Thursday, December 30, 2010

My Year In Review...

My 2010:
new friends
closer to old friends
extremely closer to my mother and father
new relationship
new job
new home
new appreciation for life

Sometimes I can get so wrapped up in the moment of frustration and forget about every great thing that had happened. While putting this together, I was able to look back and remember the feelings I had for each picture and I was so grateful to have been surrounded by amazing people who keep me motivated, hear me complain, make me laugh, allow me to be myself and still love me for who I AM, and who have allowed me to be a part of their life as well.

My goals for 2011:
Truly focus more on my photography.
Take more risks.
Hone in on my passions and capabilities and USE THEM.
Focus on my faith.
Love more.
Compassion.
Keep learning.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

New Year...New Blog?

I've been neglecting my photography and there really is no excuse for it except maybe I've been working a lot? Anyhow, I have missed making photography a priority and will be taking more  photos. Keep practicing or I will lose it.
So for the spirit of the new year, I will try, attempt with all my might to do 365 days of photos. I am worried I will fall into the trap of worrying about taking mundane pictures, but I will see what I can do.
I hope everyone has an wonderful holiday and ring in the new year safely!

Here's to many more pictures. (365 more hopefully)

-Lan

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Another Change

Today is my last day at my old place. I have moved into an apartment by myself. While sitting on the floor of my old room, looking around, I remembered the day I had moved in. I was just coming out of a breakup, I had moved from a 2 bedroom condo to one bedroom in a house and I was hopeful.

Here I am 1 year later, and things are changing again. I am going to get to experience what it's like to live by myself and I am looking forward to it.

To more lessons, great memories and good times.



Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Father & Daughter...


My dear friends Walter and Kim were recently blessed with a beautiful baby girl named, Athena. I fall in love every time I see her ten tiny fingers and toes. I also get scared when I hold her and she starts crying! They are wonderful people and I know they will be amazing parents. Can't wait to photograph more of her as she grows. 


Sunday, July 11, 2010

Summer Love

{Huntington Beach, Summer 2010}


So blessed for another summer memory with my cousins at the beach.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Thursday, July 8, 2010

This is the life...

{Palm Springs, May 2010}

Took a day trip to Palm Springs in May with my friend Jenny. We had no set schedule, no plans except, get to Normas for an enormous breakfast, explore and relax. We found these hammocks while walking around the hotel's courtyard and decided to take a nap under the palm trees. 

What a way to start the summer season. 

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Childhood

Coronado Beach, CA June 2010

When my cousins and I were younger, summer was our favorite time of year. We would be dropped to our grandmother's house and that's when the adventures would happen. Some days we would pretend we were super heroes and run around the house with our capes made from blankets. Other days, we'd build huge forts with blankets, chairs and couch pillows. We'd "cook" our food over the fake fire and make up dangers that were outside the protective walls. 

On the special weekends when the family would make a trip to the beach, we'd bolt out of the car, run towards the sands and eagerly wait for permission to plunged carelessly into the cold northern California water. Throughout the day we would hunt for seashells and jump the waves. Once we were done running away from waves, we started the process of building the perfect sand castle. This required some engineering and most importantly water for the dried sand on the shore. 

We'd each take turns to run out to the water and scoop up buckets of water to bring back and wet the sand to mold our towers, walls and eventually carve out a moat. By the time we would finish our castles our parents were calling to us signaling it was getting late and we it was time to get cleaned up.

When I saw these three girls this past weekend, I thought of my two cousins and I felt sadness. I miss those summers with them. Now we don't talk as much anymore and I wonder if they ever think about those summers when we were all worked together to build our castles, forts, imaginary world and our relationships. 


Friday, June 25, 2010

Engagement Photos












I had the pleasure of doing engagement photos for my best friend Sarah and her fiance Jeremy. We chose to take them in San Jose and San Francisco, both places that are dear to them. 

This was my first time doing an engagement photo shoot and working solely with the 30d. I was nervous! Of all days, the day we shot was extremely bright with no cloud in sight. With this challenge of not over exposing Sarah's light skin and not underexposing Jeremey's tanned skin. However, I set out, determined to get the best shots I could because it meant a lot to be a part of this moment for them. 

I thought the shots turned out pretty well and Sarah is happy with them and that's all that's the best confirmation I can get.

