I don’t know what it is about a new year that brings so much hope. I mean, why can’t we make these resolutions in the middle of the year? Why wait? Maybe it’s an “official” closing of a chapter and beginning of another. Maybe it’s just easy to “finish it out”. This year, I’m not going to wait. I’m ready to be in it to win it.
The last few days of 2009 had me thinking deep thoughts. I’m currently reading a book by Francis Chan called “Crazy Love”. Wow. What an eye-opener this book has been. I don’t know how I came across it but I am very glad I did. In it, Francis explains how deeply our God loves us, how amazing it is that He wants to love us, and what we are to do for Him, how we are to love for Him. Now, to some of you, it may seem like second nature. But growing up Catholic, I don’t think I ever really understood what it is that I am meant to do. It sounds all philosophical, but really it’s so simple. God, the creator of creation, wants me to love more. He made me to love. He made me to love Him. He didn’t make me to just go out and do good, be kind, be mediocre, or average or nice enough…He did not make me to be lukewarm. I have been struggling in a place of not knowing what to do or how to be. I have felt this whole year that I needed to do more, to be something more. If you’re in a place in your faith where you don’t know what is next, I highly recommend this book. It will help open your eyes and get you thinking more of what God’s intentions are for you.
I also have spent a few hours this week listening to podcasts by a fellow photographer. I met him briefly last spring at a workshop that he’d held here in Houston. I didn’t register for the workshop, but was sent an email that Dane Sanders was going to be in town and was holding a free talk about photography. I called my good friend Kim up to see if she wanted to go and check him out. I’d known about Dane through various online forums. One thing that drew me to him was that he is a man of faith. But not only that, he is living it. How refreshing. Dane hosts weekly video streams where he shares inspiration for photographers to move forward, grow their business. The topic of the discussion I went to was about me, not about him. I find this so refreshing because in a land of photographers marketing to photographers, it is very rare that a photographer teaches you to see your vision, to be who and what you want to be, that the client is essentially buying you. So often, photographers holding workshops are selling themselves, what they do, how they do it. More recently, one of Dane’s guest speakers(who happens to coach Christian pastors and leaders) discussed that we need to be all in. Yet, another eye-opener. There have been many times where I felt that I didn’t want to do something with my business, I would be afraid to fail or I would be lazy. I have a friend who has been sort of coaching me with business decisions. I was discussing product offerings for 2010 and I told him that I wasn’t interested in providing something because it was too much work to do…again, another situation where I was not “all in”. So, add all this to the book I’m reading…whew, talk about revelation.
I follow a photography blog that is chock full of inspiration. Artists, writers, women who love to create. There is a project they talk about called “The One Word Project”. Essentially, you choose a word that will be your mantra, a bit of a focused resolution, if you will. So in having these experiences listed above, paired with experiences from all of last year, in faith, life, business and love, my One Word for 2010 is “Discover”. I want to discover a deeper relationship with God. I want to discover His plan for my business and family. I want to discover a deep understanding of who I am. I want to discover love and new friendships. So, here’s to you, 2010. I welcome you with open arms.
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by Christie
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