The New Year is Here.

2010.  Whoa.

A lot of great things are going to happen this year!  I'm very excited about the next twelve months and beyond.  So much to be grateful for.

New Years resolutions have always bothered me.  There was a study published in the WaPo yesterday that 99.9% of people never stick to what they promise to do.  (main ones from the article: relax more, eat healthy, stop smoking, exercise, keep in touch with family/friends)  So I don't make them.  Instead I make changes in my life when I see a need.  And I started this October.

In October, my laptop and I had become inseparable.  I was replying to client e-mails at midnight.  At 6am.  I was editing during movies on the couch with Joe.  While he was patient about it, I knew he wasn't happy.  But at the same time, I run a business by myself and no one else is going to do the work that needs to get done.  It's tough.  So I decided to do a few things: set "office hours" for clients (9am to 5pm for e-mails, calls, etc) and 8pm for all work.  We also got a small desk from IKEA to put in the living room.  My laptop, if it's downstairs, is to stay on that table and not migrate to the couch.  It's been a great solution so far.

I also want my business to grow.  I want to a part of my new city.  While I've done that pretty well so far, I want to do it even better.  So I've been going to more community activities and really using the groups I'm a part of (Chamber of Commerce, GFAF, BNI, TweetUpFrederick, etc) to make great connections.  I've started some great lists using Bento (it's awesome!) and hope to continue growing them.  This can only lead to better business partnerships and new friends... nothing wrong with that!

For the past few months I have truly been aching to go to classes, learn, and be a student again.  While I'm not interested in a full-fledged degree program (at least not right now) I really want to continue learning.  So I've signed up for THREE classes.  One is in art class at the local community arts center, and the other two are lecture classes at the local community college.  I'm super excited about all the classes!

In mid-November I started with a trainer.  I know myself.  I loathe working out.  It's not fun for me.  If I wanted to make a big change, I was going to have to enlist some help.  I signed up for three months of one-on-one training.  It was a huge investment, but honestly, what's more important than your health?  It's an investment in my well-being, mental health, and even my business.  I train three times a week for an hour, and then I do an hour of cardio.  So far I've lost 14 pounds.  While I'm pretty happy with that, there's more to go.  Recently, on days I don't train, I've started to go to the gym with Joe when he goes to PT.  Losing weight is not about a number for me.  I don't have a goal weight.  I just want to feel comfortable with myself again and be excited to wear a wedding dress. (fat brides are the worst!)  Since I started working out, I haven't been sick, haven't had a migraine, and have had more energy.  I hope to continue this trend!

And the wedding.  I never thought I could do everything myself.  I knew that.  But it seemed crazy to pay someone to help me.  But I finally decided to get a planner.  I know so many great ones so it was tough.  But now that I've made a decision, it feels good to know that someone else is helping me and guiding me.  I also found out quickly that planners SAVE you money- they have great connections and know where the best prices are.  They do the research for you.  Plus there can be so much family drama involved in these things, and it's nice to know that someone is there to tell me "this happens all the time!" and get me through it unscathed.  And Joe and I have been doing a great job of sticking to our budget (except for the photography, but I mean, COME ON! ;) ) and making good, solid decisions that aren't dragged out.  I even booked the guest transportation this morning.  In the next two weeks I have my final dress fitting, meeting for invitations, catering tasting, and flowers.  That only leaves a few things to go and that makes me happy.

So while most of these changes aren't earth-shattering and weren't made on January 1st, I'm pleased with them.  The key is to be consistent and have support.