KTY | Day 8

Part one of the entry written Dec 23

Christmas is almost upon us! Money has been spent, wish lists fulfilled and everything is primed to stash under trees and in stockings. The next part - the final traditions that happen in those last few days & hours before the big man arrives are some of the best parts for our family. We have a handful of traditions that I can't wait to repeat again after years and years of doing so. Luckily, our decorations, tree & stockings were all stored in a building far away from the house so they were totally unaffected by the fire. Some of the ornaments that get hung on the tree are from my dad's childhood and are treasured greatly. So much so, in fact, that everyone else is forbidden to hang them - they are only for me! Also, my stocking that I've had since I was wee is also there. YAY!

Amidst the beauty and magic of the season, I'm also feeling the anticipation of the new year which is one of my favorite things on the entire calendar (after my birthday, of course). This new year is going to be chock full of crazy-ass change but at the same time, it'll be a returning to my roots. Simplifying and bringing back some of my stay-at-home loveliness that I miss terribly. But (at the risk of being vague) the changes are going to be so wonderful and fulfilling.

Getting on with the program
31 Ways 31 Ways - +Craig Jarrow 
Time Shifting
After giving a little thought to how I  normally distribute tasks throughout my day, I'd say I've got things fairly well organized in terms of timing but I (like many others) could absolutely benefit from a bit of a Facebook diet. It is far too easy to spend an embarrassing amount of wasted time on there with nothing to show for it.
I think that in the new year, my need to make more time for teaching & writing will necessitate working on those projects in the morning when my mind is fresh (without Facebook running in the background) and domestic duties like cleaning and organizing can wait until later in the day. Totally doable and likely very beneficial in terms of my time usage each day. Will report back later on this one.

Part two of the entry written Dec 25

Reclaim Your Dreams - +Jonathan Mead 
Reclaiming ownership of your time 
There are so many things I'd love to do but definitely feel that they are *just* outside my grasp due to a time shortage. (A self-imposed time shortage, that is). The list is incredibly long and filled with a variety of things. Some of those things are learning pottery, learning silk-screening, learning how to use the letterpress, owning horses, teaching & motivational speaking, writing a book, just knitting more, journaling more, reading more, napping, making cool things with my boys... oh, the list is so very long!

In order to make more time, I will have to work less. Much, much less. I will restructure the way my business runs and make myself available to my family first and my business second. I will redesign my marketing plan so that I can maintain my business in a way that is sustainable and profitable but still leave most of my time for my family. I will have to give up my full-time commitment to my studio and therefore to my clients but as a children's photographer, my clients all understand why my children, my marriage and my entire family need me to put them first.

My biggest time-sinks are my commute to work, social media (marketing is always how I rationalize it) and that's about it. We no longer have satellite TV, we don't have the kids in a bunch of after-school activities so we are pretty much primed to spend a lot of quality time together. In order to eliminate or at least minimize these time sinks, I will be driving to work fewer days each week, I will spend less time foolin' around on Facebook and make sure that time spent with my kids & husband are meaningful rather than all of us sitting side-by-side doing our own thing.

I can't get into how I will stay focused on my new commitments just yet (the full explanation will come in the new year) but suffice to say that some big changes for our family will demand more of my time and attention so replacing unhealthy time-wasting activities with more productive ones will be a necessity.

And since there are big changes coming in the new year for us, I can say that in order for me to avoid resenting my current circumstances as we redirect the focus back onto our priorities, I will gladly remember that the only time I have for sure is right now and to enjoy it as it is, as well as accepting that my present is the result of choices that I have made so being upset by them is to be upset with myself which is pointless.
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The second half of this entry is being written in the early afternoon on Christmas Day. I am feeling very blessed, very grateful and very at-peace with where my life is in this exact moment. There are definitely things I would LOVE to un-do in the year that's behind us but funny, I wouldn't really if I had the chance. Where we are today, right now in this exact moment is such a gloriously perfect place that I wouldn't want to mess with that.

