"You Will Only Ever Be as Young as You Are Today"

Last night my mom walks into my room as I'm ironing (a tactic I use to try and coerce myself to wear old forgotten clothes) and says, 

"Here's a thought for you today:  You will only ever be as young as you are today." We burst into laughter acknowledging the absurdity of this wanna-be "deep thought."  Though I laughed, I did get the message my mother was trying to tell me.  I am still in this "I don't know where my life is going" rut Some days, this often depressing thought gets the better of me and it is hard to remind myself of why life is good.  But my mother, being as wise as she is beautiful, always comes in at the right moments to draw me back in to the sunny-side of life. There is always something good about each day and there are points in life when it's ok to live one day at a time.  

SO that is what I am doing: taking one day at a time.  Looking back on my life over the last year, I have accomplished quite a bit and it astonishes me to see where I find myself to be today.  Last March I wrote a blog post expressing some frustrations in being jobless and trying to find my place in the world post-college.  In a means to validate myself, I wrote out goals and set about to accomplish them.  Here's a look back at what I planned to accomplish:

Make a quilt

Try a new recipe every week

Take a photograph everyday

Get a job

Volunteer in the community

Wash the dishes everyday

Make my bed everyday

Read a good book

Here's how I did:

MAKE A QUILT- I did it! I made a quilt! It took me a year to complete, but it is finished and it has been keeping me warm for the last two months.  The quilt is beautiful, huge, and so warm.  I don't think I have created anything that I am more proud of.  I'm so satisfied with myself for actually accomplishing such a large task.  The sucker is a queen sized quilt and it was hand stitched.  My mother taught me well.

TRY A NEW RECIPE EVERY WEEK-  This turned into more of try-a-new-recipe-every-month-in-our-best-bites-cookbook.  I fed myself and my family pretty well over the last year.  And I won't be stopping anytime soon.  I can cook people.  I can cook.

TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH EVERYDAY- This has turned into photographing at least once a week.  I actually kept up with the goal of a photograph a day for a good six months, but guess what?  I actually started getting work as a photographer!  I booked over 30 photo shoots this last year to which I'm superbly proud of because it was my first year starting up this business of mine in a place where I had no connections.  As the work piled up and I got busy with photo shoots and editing, I found myself in desperate need of another creative outlet.  So, I moved onto trying a new sewing project once a week and I'm in love.  Sewing is so calming for me.  

GET A JOB- I went from a 7 hour job at a commercial photo studio, to a six month job at the west point golf course being ogled by 80 year old men to a two month gig as a substitute teacher to my current job as a teacher's aide in special ed and an assistant at the arts and crafts center.  I received FIVE W-2  forms in the mail this tax season.  I laughed.  It's been a bumpy year with jobs, but I am so grateful for what I have been provided with.  It's nothing short of a miracle that I have the job that I have now.  I love my work.  I get to spend 7 hours a day with children who teach me so much about patience, love, and how to have fun. I have to say the Lord knows what I need and with hard work on my part, He always takes me where I need to go.

VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITY-I spent six months volunteering at the arts and crafts center on West Point which has now turned into a part time job teaching sewing and photography classes and helping out with crafty birthday parties.  This job is my "fun" job and I love being a part of the community.

WASH THE DISHES EVERYDAY-yeah...right...ha.  More like once a week.  I know my mom would love me if I turned this into a daily thing!

MAKE MY BED EVERYDAY- yeah right again.  Hah.  Though with my new quilt, I am making it more often.

READ A GOOD BOOK-  I have read SO MANY good books this last year.  I have rediscovered why I love reading so much and it is such a thrill reading just for the sake of reading.  A few books, and suggestions for you out there:

1. Little Women- cried through the whole thing because it was so amazing

2. The Picture of Dorian Gray- I'm still thinking about this crazy amazing book.  If you haven't read it yet, you must.

3. Brahm Stoker's Dracula- Talk about a scary book.  So worth your time. 

4. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd- This was suggested to me by a friend.  I never knew how good Agatha Christie books are.

5. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children- this YA book was a good read based on some famous "creepy" photographs.  Loved it.

6. The Glass Castle- my mom begged me to read this for months.  I finally did and my life will never be the same.  

7. The Shoemaker's Wife- I'm in the process of reading this one right now.  The author captures Italy and the Italian culture better than any american author I've read.  Fantastic read if you're missing Italy.  

Looking at how I accomplished these goals over the last year actually brightens my spirits quite a bit.  I'm so happy with what I have been able to do.  I could go on talking about all the other amazing things I've been blessed to be a part of, but for now I'll end with this:

NEW GOALS FOR 2013

Read 12 new books

Learn how to can fruits and vegetables

Own a car (seriously, it's about time)

Start a Garden

Sew a Vogue Pattern dress (this may be a little over my head!) 

Spend more time with Allie (she suggested this one to me :) )

Improve my piano skills

Make my bed everyday (because we all know that a 26 year old should have this down by now)

Happy 2013 everyone!  It's only going to get better everyday.