Will I pass the mustard in 2018? Only time will tell. But to do this I have to make some changes. Some easy, and some not so. Below are a few thoughts about what and how I might accomplish a bit more this coming year. I need to worry less about what others may be doing and just start trying to focus and do my best each day. Hopefully that will be reflected here on a more regular basis.

Just finished reading a piece on a 52 week photo challenge. I thought about signing up but didn’t want to add another thing to my plate but it does get me thinking about what I could do to challenge myself more this coming year photographically. The first and most obvious step is to shoot more. So mission ONE is to get that camera in my hands every day.

Seems like an easy mission to accomplish. I mean there are dozens of things I do every day. Why not snap a bit of life every day. Maybe it will also help me take less for granted every day. Who knows maybe this will also help give me an appreciation for life more. Because the more I photograph the more I feel I learn about life, people, environments and time. And hopefully that will give me more to share visually and in thoughts.

Next is to display and make these images work for me. That could be as easy as making a few prints for someone to bringing my photo library online site up to date and using the tools provided there to help me market and sell my work. Also I’d like to get into a few exhibitions or contest. If I’m shooting more I’ll also have more to share here. Of course that will lead me to more rambling on but hopefully some good images will compensate for that banter.

I aim to laugh more this coming year. If I’m laughing I’m happy. And if I’m happy I think clearly and better. And if I’m thinking clearly and better maybe I’ll come up with something or do something that will be important and lead or get involved in positive change for the better.

I hope to eat better. My diet is a mess. I know it’s a bit late in life to correct the habits I’ve had for decades. For instance my Coke habit. I love Cokes. Have from a youth. I power through them like nobody’s business. One I enjoy the hell out of them. Two I don’t drink coffee so they give me a boost on some of my longer work shifts. They start my day up. I could go on for hours about my love for the Coke and how any hour in the 24 are good for a Coke. But it’s not healthy and I need to reduce the number I consume each day. I put this out there for two reasons. If you have stock in Coke this is going to be an adjustment downward for you. And also as incentive for me to carry through on this more.

Yeah I need to change the food intake part also. But only a madman would try to reduce the number of Cokes I drink in a year and combine that with healthier eating styles. Well nobody said I was sane.

I need to express myself more here. Yeah that is dangerous but this community seems far different from the other social media I play with. More positive and less rants here or more quality arguments or disagreements. But most of the time I see inspirational comments on things. I like that positive feel.

I need to work on illustrations to break up the grey text and photos. Basically I need to work on the content and design and make both stronger. I need to find my style and increase the ease and enjoyment of the read here. And yes I don’t feel any less embarrassed some days about post than the first few I did years ago, and I know I have a long way to go in making this something to be proud of. I hope to take advantage of a few friends that are really good with words, design and photography to give me some feedback this year. Outside points of view are always enlightening.

I’m going to get my video going also. That is all the buzz. Not my bag, but a very creative outlet none the less. One that I might grow to love.

So I better get off this soapbox for a bit and really get to work. Plus I’ve made myself hungry editing holiday food photos. A nice grilled ham and egg sandwich sounds good right about now. Enjoy at great morning all. Funny how a positive metal attitude can make feeling like crap better.