I will be sharing in the coming weeks more information regarding the changes that I keep referencing without disclosing details. Much needs to be confirmed before we can really say much but trust me when I say that my entire life is going to turn upside down but I openly welcome it. Also, I don't think I'd have the same clarity and confidence in our decision without having started the work in these Kickstart The Year workbooks. I'm SO not kidding. Change is inevitable and your ability, willingness openness in accepting and flourishing in the midst of it is the key to success. Which you have the capacity to experience and deserve to enjoy. Change is a wonderful opportunity to reevaluate your life, your values, your commitments and your path. Join me, won't you?!

A word on authenticity - again.

au·then·tic  

/ôˈTHentik/

Adjective Of undisputed origin; genuine: "authentic 14th-century furniture". Made or done in the traditional or original way: "authentic Italian meals".

Synonyms genuine - true - real - veritable - original

For me, as an artist and as an individual who is constantly pursuing personal growth, there has always been one central theme no matter what I'm working on. Being authentic has always been at the core of what I do. Being authentic includes ensuring that my core values (family, learning, joy, honesty, originality, abundance, love) are always being honored, it means that whatever activities I'm involved in are bringing me joy, it means that the results of the activity are in alignment with my personal or professional goals.

In my photography career, I have always kept a focus on what feels right to me. On many occasions, I have incorporated various shooting or editing styles because I liked how they looked when someone else did them but when I saw the result of that effort, it felt like I was reproducing someone else's work which definitely did NOT feel like it was mine. It did not feel as though it was a clear represtentation of how I saw that person or place. It wasn't authentic. So it wasn't something I repeated.

It's been said that there's nothing new under the sun and to a point, I agree. However, as an artist, my perspective is totally unique and cannot be replicated.

I spoke about how I was able to define my creative voice in THIS post and I explain how it feels when something I have worked hard to create from my heart is copied, borrowed, or stolen and passed off as an original idea. It is a violation. Plain and simple. Each of us, artists or otherwise possess an original voice that is so very valuable that ripping off another's style/flavor/look is doing a tremendous disservice to ourselves. Try things, yes. But always bring it back to a meaningful place that is uniquely your own.

There is room in the world for every individual to express their delicious and unique point of view in a genuine way. Doing so with conscious effort put into that expression brings immeasurable peace, fullfilment and joy. We have all tried to express ourselves the way someone else does and it always feels a little fake, a little contrived. It seems a waste of time and effort to continue on a path of copy-catting that leads only to disappointment and a feeling of emptiness.

There are risks to "putting it out there" but they are so very small when compared to the level of satisfaction and joy experienced as a result of that risk. Which seems like a crazy idea because when doing things with authenticity at the core, even the failures are still successes because of the WHY that brought them about in the first place.

I am known for the beautiful images that I create as a marriage between my subject's amazing uniqueness and how only I can see them. I create rather than duplicate. That's not by accident. Its on purpose and deliberate. Conscious and authentic. Like magic but clearer.

KTY | Day 7

Yeah, now and then, I'm gonna miss a day. Sometimes living happens instead of daily writing. Can't do it all. I can do a lot but not everything. I'm getting to be ok with that. I have limitations and shortcomings. They're all OK.

The last couple days' worth of writing has really given me a lot to think about. My values. Wow. That list really kinda rocked me. Deep in my core are the echoes of the words I've been writing and they are resonating in every fiber of my being. I have chosen to wake up to the things I've been ignoring & neglecting. Not beating myself up over them but really opening my eyes and SEEING my life for the first time in a while. Since the fire, for sure and probably since before then too. My family has needed me and I've been hiding at work. That ends now. I am so ready to shift things and bring them back to a more family-centered way of functioning and it feels so peaceful to have reached this decision.

Yes, this is an affiliate link but the truth I've uncovered about myself in the past week using the Kickstart the Year workbooks has been a tremendous gift that has equipped me with the "stuff" to make some pretty powerful decisions and changes. Good, overdue, life-changes. Don't you want to know how some of that feels? It's so exciting and rejuvenating, I can't truly imagine anyone NOT wanting to know that feeling. Please give yourself the gift of creating the life you've always dreamed of.