The rest of the images can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lannysphotos/sets/72157624230088067/

Monday, May 17, 2010

Chicago March 2010



Express Train


Alley


Used Bookstore




Cloud Gates, "The Bean"

Chicago, March 2010


Chicago is an amazing city filled with beautiful architecture that juxtaposes modern with classic styles. I had the opportunity to spend a few days here in between jobs and I was able to visit my family and spend a day in the city by myself. 


I started the day with taking the express train into Chicago and because it was a Friday, I was surrounded by commuters. People greeted one another and discussed the weather, sports and commented on how late the train was. Others pulled out their newspapers or plugged in their earphones and immersed themselves as we went along. 


When we arrived in the city, I followed the crowd off the train and through the station. Once I was outside, my first stop was the Museum of Contemporary Photography


As I walked down the blocks, I took in all the sights and sounds. It felt amazing to be back in a city. Moving from the urban area of San Jose and into Orange County has been a rhythmic change for me. San Jose isn't bustling like our neighboring city, San Francisco, but it definitely has its own pace. I've learned to slow down a bit more while living in OC, but I miss the quick pace and energy of the city. 


So as I walked down the streets, I could feel a different energy flowing through me as I moved from one block to the next. 


The museum was small, but I the exhibit was about contemporary photography done with film, a fact that  I was extremely supportive about. 


After the photography museum, I decided to visit the Chicago Art Institute. While walking to the Institute, I looked up at one of the buildings and noticed that there was a used book store on the second floor. After making my way to the store, I tucked myself into a corner and enjoyed the sunlight coming through the dusty windows. I have always liked bookstores of all kinds, and used bookstores have a musty smell that provides me the same comfort as libraries had when I was younger. 


When I finally made it to the Art Institute, I checked in my bags and began my journey. This was one of the largest museums I have ever seen and it took about three hours to get through. By the time I was done, my cousin was done with school and met with me at "The Bean." We enjoyed some "Chicago style" pizza at a local bar and caught up. That was the first time, as adults, my cousin and I were able to talk and get to know each other as adults. It felt very nice to be able to do that. 


The rest of the weekend was spent with the rest of the family with visiting the children museum, playing on the pier with gusty winds and eating Chinese food in Chinatown. 


It was an amazing trip, the exact thing I needed to clear my mind before I dove into my job. I seem to always leave a piece of my heart in any big city I go to, and Chicago definitely has a big part of it. 

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Unconditional Love

My mom came to visit and stay with me for this past weekend. It was the first time she was seeing my new place after I had moved in September. I know she's been worried about how I've been after everything that's happened and she wanted to make sure I was living well and surrounded by good people.

I picked her up on Friday evening from the xe do (Vietnamese bus transportation). When she walked in the house, she was immediately impressed by how calm it felt, which was the exact feeling I had when I first saw it. I took her bags upstairs and gave her a brief tour, because my roommate was sleeping by this time.

The next morning, we woke up early to eat some breakfast. She was able to meet my roommate, who I consider an older sister and a kinder soul. While all three of us were talking and joking around, my mom looked at the both of us and said, "You know, when you two go out, people probably always think you're sisters." This only solidified the connection we have always felt with each other.

The plan was to go to the beach and take a walk, however, I managed to end up on Second Street in Long Beach. So I decided to give here a driving tour of my new work place in Laguna Hills instead. I showed her the mountains and hills that I love so much each and everyday I drive by and get to see and the office building. After wards, I took her to Diamond Jamboree to get some pastries and do grocery shopping at the Korean mart.

It was a lot of fun pushing the cart around and helping my mom pick out food for her to bring back to Northern California. I pointed out foods I have tried before and wanted her to try as well. It had been a long time since I've done grocery shopping with her, and it felt nice to be able to contribute opinions and suggestions to her.

By the time we were done, we were hungry and ready for some lunch. I called my roommate to let her know we were ready to meet her at Brodard, a Vietnamese restaurant in Little Saigon. They are famous for their spring rolls and I couldn't wait for my mom to try them. I suggested she get both styles of the rolls, the grilled pork and the grilled prawns. She really enjoyed both styles. I highly suggest all the rolls to anyone who enjoys the fresh Vietnamese food is and all the vegetables and flavors we use in the food.

