Looking Forward!

photo by epheminist

Last night while the lights and confetti flashed across the screen from Times Square and our plastic cups clinked I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief that 2009 was finally over, and hope – with cautious optimism – that 2010 will bring something else, something better. I’ve been considering the next twelve months and how I’d like for them to differ from the last twelve. In some cases, there are very clear things that I’d like to try or do differently, and in others there’s more of just a general feeling about how I’d like things to be. See, 2009 hasn’t exactly been the most enjoyable year. Each season brought a new hurdle and tried my patience as well as endurance. At the same time, there were plenty of great things that happened, not to be totally overshadowed by the not so memorable events.

To dwell on the low points of 2009 would seem like moving in the wrong direction, but the high points are definitely worth a quick recap:

+ Celebrated 2 year anniversary with the Boyf.
+ Moved into a large townhouse (with the Boyf) complete with a studio space!
+ Travelled to Minnesota to see an incredibly lovely friend, separated by distance and 11 years. (It was absolutely AWESOME!)
+ Went camping in the “Gorges” Ithaca, NY and had a blast.
+ Got a fantastic new laptop <3
+ Met some brilliant new people
+ Participated in & won a small local design competition.
+ Travelled to South Carolina to spend the holidays with my dear family.
+ Got accepted to Baking & Pastry school!!!

I have no idea what 2010 will hold, and I’ve learned that there are some things you just can’t control. But, this new year there’s a couple of things I’d like to do for myself, that could or should help me with anything that’s in store.

It’s time to get organized. Organize my space – organize my finances – organize my time – organize me life. Spaces to organize include my 1. my studio space 2. the kitchen 3. the bathroom 4. the bedroom. Probably in that order. It’s so important these days to get it together for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s so much easier to work and create in a clean and well organized space. Secondly, my very adventurous kitten will be less prone to accidently spilling / stepping on / jumping on / destroying something if it’s put away and tidy. Probably. I have no idea what I’ll need to do in the way of school work, but chances are being organized won’t hurt.

It’s time to turn up the music. Once upon a time I listened to music every free minute I had. It was entertaining, relaxing, and emotional. The loudest scream rock and the softest electronic rhythms struck chords in my mind and resonated throughout my days. It helped inspire and center me, and it’s something that I’m truly lacking these days. Ideally, I’d like to listen to something new (to me) each week.

Chances are I can’t afford to buy a new cd once a week but there’s the radio and artist websites and well, my friends & family’s recommendations. I’m looking at classics, new stuff, and everything in between. No genre should be left untouched. Thankfully, an iTunes gift card that I received for Christmas will be getting me started!

It’s time to put pen to paper. Keep a sketchbook. I had to do it in art school. I had to do it in high school. I had to do it in college. Any personal sketchbook that I’ve ever kept has been well used. Sure, the drive to draw comes and goes, but the more I draw, the more I’m driven to it. So I’m endeavoring to make at least two sketches a week. Perhaps while I’m listening to a new record! I’m not even requiring myself to make any special effort with a sketch. A simple line drawing is just as important to me as the most intensive painting. A doodle, a shaded drawing, a collage, a photograph with written commentary, a font-tastic entry. Anything. I’m sick of having great flashes of ideas and losing them over time without so much as jotting them down.

Ultimately I don’t think that any one of these things will dramatically change the course of my life, but I think it can definitely change the quality of it. Here’s hoping that maybe this year will be better than the last, and the more organized, sketch driven and musically aware version of myself is way more awesome. Hello 2010.

Greg & I ice skating on New Year’s Eve