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31 Days 31 Ways - +Craig Jarrow
Don't Answer That Phone
Today, I snuck into my studio for a couple of hours to tie up the final few loose ends of the year. The phone rang but because I'm closed for the holidays. Also, because I would've been tempted to return the call, I let my voicemail take the call knowing it had a greeting that said the studio was closed until January 2. By not answering my phone, I managed to keep my stop in at the studio short, according to plan and didn't get into a call asking me to do something that i wasn't there to do at that time.

That's an important lesson - to not be a slave to the phone. If it rings while I'm with a client or working on a project with my kids, that dang phone can keep on ringing. It is a tool to make parts of my life easier, not so that I can drool every time it rings.

Reclaim Your Dreams +Jonathan Mead
3 Keys to Making your Dreams happen - #1 Give Up
For me, the fear of uncertainty can kick my type-A control freak brain into extreme overdrive. I love change but I also get a huge amount of anxiety when a new situation presents variables that I can't prepare for. It's completely irrational and I'm aware of that but it doesn't change the fact that it interferes with making a move. It can sometimes be the deciding factor to accept or decline an invitation or suggestion. And in the event that I take action to pursue the "thing" that freaks me out, I can make mountains out of molehills by overthinking and indulging the ideas that come in the shape of worst-case scenarios.

The best way for me to obtain real-world data to establish whether or not I'll fail is to ask trusted friends & colleagues with direct knowledge of my lifestyle, values, skillset and personality. By surveying a small number of friends or colleagues I trust, I can make peace with the parts of a decision that prove to remain unknown.

Three small risks that I can take to help me practice expanding my uncertainty threshold are:
-going to new places that I haven't yet memorized the layout/floorplan/design
-learn a new skill and have faith that the end will be less awkward and more fulfilling than the beginning
-spend more time talking to strangers. I already do this but can benefit from doing more.

Our family has a new giant change on the horizon which I'll share in greater detail soon but until then, I can say that in order for me to change my mantra from "I don't know" to "I'll find out" I will look to my kids for the strength and direction. Their pure little souls are totally ok with admitting that they don't have all the answers and I know there is much that I can learn from them, especially when embarking down a path for which there are no lights, maps or signposts. Also, if I do make the wrong call, drop the ball or screw up in some other way, they will still love me so that is about as safe & secure as any of it will ever get. 

In order for me to surround myself with more like-minded people with the same goals, visions and aspirations as I do, I can participate in forums, clubs locally, meetups and other forms of networking. Take what I do now and kick it into high gear.

Three places I might meet these kinds of people are::
-At organization meetings for groups who participate in the same activities
-Classes for the new skills to be obtained,
-hold my own events to share my knowledge with an invested audience.

To start making these connections, I'll be joining events, showing up at gallery showings, marketing classes taught by me, and sharing with strangers what I do, where I do it and how I do it.
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I really wish some of this stuff would hop into action overnight. I think I've managed to dig up some top-notch shit with these exercises and  I want to see it taking hold in my life experience beyond a blog post or twitter update.
But I suppose that if these revelations genuine then they can't NOT stick.

Please go buy the Kickstart the Year program. You will get so much out of this series and you honestly cannot beat the value. Money well invested, peeps! Then, once you get started, come back here and leave a comment sharing your blog address and I'll come by and give you some blog love :) Who doesnt' like happy mail, anyway?!

This is some seriously intense and awesome stuff here. Don't wait, go hook yourself up!! GO!

xo
V

KTY | Day 6

There's a weird, yet awesome shift going on in my personal life. I can't say much about it all right now, partly because I'm not super clear on how it's all going to go but in time, I'll share how the changes are taking place and what it means for me in a number of areas of my life. Having said that, I am experiencing some wacky scheduling. Late nights, early mornings, unexpected sleep-ins, a quiet house, a busy house... Weird, like I said but yet, awesome. More on this later.

Moving onward with the Kickstart the Year programming, I have to say that while I find the writing of my intentions with each workbook is extremely cathartic, I am loving sharing it all here with you. I know there are many, many readers but y'all are blog-stalkers. We all like a little validation and I would really like your feedback on some of the points made in each day's writing. It doesn't have to be long (although I love it when it is!) but let me know you were here. Feel free to share these posts on Facebook and it makes me feel pretty fantastic when you click the google+ icon too :)

Alrighty then,
31 Days 31 Ways - +Craig Jarrow
Planning vs. preparation
Today, one of the things I've prepared for is a very important personal project that involves a ton of research and a few phonecalls. I can't disclose what it is just yet but I promise I will very soon if it goes ahead. While the preparation is still ongoing (it's a big project) I feel better equipped for the phonecalls that will ensue and to make an informed decision with my husband on the matter.

