Monday, 31 December 2012

Looking back at 2012


At the beginning of 2012 I set myself some goals.  I thought I should look back to see how I have got on. I set out goals in various areas of my life.
Soul and spirit:   friends, faith, fellowship, community
In this area I set myself 10 goals and I was successful in 3 of them.
Body:  fitness, diet, sleep
I set myself 6 goals here. I managed 1.5
Mind:   art, reading, Etsy, photography, blog   This area takes up most of my time.
Art
I set 7 goals and gave up on most of them for a variety of reasons.
Reading
Read a book each week  Some weeks I read three and some months I didn't read at all.  However I did download about 400 books onto my Kindle App.  Perhaps I should read them!
Photography
I set 3 goals - 2 of which went by the wayside in the first week of January!
Etsy
There were 4 goals for my Etsy shop.  I haven't given any time to it at all.  However I did make some journals and sell them at a Craft Fair.

2012 in focus
Looking back at the fact that I didn't achieve very many of my goals could be very depressing.  However I think one thing it proves is that I probably set too many goals and had signed up to things that really didn't suit me.  Or is that 2 things!?!

I took part in an online course called Ashes to Beauty at the beginning of the year and successfully completed it - although I have to admit I didn't actually finish it the way Nana Campana intended but I was pleased with what I found out about myself.   In addition I got to know quite a few lovely ladies including Anita Van Hal and Robin Norgren.  I already knew the lovely Carolyn Philips who I invited to join the journey with me.

As a result of meeting Anita and Robin, I have become part of Anita's Design Team and become the Art Journaling group coordinator on Anita's forum: Just Be Yourself

I received 4 hours of Life Coaching from Robin which enabled me to change my perspective on how I view myself and my work.  As a result I set up the blog: An Attitude of Gratitude and completed 30 days of gratitude prompts and a complete 30 days of a Gratitude Journal.  I'm pretty sure as well that prior to the coaching I would have become very depressed about my lack of completing the goals I set myself, so I have a great deal to thank Robin for. 
I also completed a 13 week series on my blog called Celebrating UK Artists.  If you haven't read the interviews yet you can find a link to them here.

I chose FOCUS as my One Little Word for 2012.  However I lost sight of it around the middle of the year along with the class I was doing with Ali Edwards on Big Picture Classes.

I’m going to try again for 2013 and I have chosen the word PRESENT.  I am going to look at being ‘present in the moment’ and the gifts that God has given me.  Come back in January to find out more.
Blog Button from Melanie at OnlyABreath

Prior to 2012 I rarely walked much more than from the front door to the car or around the supermarket and I set myself the goal of walking one long walk each week for this year.  It has been my most successful goal.   I completed a walk every week for 52 weeks and a few extra ones!!! If you haven't already, you can see a photograph from each week here and here.
from Walk 50 of 52.  Newgale Beach, Pembrokeshire

If you're interested in my goals for 2013, please come back tomorrow.

In the meantime I wish you a very Happy New Year.



Sunday, 30 December 2012

52 walks pt 2

Welcome back.  

During 2012 I actually did 59 walks as when we were away we often did two or three walks in the same week.  However I have only chosen one photograph to represent a week.
 July

 


There seems to have been a bit of a duck theme in July!

August





September




October




November


Including 3 walks in Florida



December




I have had a fabulous time this year completing this goal.  It has meant spending time with Roger, having pub lunches (although not on every walk!) and proving to myself that I can set myself a goal and complete it.

Join me tomorrow to see my review of 2012.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Bernice

Saturday, 29 December 2012

52 walks pt 1

I set myself the goal of taking one long walk each week throughout 2012.

And I did it.

I took my camera along and recorded every walk.  And there are recurrent themes: leaves, swans, mud, canals, muddy water and beaches.  I have chosen one photograph from each week: 26 today and 26 tomorrow.

 January




February





March




April




May





June




Well done if you made this far.  I hope you have enjoyed a small sample of the hundreds of photos I took during these 26 walks.

I hope you will join me tomorrow for a roundup of the rest of the year.

Bernice