my word for 2013

I was checking out Facebook yesterday and came across a contest by Horsefeathers Gifts and decided to go for it.  I was to choose a word for 2013 that will inspire, motivate, and /or simply remind me of what I hope to accomplish this year.  I have never thought of doing this and am now going to make it a yearly occurrence.  I am using it as a form of the typical New Year’s Resolutions.

I started out with a few words and what they meant to me but none of them really stuck.   I then decided to go to my good buddy Google and looked up inspirational words.  There were so many to choose from but my mind kept going back to STRENGTH.

As I stared at the word its meaning began to take shape and I realized that I had found my word for 2013.  This contest made me look into myself and what I need to do this year.

I was chosen as one of the winners with this post…

“Strength is my word this year. I need strength to balance family and photography; strength to market myself without hesitation; strength to not give up when I feel defeated; strength to persevere; strength to maintain my health and wellness.”

Break it down!

Strength to balance family and photography

This is definitely not one of my strong points.  I used to teach a class on time management so you would think that I would be great at keeping it all moving smoothly.  Not so much.  I tend to go to the computer to edit images or peruse FB to see what other photographers are up to on any given day.  The kids are in the same room but my back is usually to them.  I tend to get a bit obsessive with projects and can’t stop once the ideas start taking over.    This year I will find the strength to stop and spend time with Paul and the kids.

Strength to market myself without hesitation

I can market anyone out there like there is no tomorrow.  I will get your name out there and everyone will know who you are and what you do.  For some reason I can’t do this for myself.  I just always feel that by doing so I am somehow full of myself and telling everyone that I am the better choice.  It just always seemed so egotistical.  I need the strength to get past my preconceived notions and market my business and my love of what I do.

Strength to not give up when I feel defeated

I don’t know about you but I know that when I feel defeated I just want to curl up in a ball and hide away.  Everyone’s idea of being defeated is different so I will give you a couple of examples of my idea of defeat.  I feel defeated when my intentions are not perceived as they were meant.  I am pretty straight forward but I am quite often misunderstood.  I will find the strength to just let go of those who continually undermine me and spread untruths.  I will not let them defeat me anymore.  My biggest feeling of being defeated lately is by my own body.  I have been diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and the pain has gotten the better of me emotionally and physically recently.  I will not let this defeat me.

Strength to persevere

This is where this all starts to intertwine.  I have started trying to strengthen my core to combat the DDD.  There are many times that I just want to stop and hope for the best.  I cannot allow that to happen!  I have to keep it up, not only for myself but for my family and business.  I also must strengthen my resolve to persevere when I feel like everyone is doing their best to silence me.  I will continue to persevere.

Strength to maintain my health and wellness

I have always been horrible at staying healthy.  For starters I am a finicky eater and the good stuff is not on my list of foods.  Except for the occasional migraine I have managed to stay relatively healthy this year.  My back pain really intensified once we arrived here at Fort Irwin.  I’m not sure if the dry air has anything to do with it since we have lived in humid areas for the past few years but something has got to give.  My mind, body, and spirit will get me through the tough times we all have to face at one time or another.

I will find my strength!