The stress I have avoided by being prepared is probably huge but thankfully, I'll never know because I avoided it. That's a productivity WIN!

Reclaim your Dreams +Jonathan Mead
Continuing on yesterday's chapter - dreams & values
Some words that my top values bring to mind for me are :
-harmony
-experience
-fun
-centered
-rewarding
-fulfillment
-customized

My wildest dream is probably doing a TED talk. Some of the mental images that are associated with that are my wish to travel being fulfilled, my desire to write a book (and have a responsive audience for it) is fulfilled, I am working less like a portrait factory and more like a boutique business that has healthy boundaries when it comes to allowing space in my life for my dreams and most importantly for my family. There's always enough of me to go around.

If I could have a magic want and be in my ideal work/life situation in six months, it would look like this:
I would have a beautiful custom portrait studio built on our farm property. Our new, permanent home is finished and my faithful, loyal clients are delighted to work with me in this new space which allows me to be home more for my kids & husband and to take a more active role in our family farm business. I generate significant revenue because my expenses are lower and I am now better able to provide a more luxurious service to my clients. I am able to devote more time to writing my blog, newsletter and book. I am also able to develop the teaching programs that I want to implement.

The central themes to my values & dreams are to spend more meaningful time with my family and to work less. Also, educating others and sharing my knowledge and wisdom is another core matter.

Some of my biggest teachers are people like Ivy Slater - my business/life coach who is also a trusted friend with a few more years of parenthood and a total willingness to share her wisdom, Danielle LaPorte as a professional speaker & motivator, my dear friend Karen McKinnon whose brutal honesty always comes from a place of pure love and is absolutely never, ever sugarcoated and truthfully, my kids - Noah & Seth. They have such pure, sweet, open hearts and always only see the best in me which is a delicious reminder to do that in my relationships. They are the most amazing thing I've had the privilege of sculpting & guiding in this life.

To describe my best version of myself requires putting a muzzle on my inner critic (who invited her along, anyway?!). Once that's taken care of, I can say that the best version of myself knows when to say no, doesn't put herself last, says "I love you" to everyone she loves, will bust a move in the aisles of the grocery store even if a client may see her, takes the time to build forts and have picnics with her kids, explains "why" to her kids when asked in a way to actually educate them rather than to make them stop asking questions. My best self knows that rest is not only ok but vitally important, making time to run or do yoga isn't selfish, it's key to modeling a healthy lifestyle to her family. She also is a woman who doesn't waste time worrying about what people think and does whatever makes her happy every day.

The underlying patterns or themes in all of the previous answers clearly involve holding my children much, much closer, spending time making memories and sharing meaningful experiences and also taking better care of myself in the form of rest, exercise and boundaries as well as honoring my preferences.

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I can't say that these changes can be implemented overnight but being aware of their importance will certainly open the door to authentic shifts that will allow these changes to take place organically. Which, in my opinion will give them more "stuff" to stick, to last, to really happen in a sustainable way. I miss my kids, I miss my life. I have chosen to spend the last two years hiding in my work. It's time to come home, to wake up and be an active member of my beautiful family.

I want to see you make these kinds of commitments and discoveries about your own life and work. Please go buy the Kickstart the Year program and share your blog address in the comments section below. I want to encourage you to get down & dirty with your plans for a magical 2013 and to open your heart to creating a fulfilling life that you love every goddamned minute of!!





It's time for a change and you know it! GO!

KTY | Day 5

I am feeling very motivated and clear about where my year is going in 2013. I hope that you are considering buying the Kickstart The Year program so that you can experience this kind of planning-ahead badassery! There is a lot to read but it is worth the time. YOU are worth the time. This is very much one of those things where the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. And that, my dear friends & readers is the sweet spot, right there.