After we had gone home to freshen up, we headed into China Town in Los Angeles to do shopping. I learned something new about my mother, she is VERY good at haggling with the vendors. She doesn't do it because she's cheap, she does it because she likes the banter of it and always made the vendors laugh and they couldn't say no. We managed to save a couple dollars, but watching it unfold was priceless.

I picked up a mini "money tree" to put into my office. These are considered lucky when you are in a new establishment, and I wanted to accumulate all the luck I can get! My mom bought a few sweater vests for my grandma and hats for my cousin, and we both considered it a very good shopping excursion.

We drove to West Hollywood to the DGA Theatre for the Film Festival. I met my friend there who had tickets and we got settled into the plush red seats. The last movie I had seen in the theater with my mother was Titanic, so this was a nice treat to share the experience with her. The movie, L'Arnacoeur (The Heart Breaker) was well done and my mom and I both really enjoyed it.

By the time the movie was over, it was getting close to dinner time. We decided to go back to Orange County to eat there. I wanted her to eat something different than Vietnamese food so we ate Tofu Soon, which is traditional tofu dish from Korea. She was surprised at all the side dishes that came with the meal and we picked through the little plates of pickled cucumbers and sauteed bean sprouts.
(Garden Grove, April 2009, iPhone)
 
Shopping at a few more shops followed dinner and by the time we were done, we were both tired from all the events of the day.

Today I wanted to make sure my mom was able to go to the beach, so we picked up banh mi op la (Vientamese egg sandwich) and Vietnamese coffee and headed down PCH towards Laguna Beach. I wanted to show my mom my special spot that I have gone to a few times, and each time I do, I always come back with a clearer mind and calmer soul.

When we walked down to the cove, my mom took a deep breath and said it was very pretty and peaceful. The tide was higher today, so there were a few groups of scuba divers in the distant. We sat side by side on a rock and ate our sandwiches while we watched the waves break.
(Laguna Beach, April 2009, iPhone)
We wandered the shore for a bit. I was picking through broken mussel shells looking for small rocks. The burnt brown color of this rock stood out to me against its gray background.
(Laguna Beach, April 2009, iPhone)
I pulled out my Canon SLR to take a few pictures of my mom. I can't wait to see what the pictures will looked like once they are developed. As we stood side by side, I reached over and hugged her closely. It has been a hard transition for my mom to have me leave home almost two years ago and I know she struggles with the fact that I'm not there daily. I have also missed my mom a lot and although we are not that far away from each other, I needed to embrace her at that moment. I took a picture of us immediately after to preserve our weekend together.
(Laguna Beach, April 2009, iPhone)
We visited a few Buddhist temples after wards to assure her I was close enough to them if I chose to go to them. By the time we were done with lunch in Little Saigon it was time for her to go back and pack to get ready to leave.

When I dropped my mom at the bus, I waited until she boarded safely and drove away. I missed my mom right after I hugged her and she boarded.

I met with my friend after for a workout at the gym. While driving home from Irvine, I turned off the radio and drove in silence to reflect the whole weekend. And slowly, tears started flowing down my face as I thought about my mother. I am tearing up as I right this as well.

At that moment, I really and truly understood the level of love a mother has for her child and I began sobbing as I thought about how my mom has always been there for me through my whole life. No matter how many arguments we've had, how many times I have told her to stop nagging me about things, she was always there. This weekend was the first time we have spent time one on one time together, and I was able to see a side of her I rarely see. She was just my mom, not mom and wife when my dad was around or mom and daughter when my grandma was around. This was just us and the impact it had on me was not what I was expecting.

Since the break up last summer, I have built a wall around my heart to protect it from really feeling affection because I equated it with pain. But slowly as time has gone on, I have opened up bit by bit, but today, everything came down, because I truly understood the meaning of unconditional love. My mom's love will never be duplicated nor found in anyone else and when I realized that, my heart hurt from all the times I was mad or annoyed at her. Because unlike many, even if we argue or get upset, she will never stop loving me.

All the love I thought I felt before with past friends and lovers pale in comparison with what I realized tonight. Those were conditional and ended when conditions were not met. A mother's love is truly unconditional and we take it for granted at times. My mother will always be the only one whom despite all the mistakes I have done and all the disappointments I caused her, she still sees me as someone special.

