February 2014 Goals
I love February. I took this photograph of one of my favorite marriage quotes in hopes to remind myself what love is really about. This is the month we celebrate love! We go on dates, we buy gifts, we embrace romance and butterflies and getting dressed up for one another. But if we are honest, love is more than butterflies and romance. It is selflessness and work. It is sacrifice and victories. It is doing all that you can to make your spouse the person he or she is meant to be. It is making time to nurture your relationship even when you don’t feel like it – the other 11 months of the year included. I do love this quote and I do love February because it causes all of us to stop and evaluate our relationships, and that is a good thing.
Do you know why else I love February? This quote says it better than I can:
“If January is the month of change, February is the month of lasting change. January is for dreamers… February is for doers -”
– [Marc Parent / Runner’s World Mag]
That quote hit me like a ton of bricks as I was reading Runner’s World this month. Isn’t it GOOD? It’s just the kick in the pants I needed as I begin this month. Last year, Will and I did the Whole30 in January. This year, we have done our own variation of the Whole30, and have abstained from processed food, sugar and grains all month. Yes, we have talked quite a bit about how nice it would be to eat a warm piece of bread, some oatmeal, a mug of hot chocolate and various desserts. But I don’t want to just dive back into my “old ways,” you know? What’s the point of all this sacrifice if it doesn’t lead to lasting change?
One of my 2014 goals I wrote out in my Powersheets is this:
I want to take care of my body. I want to be fit, skinny and strong: a woman who runs distances and isn’t afraid of a little pain. I want to eat food that fuels me – full of nutrition. I don’t want to be like our culture. I want to lead by example.
If January is the month of change, February is the month of lasting change. I’m certainly embracing that this month! I’m the kind of person who needs defined boundaries in order to make something work, so in regards to my health, I’m striving this year to limit my desserts to once or twice a week. (Says the girl who has a major sweet tooth and used to eat something sweet at least once a day.) So I’m determined to break my bad habit of reaching for sugar every day, and replace it with the habit of reaching for a glass of lemon water, or an apple, or my favorite green peach tea. I’m also determined to stay consistent with my strength training workouts 2-3x/week, and my pilates DVDs as well. The only way to kick a bad habit is to replace it with a good habit! This is MY YEAR to break these habits for good.
Healthy eating isn’t my only goal this month, as you might have guessed! I’m focusing a lot on getting the studio in order before wedding season officially begins with our first wedding of the year on 2/22. Here are my goals for this month!
February Goals
20 in 2014: Read Rich Dad Poor Dad & Paid to Speak
Organize and streamline ShootQ
Begin Intern hiring process (If you’re interested, stay tuned! And please – don’t email me quite yet!)
Buy and sell lenses, cameras and computers. Time for a studio and equipment refresh!
Install Drobo and get it up and running
Go on a date with Will and think up something creative for him. (We’ve decided not to buy each other gifts this Valentine’s day, but rather do something meaningful for each other.)
Speak at the WPR Roots Workshop alongside our friends Geoff & Cheyenne (aka The Schultzes)
Decide on gym membership
Line up Winston-sitters and reserve rental equipment before wedding season starts
Take a Calligraphy Class
Order personal photos to fill frames in our home
Implement new workflow after the first NRP wedding of the year
Take photos of us one weekend – just for fun
Finish leading The Legacy Journey at church
Be true to my new healthy lifestyle, especially in regards to eating dessert once or twice a week
What goal or area of your life do you want to implement lasting change? I’d love to hear it!