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31 Days 31 Ways - Craig Jarrow
The difference between saying and doing.
One of the things I've always wanted to do but haven't made it a priority yet is to write a book. I always knew I had a book in me somewhere but wasn't sure what it would be about. I now know after my crazy-ass roller coaster year that I have learned many lessons that can be shared. I also know that my experiences aren't quite as unique as I sometimes feel which means that others will be able to relate to what I've endured in both my recent past and in years previous.

I had never started the book that I'd always wanted to write because I wasn't sure of what it would be about nor was I even sure that I would have an audience. Also, I have hesitated starting in case I discover that I don't like writing a book. Then there's that small matter of being judged. Some might say I have no business writing a book, that I'm no expert on whichever topics or themes I cover. They might ask me who I think I am talking about whatever fills its pages. So- the short answer, fear. I'm afraid of failure, rejection and judgement. But I guess those outcomes are at this point, imaginary. Which means that they're not enough to stop me.

The action that I've taken today to get started on this goal include this post. Additionally, I enjoyed a fabulously inspiring call with my business & life coach, Ivy Slater of Slater Success Coaching. Ivy's role in my life and business has been instrumental in not quitting throughout the toughest parts of my year and she has kept me pushing ahead and even gotten me excited about what is yet to come when I least thought it possible.

Reclaim Your Dreams - Jonathan Mead
Define Your Dream

What do I feel called to do? I feel called to use my artistic ability to serve others with my knowledge of photography and to create beautiful images that they can treasure for a lifetime. I also feel called to empower my clients and those interested in art, photography and other creative forms of self expression by sharing my process, my insights and my experiences. I am called to spread love through my art.

I wrote about this in a previous post - What do I want to be remembered for. It definitely has nothing to do with how many tasks I can accomplish in a day nor does it have anything to do with how much income I generated. The things I want to be remembered for are the traditions I shared with my family, the meals I made, the games I played, the memories and jokes. Parties & camping trips, warm hugs, soft kisses and full hearts. If you were to ask me if the majority of things I spend my time doing now meet those goals, I'd say no. Clearly that has to change. Like, pronto. In my work, however, I want to be remembered as being someone who built honest, meaningful relationships with my clients. I want to be remembered as someone who was comfortable talking with kids and as a friend to all little ones. I want to be remembered for my ability to put new parents at ease as I handled their precious new baby and as someone who had the magic power to make time stop so that their little ones could stay little forever.

The gifts that I have that I want to give to the world are almost exclusively centered around my art. I can help bring healing where there is pain, joy where there is sadness and I can keep children little forever in an image. I can help tell a story through photography and I can give a voice to those who aren't being heard. Aside from photography, I can use what I do at work to make hearts feel fuller, lighter.

If I could have any career regardless of my current job or skill set, I would probably choose marketing consultant/coach. I love helping great products & services be made visible and to communicate their brands through effective marketing. I love dreaming up new marketing plans for those who find such tasks hard or boring and then seeing a well designed plan generate revenue for the business. I've always said that if I had to choose one job to do forever, that would be it. Every client would need somethign different and every industry would involve such different things. Sounds challenging, exciting and fun!

My list of dreams at this exact moment in time includes things like:
-doing a TED talk about my life & expereinces
-write a book about my life and experiences
-teaching a live course online
-learning to make letterpress stationery
-dancing ballroom (especially salsa)
-play an instrument (guitar maybe but piano would suffice)
-travel to beautiful countries and run 10Km runs while there
-ride in a hot air balloon
-spend a 2-3 week vacation(honeymoon) on the beaches of Bora Bora or Jamaica
-get horses
-build a portrait studio for me at the farm


My values are (not in order)
-family
-learning
-joy
-honesty
-originality
-abundance
-love

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This body of work has left me at a crucial point where I must pause. I am working on writing my personal manifesto but that is going to be shared later, after I've had some time to really let it marinate. I need to sit with the ideas before I can write them and they will be composed in a neat & tidy download for you later. Until then, please go buy the Kickstart the Year program and begin this incredible self-fulfilling work.  This is the best $88 investment you can make in yourself. Please don't miss out.