As I was crying and driving (safely, I promise), I thought of an article I read years ago that was an essay by a woman who had lost her mother. The one quote I remember from that was when she said, "I realized at that moment when she passed was I just lost the one person in the world who will always love me unconditionally."

In ending, I encourage you to reach out your mom. Spend a day or a weekend with her and take the time to learn things about her because she wants to get to know you too. And if your mom has passed, talk to her, she is always listening and watching out for you.

Good night...

Friday, April 23, 2010

Rebirth.

 (Irvine, April 2010, iPhone)
 I've been putting so much pressure on myself lately with my photography that I end up not posting anything. I have been thinking about this way too hard. What started out as a personal journal for me to post my photography has become a dread at times because I never felt as though I had anything to show, when I forgot, this is for me to show what I take. Yes, sometimes the pictures will not be as ideal as I want, but it's all a part of being an artist and growing. Sometimes we have to work through our rough patches to get to the good stuff. How can I grow if I am constantly holding myself back through fear and hesitation.

After a few moments of serious doubt in my photography and where I want it to go, I realized, this is a love, a passion of mine and I am doing a great disservice to myself by not doing anything at all due to fear and self doubt.

I named this my Photo Journey, and it should be a journey, through the good, bad and great. I want to be able to look back at this and remember the moment the picture was captured and I strayed from that fact by pressuring myself to only put up the most perfect picture I could find of my batch while my boxes of pictures started piling up, my card reader became filled and my phone (my beloved iPhone) held thousands of images.

So this is my rebirth of my passion. This is my place to post images I have captured, same mission, different approach. These are moments in my life captured through all forms of cameras, from my 35mm SLR, point and shoot, DSLR, Hasselblad and phone...and whatever else falls into my hands.

I want to continue to always discover and grow as a person, as an artist. I'm taking this back, this is mine, my life, my moments and my time.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Day 221: Symbols and Figures

(Chicago, March 2010)

I visited Chicago about two weeks ago and visited the Art Institute Museum. This was one of my "had to see" spots when I was planning my trip. I took the train in from my aunt's house, which was about 45 minutes outside Chicago. With my iPhone in hand and Googlemaps pulled up, I was ready to explore.

Upon reaching the museum, the size of it and the architecture alone was amazing and beautiful. I checked in my coat and camera bag and began my self guided tour.

I stayed in the second level the longest, which featured Asian art. It was split into three sections, Chinese, Japanese and Indian. What fascinated me the most in the Chinese section were artifacts found inside coffins. The Chinese would line the coffin with large jade disks. The reason for these are debatable. Some say it's for the sky and heavens, others say it's for protection.

Jade is a huge part of the Chinese culture, which has influenced the Vietnamese culture heavily. My grandmother, aunts and mom each own jade jewelry. My mother gifted me a jade prayer bracelet a few weeks ago and it is very special to me. Jade is a very resilient gemstone that cannot be molded by the usual tools, but has to be grind down. Luck and protection are some things that have been associated with jade.

After I finished with the Chinese section, I made my way to the Indian section. The whole floor was filled with statutes of Buddha and bodhivista. Internally, I was confused. I felt the need to bow to these sacred statues, but here they were, put on displayed to be regarded as a work of art.

I sat down a few times to take everything. To many, these may have looked interesting and fascinating, to me, it was sacred. I imagined the temples these came from, and wondered what was left of them. I know some were rescued from destruction due to wars and for that I am grateful for. I imagined the people who used to visit these statues and wonder how they felt when they first saw them.

It wasn't until I made my way down to the end of the exhibit did I see the Buddha statue, the photograph at beginning of this post. It was truly amazing to see and I felt drawn to it.

I was born into a Buddhist family and attended the temple services every weekend. However, along the way, I chose to go a different path and find what religion means to me. I questioned whether Buddhism was for me and spent a few years studying and attending services of other religions to see if I had a connection. It wasn't until this past year, did I choose to study and delve deeply in Buddhism. Now, I feel a stronger connection to it, and when I saw this statue, I felt that pull that I can only describe as my heart strings connecting with something greater. I felt a familiar sense of calm as I've always do when I step into a temple with the smell of incense in the air. I stood there for a long time taking in the serenity of it. Others stopped by to look at it, commenting on what a beautiful piece of art it was. For me, it was a different. It was a religious connection.

