2015: the cherry on top

I don't usually admit it to myself, but I have lived life with the saying: Go with the flow. I don't put things back to their proper places. I don't make lists. I have no urge or whatsoever to make a mental note of things (or if I do, consider it forgotten). I have woken up to many mornings thinking that things will fall into their proper places just as they should, because of wrong interpretation of if something is bound to happen, it will. Obviously, things will only happen if you actually make a move for it.

2014 has given me a chance to know myself better, which I am grateful for, and one simple thing I realized and I will easily succumb to on being at fault: I don't make new year goals. It is so laughable, I know. Having known and accepted this, I learned that it is not enough to just have goals, they also have to be smart. And by smart, this means: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely goals. 

New year means fresh start. This could be exciting at first, but also prone to quickly fade out after a few months in to the new year. So here are my 2015 (hopefully) smart goals, which I will look into again in July to check each progress (I tried to be realistic haha):

• Wake up 75 minutes before going to work to make time for stretching, at least three times a week
• Shoot more people, at least six shots in a roll
• Draw (no matter how mundane) once a week
• Join Carlos Celdran's Barter Tour before the rainy season begins
• Complete the 52-week money challenge (in reverse)
• Blog at least three times a week
• Finish a book once a month
• Take photos in my neighborhood/city once a month
• Participate in two photowalks
• Join Alessa Lanot's Watercolor Workshop
• Print at least five photos for every roll of film
• Take Kimi out for a walk every Sunday morning
• Spend only ten minutes in social media before sleeping
• Write in my journal every day
• Visit the National Museum

Some of the things I cannot quantify, but still want to achieve:

• Resist participation in gossips (haha)
• Compliment people more
• Give thanks upon waking up instead of looking for my phone immediately (hehehe)
• Be receptive in small talks
• Choose my words and speak more kindly
• Own up to my photography (and also to this blog :D)

I tracked all of my films, and discovered that I shot 59 rolls this year! 59! I would love to include a goal that involves a direct output from my photography, but I guess this one has to be derived from the more specific photography-related goals I have mentioned above. Printing postcards or bookmarks, perhaps? Doing last year's calendar opened up more ideas on what to do next.

2015 is going to be the cherry on top :) May this year be our most productive one yet!