the line.

Home Improvement

Attack the clutter with a vengeance. If it hasn’t been used in 6 months, get rid of it.
Have the carpets shampooed
Paint the bedroom
Get an cabinet or cupboard to organize my photography gear.

Vacation

Pick a location
Plan the vacation
Share the plans here so my content gets more interesting

Blogs

Post daily on Aroundustyroads
Post my daily pictures on Dustyroadsphotos
Work to keep content fresh and interesting by visiting local attractions between vacations.
Increase readership over 2013. No % just an increase will make me happy. At least I know the blog is growing then.

Personal Relations, Friends and Family

Work at the relationship. It won’t stay close if ignored.
Stay in touch with family. Same thing, you can’t stay close if you ignore each other.
Be a friend. Can’t have them unless you’re willing to be one.
Lend a hand when needed even if it’s just to listen.

I think that’s enough to keep me busy for 2014.

Out with the Old

Posted on December 31, 2013December 31, 2013 by Dusty Roads

What changes do you plan to make in 2014?

I have to be careful when it comes to the “Out with the Old” adage as I could be included in the “Old” category and I have no intention of going out yet!

But I’ve been giving 2014 quite a lot of thought. 2013 turned out to be a year of changes and in some ways I haven’t fully adapted to all of them so I think 2014 will be a year in which to get my routines established again. That would include everything from work to finances to personal challenges.

Have you noticed …I haven’t said the dreaded “R” word yet? That’s because it is my humble opinion that calling challenges set on New Years “RESOLUTIONS” is asking for failure. A resolution is a pledge of sort..I resolve to do this and this. So what happens when you screw it up, like we all seem to do. Most of the time that’s it. Done! Made a resolution and broke it , end of story.

But what if I/we think of them as goals or challenges. A goal is something that you work toward until it’s achieved. You expect there might be a few set backs but that’s where the challenge comes in.

Sports examples come to mind. The New England Patriots start the season with the ultimate goal to win the Superbowl but each week the goal is to just win that game. Sometimes they fall short but the next week they are right out there again trying to “kick butt” for that Superbowl spot…one game at a time.

They didn’t “resolve” to win the Superbowl and then give up as soon as they lost a game. That’s why whatever I/we want to accomplish in 2014 should be a goal and a challenge not a resolution. And if I don’t meet that goal, well I’ll be a better person for trying.

An example….weight loss (ugh). Lets say I resolve to lose 50 lbs in 2014. The first time I “pig out” at the local Pizza Joint I’ll just give up. I blew it. Look at that, resolution broken. But if I say I have a goal to lose 50 lbs, that’s only 1 lb. per week. That’s like the 1 game a week for the Pats. Suddenly it’s not so overwhelming. And if I only lose 30 lbs? Well, I may not have hit the goal but I’m still 30 lbs thinner than when I started.

So that’s my approach to resolutions. Goals and Challenges. Tomorrow I’ll share some specifics. Maybe we can encourage one another to meet the goals we set for a fresh new year.

A Little Bit of This and That

Posted on December 15, 2013December 15, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Happy Snowday everyone. 🙂 (Yes for those of you in warm climates…New England is getting snowed on right now)

Wow, that was quite the honor yesterday, to be nominated for a blogger award. I truly appreciate it but the required post went way over my daily limit. 🙂 1500+ words instead of my usual limit of 400-500. I hope I haven’t used up all of my brain cells.

I’ve noticed my most popular posts are travel related or pet related, mostly the antics of my 3 cats, unfortunately I don’t think I’m original enough to post regularly with just those two subjects. It’s not that there isn’t enough material but rather my story telling has limitations. So I’ll just keep muddling along and hope you bear with me.

How’s the Christmas season turning out for all of you? I am so far behind I can’t even begin to describe it. I haven’t gotten my Christmas cards created much less addressed. I mean really, I sell cards. I can’t go to the store for them.

I have to use my own products. I have one more client photo session that has to be done fast so I can get their cards to them and then I can work on mine. Not sure I’ll make the deadlines but maybe they’ll be New Years cards instead. Whats’ the story about the shoemaker’s children..something about them being shoe-less?

How about resolutions? Anyone started thinking about making any yet? I have 2-3 in mind and that’s probably the most I can handle. Not going to share yet. It’s too soon 🙂

My 2014 Interval Catalog came yesterday. Yippee! That’s the book of time share exchanges outside the ones that are free exchanges. These have a fee to swap but usually lower points. Maybe I should write a post on how that works. In the meantime I’ll be able to dig in and see what places I can consider for my 2014 vacation. Williamsburgh VA has been high on the list of possibles but I noticed more places near Jackson Hole listed so maybe I can go back to my original plan and go to Wyoming.

Well Rocky just came over and sat on my keyboard. That’s a pretty good sign that I need to wrap this up before he deletes it.

Resolutions

Posted on January 5, 2012January 5, 2012 by Dusty Roads

Just because I assigned a theme to 2012 doesn’t mean I can escape the urge to look at the new year as a new start, a chance to get a “do-over” with a new (old?) set of resolutions.

So here they are: the same old worn out chestnuts that I bring out every January. Still, if I BELIEVE this may just be the year.

#1. Be a better housekeeper!. Not perfect but just a bit more conscientious.

#2. Eat Well…not more , just more healthfully.

#3. Exercise

#4. Clean up my financial life.

#4. Above all Live Life Fully! (LLF)

You notice I didn’t say I was going to lose weight…not 10, not 30, not 100 lbs. Would I like to lose weight? Sure who wouldn’t but my effort is to focus on health not weight loss. If I can be active and feel good then I’m not going to sweat it if I’m a bit “rotund”.

Moderation in all things!

New Years Day 2012

Posted on January 1, 2012January 1, 2012 by Dusty Roads

I have a theme for 2012. I’ve never assigned a theme to a year before but maybe it’s time.

My theme for 2012 is BELIEVE.

Grab onto the optimism of youth when everything was possible.

Throw out the cynicism of age that comes from seeing so many failed attempts and crumbled dreams fall along the path of life.

Let those experiences go. Take the lessons learned and be thankful for the wisdom gained no matter how painful.

Celebrate the resilience of the human spirit. Recognize that the journey is not done. There’s still more ahead and with strength and perseverance there’s still time to reach your dream.

If you Believe you can, you will. So just…BELIEVE.