One Year or 52 Weeks

HELLO!!!!!

So I do WeVerb 11 and then drop off of the face of the earth. To be quite honest, 2012 has been one big blur. It has gone so quickly that even I am amazed that the year is almost half over.

I decided that I wanted to do a 101 things in 1001 days list starting on January 1 of this year. One of my goals was to write on this blog once per week every week for a year. I figure that's 52 weeks, right? I thought I would start at a nice easy date, but why wait? Why not start now? I've been loving having a 101 in 1,001 days list because it's kept me honest and really given me things to think about and strive for.

This blog has often been hard for me to keep up because I am a fairly private person. I am also the most "Never let them see you sweat" type. Depending on who you are, I'd rather die then let you know that I am not doing well. I think that it comes from the fact that I inherently don't trust most people to be kind. I guess that's for another post.

The past TWO (I want to cry just writing that) years have had a lots of ups and mostly downs in the area of career and personal development for me. This blog will still mostly focus on that as well as other things that affect career and personal growth in one's 30's.

I may not always have a topical post and it might just be things I'm spewing, but I am going to make sure to write things here.

So far 2012 has meant the following:

-toying with starting my own project/business. I'll  be the first to say that I am not really into this idea, but I think I may need another post as to why I think this way. I'm not sure if I don't like the idea because I am afraid or because I really don't like the idea. Part of me thinks I lack the vision that an entrepreneur really needs.

-lots of travel. When I contemplate major life changes I like to run away. Jim, my husband (not his real name) has been pretty supportive about everything including this.

Here's to hoping that I can keep up with my goal. Yay for Week #1!

WeVerb Day 31 - Foresee

#31: Foresee

Where do you hope to be on Jan 1, 2013?

Being happily married

Another wonderful year of travel and exploration behind me

Having made clear progress towards what I want my professional life to be

Knowing a little more about the future of my family.

Bring on 2012! :)

WeVerb Day 30 - Meditate

Day 30

Were you happy with who you were in 2011? Who do you want to be in 2012 and beyond?

No. I don't like who I was in 2011.

I am struggling.

I was stressed out by the poor decisions of others.

I feel like I wasted a lot of time.

I feel like I didn't accomplish many of the goals or things that could have.

I am pretty beaten down by my career transition process and perhaps beating myself up about it too much.

In 2012, I hope to

proactive about my own profession future and understand that building it will come with hard work and success or improvement will not happen overnight.

begin to understand and be comfortable with what family means to me and what having my own family will look like.

not answer to others and be willing to tell them about themselves.

to take advantage of this time in my life.

WeVerb Day 29 - Gush

#29: Gush

Begin to create a plan for “My friends day out 2012″ – tell us what you envision.

I have to admit that I don't get what this prompt means. Am I supposed to be planning a day for me and my friends? Does it have to be realistic?

I think we would have a fabulous lunch somewhere chatting and laughing over lots of wine. Of course in this vision, we are in a seaside town in Portugal. Don't ask me how I'd transport my friends there. :)

WeVerb11 - Days 25 - 28

More WeVerb.....

Day 25

Celebrate.

What did you celebrate in 2011? Are you looking forward to any celebrations in 2012?

I don't remember celebrating much this year of note other than my 2nd wedding anniversary. That is always a happy moment. I'm looking forward to next year.

Day 26

Revive.

Share a favorite photo from the past year. What was happening behind the scenes? What were you thinking or feeling? What could you smell, taste, see, hear at that moment?

This pic was taken at the Ephesus ruins in Turkey. Jim, my husband (not his real name) and I were roaming through the ruins. We decided to kill a little time by taking pics. It was the first sunny day we'd had since we arrived in Turkey. We had just gotten to Turkey's Mediterranean coast after spending a lot of time in the center of the country in the Cappadocia region. I was enjoying feeling the warm sun. Turkey was really one of the highlights, if not THE highlight, of my year.

Day 27

#27: Spend Where did your money go this year? Where do you want it to go in 2012? I chuckled when I read this prompt. My/our money went to food and travel this year. Unfortunately, I didn't really EARN any money. That's been the issue. I hope that can change for next year. #28: Pay It Forward Describe a random act of kindness that you benefited from in 2011. How will you pay it forward in 2012? Random act of kindness? Hmmm...well, this older man paid for my lunch. I think he thought my friendliness was flirtation. I just make simple conversation. He's older than my dad and well, I'm married. I felt bad and tried to pay, but he wouldn't let me. Sigh... Maybe I need to pay for someone's lunch in 2012?

WeVerb 11, Days 23 & 24

We Verb, Day 23

Describe something that you actively engaged in learning to do this year.

Well, I did try to learn more skills for my secret project, which I could reveal. It has a lot to do woth pib;ic speaking and thinkinf on your feet. I also learn how to edit video. I'm far from an expert, but at least I can do some basic stuff on a Mac with raw footage.

We Verb, Day 24

What did you finally let go of in 2011? What will you let go of in 2012? Good question. Not much. :) I'd like to let go of more in 2012. I think in particular I'd like to let myself go to feel creative enough to think of how I can make a contribution to this world. I have been taught to to take a certain path. perhaps all of my hard charging would be better spent letting go and of seeing what the God/Universe has in store for me.

WeVerb 11, Days 19-22

I answered Day 18 in the last post.

Day 19

Laugh.

Tell us about your biggest belly laugh in 2011.

Uhhh..I don't think I can recall this one. It was probably something that Jim, my husband (not his real name) said. He makes me laugh all the time.

Day 20

Plug In/Unplug.

How has technology affected your life (positively or negatively) in 2011? Do you want this to continue for 2012?

Technology has definitely been great to me. Blogging has been one of the highlights of my year. I've gotten a lot of great opportunities from blogging this year, and I hope that they will only continue to grow. One of my career possibilities for the future may include a social media element. I'm not sure yet.

While my relationship to technology has been good overall, I also feel like I've wasted a lot of time on technology this year. By spending too much time on certain sites, I feel like I waste valuable time that I could spend in a more productive way. I'm hoping that my online time will produce more fruit for me instead of just being something that I occasionally do passively.

Day 21

Ripple.

The butterfly effect posits that a small change can ripple across whole ecosystems. Who do you credit for the small action that made all the difference in your life this year?

Is this bad that I can't think of anyone? Ouch! Perhaps it was Jim's continued love and support?Perhaps it was my friends rallying to help me with professional contacts? In general, I don't think there has really been anyone that made a specific difference (for the better anyway) in my life this year other than these people (but especially Jim).

Day 22

#22: Accomplish

What is one thing you want to do before you bid adieu to 2011? How will you make it happen?

Planning. I want to go into 2012 with some semblance of a plan. I waffle a lot this year. I don't want to do that next year. Next week will be about planning and organizing for 2012.