I’m turning 26 in 10 days. 

I’ve decided that a birthday is a much more appropriate day to make resolutions. I plan to carry my camera with me everywhere in the coming year, much like most women carry purses. In place of a purse, I plan to carry a slim metal wallet and, at times, just a wristlet. This resolution caused me to realize I should really actually buckle-down and finally complete a 365 project for once. 

There are two other project ideas I have that I’m not going to share, in case they don’t work out, but I’m going to try and make them happen. 

This year was one of the best years of my life. I intend to keep pursing better years as time goes on. I don’t think this is impossible or short-sighted of me, I think it’s what I want and I will work hard for it.

This year I will buy less, own less and spend more time where I am with the people surrounding me. This year I will live every moment of my life, and never regret a single moment. I will finally live all of my life as Melissa, never compromising who I am for the sake of someone else. I’m glad I’m finally fully present.

1. Be patient
2. Be fine
3. Be balanced
4. Be kind

(Source: icatchfoxes)

• give away more of my stuff (including time and energy — as well as material things)
• sew more (already on that, after helping shannon tonight.)
• let someone hear songs i’ve been writing. do something with them until i am excited about what i’ve made.
• bake at least one night of every week.
• watch more films.
• make more weekend trips to wherever.
• read more books (at least one per month — i know some will think that’s ambitious, some will think that’s weak — well you know what? i think it’s awesome and attainable.)
• contribute to local blogs and show my photography around town as much as possible (tastefresno.com, hismagazineonline.com, hide & seek gallery … more?)
• get over my fear of doctors.
• listen first and respond second; understand what it is I agree or disagree with before I open my mouth.
• spend more time outside, including riding my bike to work on a more regular basis (which may require purchasing fenders, as fresno has turned into a rain forest of sorts.)

(Source: icatchfoxes)

last years resolutions:

• give away a lot of my stuff. (definitely did this in prep for my cross-country move, some of the things i gave away I miss, but am happy with what I have and still have a lot of stuff-purging to do — as always, this is a continuing resolution)
• get my car in tip-top shape. (my car was happy when it left ohio, got sick somewhere in missouri, got fixed to the tune of almost $1g after arriving in Fresno and is now a happy camper, with almost 100k miles under it’s belt.)
• become proficient in gluten-free baking. (still working on this, although I’m thinking I may have misplaced my allergy and am going to the doctor to get this figured out once and for all.)
• work hard at making one boy in particular keep smiling, even when i’m far away. (not being far away has helped. said boy is wonderful at keeping me smiling as well, so it’s a pretty sweet deal.)
• be quiet awhile, particularly outside.  (my porch chairs have helped with this. as have bike lanes and my neighborhood’s walkability on monday evenings.)
• spend quality time with my friends/family in ohio before i move away. (this was achieved, but I wish more time would have been spent… at least my family has been able to visit and I’ve seen some of my close friends here in California. Visitors are welcome…)
• move to LA. [only take with me what can fit in mine and boyfriend’s car.] (ehh, I moved to Fresno. Fresno is pretty awesome. The people are nice, the art scene is so exciting, there are so many great little shops and restaurants — sure the summer is butt-hot, but you know what? the ocean is only 2 HOURS AWAY. It turns out I’m a way bigger fan of san francisco anyway, so it’s good that I only live 3 hours from there instead of 6 — which would be the case if I lived in LA.)
• land a job in television. (okay, so this is only sort of true. My office produces television spots, and sometimes I sit in on brainstorming sessions. Hopefully I will get to help more now that we have a 60D… among other things…)

Coming soon: New Years Resolutions 2011.

(Source: icatchfoxes)

• give away a lot of my stuff.
• get my car in tip-top shape.
• become proficient in gluten-free baking.
• work hard at making one boy in particular keep smiling, even when i’m far away.
• be quiet awhile, particularly outside.
• spend quality time with my friends/family in ohio before i move away.
• move to LA. [only take with me what can fit in mine and boyfriend’s car.]
• land a job in television.