Remember, if you leave me your blog address in the comments section below, I will leave you some blog-lovin'. Now, go buy the program so you can get started!!
xo
V

KTY | Day 4

Update- Loving the no-satellite plan but technology failed me this morning :( Thought I set my alarm for an earlier wake-up time but nope. My alarm rang at the same time it does every day. I *was* half asleep when I changed it so it could have been user error. It's reset and ready to rock tomorrow. I spent my first day of holidays chillin' at home. I ran on my treadmill for an hour and a bit, made cookies for the kids to come home to and made dinner for the fam. Been a LONG time. Felt fantastic. It made me seriously miss my days of being a stay-at-home mom.

31 Ways 31 Days - Craig Jarrow
Automating tasks
Currently I am automating several tasks::
- For instance, I prepay a year's worth of certain bills (phone, power, etc.) and if you ask for a discount for the prepayment, sometimes you can get a 1-2% savings. (that's a win/win!).
-I also automate my portrait/consultation/ordering sessions via TimeTrade. This is a massive time saver in my work.
- I use Google Reader to gather all the blog posts I usually read which allows me to scan the interesting headlines and share them if I want.
-I schedule my blog/twitter/facebook posts via HootSuite and use Buffer to schedule the links I want to share.
-I schedule recurring e-blasts via MadMimi using the scheduling feature.

One more thing I could automate would be to back up my harddrive. I currently do this manually and would LOVE to not have to fuss with it. To make this happen, I would first need to research an online-based storage service that is compatible with my system and my terrible internet service where I live and of course ensure that it is reliable and affordable. If I could automate this, I'd likely save 20-30 minutes a week which equals 17+ hours!

Reclaim Your Dreams - Jonathan Mead
Undomesticate yourself
For me, the biggest self-limiting beliefs that are holding me back from living my dreams are that I don't deserve the kind of success & freedom I imagine. I believe that I can't create consistently beautiful images that people want to invest in. I believe that my home will never be what I wish for. I believe that my financial life will always be chaotic and disorganized. I believe that my dream of travel is outside my reach.

The empowering beliefs that I would like to adopt instead are that I absolutely do deserve the success & freedom I imagine. That I do create consistently beautiful images that clients invest in. That my home is well on its way to being everything I wish for. That my financial life can be easily organized and that travel is readily available to me.
Ways that I will remind myself of these things include vision boards, delegating (financial organization), affirmations and journaling.

By slowing down, I will be able to savor the creative process of creating my art every step of the way including meeting with my clients before the session, shooting the portrait session,  processing the images to show my client and the final edits of those images for the printers. Also, slowing down will afford me space to breathe, relax and be present in my experience with my family. By slowing down and being an active participant in my 'present' I will truly be present and therefore receive the fullest blessings and gifts of the moment rather than passing them by in pursuit of the next accomplishment or to-do.

To 'be incredible' rather than seeking incredible things means to participate actively in my own life experience and do things that bring joy and fulfillment to my present rather than merely observing them and passively being involved, as in an audience. To 'be resourceful' rather than seeking resources means to create your opportunities instead of waiting for them to happen. It means to ask for what you want rather than hoping it will magically appear.

Three ways that I can take more responsibility for my life are::
-releasing my pre-existing beliefs about what I cannot be, do or have and replace them with new ideas about achievement, success and joy.
-practice slowing down, doing less and being fully present when I do any task/activity
-following my dreams more authentically rather than pushing them aside in the name of practicality.

On that note of my third goal for taking responsibility of my life, here's the thing. As much as I'm a dreamer and can clearly articulate what my creative goals are and what activities bring me the most joy, my practical mind totally overshadows all of that and does not give me the opportunity to experience the life I truly desire. I am so often pushed in the direction of the practical choice rather than the joyful, fulfilling one. Granted, practicality has its place, especially when it comes to adult decisions like paying bills, taking the dogs to the vet or buying groceries instead of a new art supplies. But there needs to be a way to integrate the two.
For me I think that if I ensure that the work I do is always with clients who truly love the art I make, then every commissioned project will be immensely creative and rewarding, therefore my heart's desire. Also, those tasks will then be as enjoyable as possible while continuing to create an income for me personally and professionally. Additionally, by doing only that kind of work, I will feel more confident in the decision to spend less time working and more time resting, playing with my children, reading or journaling and pursuing other non-work related goals.