As I stood there, a woman walked by and put her foot up on the platform to tie her shoes. I was slightly insulted by a display of disrespect, but I thought about context. We were not in a temple, but a museum, and to many, these were just pieces of art. Just as I see sculptures of Buddha's head in homes displayed to be part of their "zen" theme. This, I find disrespectful and insulting, but then people take crosses and use them as decorations for their necklaces or designs. These are all symbols that mean something to some and nothing to others.

When removing these figures from their religious surroundings, they are free to be interpreted by others. Buddhist statues were not produced until thousands of years after his passing. His figure is not for us to idolize. He represents a state in which we should aspire to be at, a stage of enlightenment.

We use symbols and statues to give us tangible figures to relate to. But as Buddha has taught us, all that is around us will be gone one day and we cannot take it with us. The statues will crumble, the temples will fall, but what we believe in, what we feel and connect to and what we think is the meaning of it all, will remain with us.

Before leaving the statue, I stood in front of it, brought my hands to prayer, closed my eyes and bowed.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Day 181: Male Muse

 
(Santa Monica, February 2010) 

Continuing my weekend of exploring, I met with my friend Matt in Santa Monica to take some pictures with my new/used 30D. After many years of resisting the DSLR, I bought one earlier this year and this weekend was my first time taking the camera out.

It was a lot of fun using the camera and Matt, like my other friends was  patient with me stopping and taking pictures constantly, even if it was mid conversation.

I have taken other pictures of Matt and he was my subject for an assignment I shot in the past, so it was nice to update his pictures with digital ones. It's always a pleasure to take pictures of him because he's very natural and he doesn't change when he sees the camera come out. I called him my male muse because he has inspired me to do more portraits, specifically of males.

We ended the day with pizza and a conversation while sitting on some stools looking out to the dark streets of Santa Monica. Looking forward to using the 30D more and finding more spots in Southern California.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Day 180: She Sells Seashells By The Seashore

(Laguna Beach, February 2010) 
  
I've been living in Orange County for over a year now and I am having a lot of fun discovering different places including Los Angeles and San Diego. This weekend, a friend of mine from San Jose came down for a mini vacation and I was able to meet with him. We decided to go to a cove in Laguna Beach. It was raining that morning, but when we arrived at the cove, the dark clouds had passed and we were blessed with sunny weather as we walked around the area. 

There were huge rock formations on the beach, but upon inspection I discovered there was a whole ecosystem living on these rocks. I have never seen muscles and other sea life up close andin their environment except at the aquarium, so when I saw this, I felt as though I was a kid all over again discovering this world. It was amazing to see the muscles and various shelled creatures in the crevices of the rocks. 

We stayed around the area for about an hour or two with me yelling out to my friend every time I discovered a new creature. Once we decided to leave, the dark clouds came back and it started to rain again. For that one hour or so, a new world opened to us.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Day 153: Mon professeur, mentor et ami. (My Professor, Mentor and Friend)

(Campbell, January 2010) 

Yesterday, after spending time with Xochi I was able to meet with my former professor in advertising, George Coakley. 

It is always inspiring to sit down with Professor Coakley. The life he has lead and is leading keeps me motivated to pursue my dreams and aspirations. He started his own advertising firm with less than $1,000 in his pocket and a family to feed and from there he had three offices in California. His company is the oldest advertising firm in San Jose and although he has retired from the profession, his passion is very much alive. He continues to practice advertising by teaching and doing consulting work. 

We met at Starbucks and we discussed our current projects and what we were planning for the new year. I was able to ask his advice on several issues and share my photography with him. I brought my Hasselblad with me to photograph him and as he was looking over the camera, I caught this great smile. 

It's very important to have mentors in your life because they have gone through many life experiences and asking for their input or advice is extremely valuable. I was fortunate to have met George who is not only my mentor, but my friend. 

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Day 152: Au-dessus d'une tasse de café (Over A Cup of Coffee)

(San Jose, January 2010)
I went back to San Jose this weekend and I was able to catch up a with a few friends. I spent the morning with one of my best friends Xochi.

We spent the morning in the Willow Glen neighborhood with sandwiches at Le Boulanger, a sandwich cafe we frequently ate at when we were taking some classes together. Afterwards, we went to Monsier Beans, which I had gone to a few weeks before and thought it would be a perfect place to take pictures with the huge windows, collection of chairs, tables and couches and warm interior.  As Xochi sat by the window, which provided great lighting, I took some pictures of her with the Hasselblad then the digital camera.

Xochi has always been a huge supporter of my photography. She'd wait patiently as we I would constantly stop and take pictures whenever we'd spend time together, even if I had to take a picture of our server while we're enjoying our brunch. She's joined me on various photography outings and has even allowed me to photograph her for various assignments.

With friends like her, I have been able to continue my photography and am grateful for them all.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Day 148: Golden Day (Nous Allons Sortir- We Will Get Through This)


(Huntington Beach, January 2010) 


Today I celebrated my birthday by taking the day off from work and do a variety of things such as read, write and of course photography.

It started raining mid day and I haven't had a chance to use the Hasselblad during the rain so I went to the beach at sunset and I walked down by the pier. 

The sun was fighting through the rain clouds and the lighting at that moment highlighted the area beautifully. I took my time with composing each shot despite the rapid setting sun and I was able to do one roll of colored film.

I took this shot with the iPhone at the end of my roll and I am looking forward to seeing what the film had captured.

It has been an amazing week with being able to celebrate my birthday with various friends and my family. I have been blessed to have positive people in my life who inspire me each day. I am grateful for all your support through the highs and lows, thank you for a wonderful birthday and I look forward to many more with you all.


Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Day 142: L'intermédiaire (The In Between)




(Huntington Beach, January 2010) 

California has been hit with a series of storms in the past few days that have resulted in floods, landslides and power outages. I have seen storms like these living in San Jose, but this is the first time I'm experiencing weather like this in Orange County.

After work I decided to take a detour and head to the beach to see the waves and how the storm was hitting the shores of California. When I got there, I was surprised to see there were a few dozen people there doing the same thing.

I parked by the pier and sat in my car to watch the waves crash over and over again for a while then I pulled out my 35mm SLR and stepped outside. The winds were extremely strong and the rain was coming down sideways. It was cold, but it felt exhilarating to stand by the shore and experience nature. The air was salty and I could taste the sea.

I took this picture with my iPhone just as there was a break in the rain. I am looking forward to seeing what I captured on film. I plan on going back today, better equipped with my all weather jacket and shoes to get down to the pier and watch the waves come in.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Day 137: Probability


(Balboa, January 2010) 


One of my favorite piers in Orange County and I got to share it with one of my favorite people.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Day 127: Portrait


(Balboa, January 2010) 

Friday, January 1, 2010

Day 123: Goals Not Resolutions

(Balboa, January 2010) 

What a great day New Years day has been. This morning Aron and I went to the city of Laguna and took a hike per recommendation of my roommate. There was no fog, the temperature was in the 70's and the clouds were beautiful.

After about more than a month of not doing any cardio activity, the hike was slightly challenging for me with the drastic incline, but it only reminded me that I need to get going on my training with another half marathon right around the corner!

The view at the top was worth the slight struggle. The clouds painted across the blue skies in various strokes and horizon was extremely clear. I took some pictures with the Hasselblad and will be posting them when I develop them.

Going up there allowed me time to reflect and take in everything. When standing so high above and seeing everything, you realize how small you are and how you really are just one grain of sand in this world and it humbles you. I thought about the past year and all that has happened and all that I have gone through. There were low moments, but then there were really high moments. This was a year of great life lessons that I will always remember. I learned that once you have hit the bottom, all you can do is swim back up.

One of the biggest accomplishments from this year was being able to fully pursue photography by making time to take classes and dedicate myself to it. It has always been a part of my life, but now I have been able to learn it, appreciate it even more and work on it.

Due to photography, I have been able to meet wonderful people who have helped me along my path in photography as well as life.

2009 was a tough year for a lot of people I know, but we are very positive about 2010. I am looking forward to all that this year will have in store.

I don't generally make resolutions because they seem more like wishes to me. I like to set a few goals for the year. This will allow me to create the path to reach the goals and I will be able to measure the success of it by whether or not I had reached that goal. Sometimes the goals will take longer than one year to attain and every year I can reflect and see what else I can do to reach the goal. Other goals can be done in less than a year or even a month. Whether they be long term goals or short term, goals have always worked for me.

I haven't made time to really think about what I want to accomplish this year, but now I will and when I do, I'll be back to let you know.

What are your goals?