My intention for the new year is to take a more holistic approach to my life. That means that I will be working less, resting & recharging more. I will spend fewer hours in front of my computer and more hours outdoors, in the kitchen, on the floor playing with my kids, on the sofa reading or napping. Enjoying ALL the parts of life that I haven't afforded myself over the past two years. I miss those things. I miss actively parenting, I miss domesticity. I miss all the things that are part of who I am aside from being a photographer which lately has been the only hat I've worn. Time for a bit more variety with my wardrobe. Time to bust out the mom-hat, the chef-hat, the crafter-hat, the party-thrower-hat, the spontaneous-pajama-day-hat... the OTHER parts of myself that have been neglected for a long time. Asleep. Dormant.

Time to wake the hell up.

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So tell me, does any of this resonate with you? This isn't some kind of skeezy sales pitch, I'm sharing the REAL, HONEST work that I am doing on my own life using the tools I invested in from the Kickstart The Year program. There is an insane amount of material available to you for seriously a minimal investment of $88 for eleven workbooks/audio recordings/e-books. That's $8 each. Dude, you spend that on coffee in a week and really, how much do those coffees do for you in the long run to helping you achieve your dreams?

I'm not kidding. Go buy it, blog your experiences and leave the address in the comments section. Or, just share your own response to what I'm figuring out about myself and together, I promise we'll learn some cool shit. Ok? Now go buy it... I'll wait for ya.

xo

KTY | Day 3

Yep. I missed a few days. Working extra long to get the last few tidbits of client work wrapped up so I can actually have a couple of weeks off for the holidays! Blessed be! Part of the magic in my plans for 2013 is knowing when to just NOT DO WORK. Plus, the In-laws are starting to move their stuff into their new house which means that the four of us have more space to spread out (translation : I've been cleaning). And then there's the small matter of setting up our Christmas tree finally. And moving in some of our new furniture.


So now, after a fabulous date night with my 14 year old son (dinner and the Ashley MacIsaac show) and now, at the end of a very full Sunday, I have unpacked several boxes of kitchen wares, vacuumed multiple times and enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree with the fam.

On to day 3 (even if it IS a few days late. whateves)

31 Days, 31 Ways - Craig Jarrow
The early bird gets 30 extra minutes. That's a nice idea except when it is being applied to a day that already begins at 6:30. The idea is to get up 30 minutes earlier to do the things that aren't being afforded the time needed to get them done. Bills, nah. Research? No thanks. Journaling and pleasure-reading? OKAY! Now, also for me to avoid burnout includes being in bed no later than 11pm because otherwise that leaves me with 7 or fewer hours of sleep which makes me useless at work and dangerous on the 30 minute drive in the dark to and from work. Gotta love living North of 60!

So, starting tomorrow, I'm going to get up at 6am and  come to my newly-replaced favorite reading chair and either journal or read. Depending on my mood (note:: I have about 6-8 books in my to-read pile).There will be a need for some bedtime discipline on my part but I think I can do it. Well ok. I know I can do it, I'm just deciding if I'm serious about actually changing things or not. (worksheet responses to follow)

Reclaim Your Dreams - Jonathan Mead
Day 2 - Stop Caring
So the overall message in this portion of the workbook encourages readers to cut off their cable or satellite subscription. Funny thing is, I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate this into my writing today but I finally just spend the last 24 hours (coincidentally) satellite free. The hubster & I agreed that when his parents moved out that we would ditch the satellite and spend more time reading/writing/crafting/doing stuff together. All the things we often say we don't have enough time for. So yay me!! We were already doing this when it turned out to be the exercise for today.

Of course, the purpose of ditching the cable/satellite is to eliminate the influence of media in determining our heart's desire. Stop caring what outside influences say should be our priorities and turn inward. That is where this bit of writing is going.

In my life, some of the places where I might be caring too much is when it comes to my work performance. I have immensely high standards for my performance at work with my artistic output as well with what I want to give my clients in terms of their overall experience. I demand perfection of myself (which is ridiculous) and am unbelievably hard on myself when I make a mistake - no matter how small. Also, I have such a desire for recognition of my contributions (whether with charities or other community organizations) that it leaves me feeling disappointed or like I've somehow failed if that recognition isn't forthcoming. Having said that, my motivation for participating in fundraisers or other community events has so much more to do with helping and making a difference but I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that I wasn't hoping for a pat on the back or a bit of public recognition. I think I need to let that go. I know that those who benefit from my efforts are massively grateful and in truth that IS enough.

By letting go of my desire for validation, I will benefit in that my validation will come from within and my art will inevitably become purer - as if to mirror my reason for taking part. When I create a beautiful image, I know in my heart of hearts that it is beautiful. No outside source can say otherwise and I will be doing myself (and my clients) a tremendous favor by remaining focused on my purest intentions. Pure intentions = pure, beautiful art.

Three things I'll care less about in order to make more room in my life for the things that matter:
-perfection. It's unattainable and overrated. It's also a form of laziness. Out with perfection
-The opinions of strangers or people I know and don't respect. Those people don't play an important part in my life so therefore, there opinions have zero value. Especially when they're negative.
-Doing it all. I do not want to be remembered for my ability to get shit done. I want to be remembered for being creative, fun, adventurous, a great cook, a good mother, for making my own health a priority, for making time for my family & friends, for hosting kick-ass parties. That's the legacy I want to leave, not my ability to rock a to-do list or be insanely productive with no social life.

Confession 101
What do I put off doing until I've done the so-called 'required' chores?
-knitting (which I adore but it feels so wasteful & selfish because I sit on my ass to do it while doing nothing else)
-painting
-journaling
-reading
-sewing
-napping
-exercise (far more often than I care to admit)
-meals with my family

Eep. That's a horribly long list. And they're all things that bring me so much joy... so I guess, if they're not happening, then there must be a significant lack of joy happening for me...Clearly that needs to change if I want to actually enjoy my life rather than work my ass of until I'm too worn out to do the fun stuff...

The most important thing I'll stop putting off, after seeing that list is meals with my family and exercise. I love both and miss them both terribly. That will change this week. A few reasons (house-fire related) that will delay it a few days but I think it's high time these things got a little attention.

If I'm totally honest, I can admit that part of what I work so hard for is the ideal that society has imposed for success (read :: income). Granted, some level of income/revenue is necessary for a sustainable business but there's an expectation that adults generate a certain level of income to buy the expected *things* to be acceptable or considered a success.  While I don't totally subscribe to that expectation, it does play a part. Luckily, I'm in a position to call the shots and I am so excited to be coming into 2013 with a revised gameplan that will afford me more time to see friends, do the things I love outside of my work and spend much more time with my family. After the fire, many things have changed and my reasons for working and how I work are absolutely affected.

Of course, sometimes (no matter how strong the convictions), making changes or tricky decisions do come with fears or apprehensions. I'd be lying if I said they didn't. But this time, with the upcoming changes in my business, I can say with full confidence that I am doing what's best for me and my family. And how blessed am I do be able to do that and still maintain a fun, profitable, rewarding, creative business that people love. I know what a gift it is to have the full support of my husband and my incredibly loyal clients. I wouldn't bother opening my doors each day without them.

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Updates to follow on my commitments outlined above. I'm confident that I can do some of them most of the time. No delusions about all of those commitments all of the time. Other things will happen instead and that's ok. We'll see where it all goes.

As for you, are YOU making changes in the new year? Would you like to whip 2013 into shape so that you can enjoy more pleasure, joy and freedom?? Get your hands on some life-changing content by going to KICKSTART THE YEAR and purchasing the workbooks from each of the incredible contributors. It's only $88 and I can assure you that after buying this for myself, I can't go back. I can't pretend I haven't read this stuff. I totally possess the chutzpah to knock 2013 on its ass and show it who's boss. Don't you want a piece of that? You know you do!! Let's do it together. When you buy the program, share your blog address in the comments below and I'll leave you some blog lovin'. Helps the mojo.

Get real, get happy.
xo
V