A new season is upon us. December 31st is a day of reflection for me. Here is my New Year’s Resolutions list from last year, and brief updates of each item. A new list shall be birthed on the morrow, the first day of 2008. You don’t understand how excited I am about next year’s list.

————————————————————————

hello, 2007. we should be friends. (And some updates)

• walk more. (√ - I walk approx. 15 blocks every day in Seattle.)
• keep your ‘90 honda with a moon roof mildly clean. he deserves it after all he does for you. (un√ - I bet I kept this resolution maybe for 5 days.)
• see 20 sun rises and write down first thought that comes to mind immediately after sun cracks the horizon. (un√ - Good intentions. Poor execution.)
• take more photographs. (√ and double √ - I feel as though I learned a lot this year in regards to photography. It’s good to look back in my archives over the year and see how I’ve changed and grown.)
• give more photographs away. to friends. to strangers. (√ - Lauren was the final recipient. She liked this one.)
• make more lists. this is a helpful step, even if the list is not always looked at/completed. (1/2√ - room for improvement)
• write out one verse every week in order to memorize. put on paper. put on dashboard. read while driving. (un√ - but a plan is being devised to achieve a form of this next year)
• get off your computer more. yes, the internet is neat, but it will most likely be there tomorrow. (both √ & un√ - I went through seasons.)
• learn to be silent. (√ - a very valuable practice)
• read the new testament. (un√ - sadly)
• write everything/anything you want in your graph paper moleskine (pronounced mol-a-skeen-a according to wikipedia). quotes. thoughts. ideas. drawings. insert photographs. quit only using it when you think what you’re writing/drawing is perfect or worthy or artistic. that’s ridiculous. no one else cares and you’re not impressing anyone with it. so stop it. (√ - I love my little notebook. I have 3 new ones for next year, and I am going to get the soon-to-be-released Seattle City Notebook. Hooray and hooray.)
• shoot medium format more. (un√ - expensive, but I would like to shoot/invest more)
• always have at least one (read: four) cameras within 30 yards of wherever you are at any given moment. (√ - it was worth getting made fun of by people at times. “Why do you always have that camera with you.”)
• listen to teachings by more people than just rob bell. (√)
• while in conversation, don’t just wait for your turn to talk. listen. use the phrase tell me more far more often. (√√√√ - Mars Hill Grad School, I had no idea.)
• mail one polaroid to will in new jersey every tuesday. don’t take the polaroid on tuesday just to get it done and sent. take time with your composition. (1/2√ - completed, but not as consistent as I would have liked to have been)
• be more intentional with your piano lessons. quit stalling. (un√ - I regret this.)
• pick up hitchhikers every opportunity that you get. (very √ - So many stories to tell)
• be consistent with to write with light. (un√, but √ - un√ because I deleted it ((someone took over the domain)), but √ because Flickr picked up steam.)
• buy pens with clicky tops, not twisty bottoms. (So √ - There is no other option.)
  
• when (if) you move to seattle, be yourself. don’t try to be someone else or try to be hip just because people don’t know you. be yourself. everyone will see right through you anyway. (√ - more than you know. Again Mars Hill, I blame/thank you.)
• listen to and read more n.t. wright, even when you’re completely lost. (√)
• run at least 1 ultra marathon. (un√ - Last one I ran was on Dec. 31st of ‘06)
• remember that life is not fueled on the validation of others. you are ok. remember that. (√ - more and more)
• start classes at mars hill grad school. enjoy it. (√ - I thank God daily that I am there. Sometimes.)
• kneel more. bow more. value reverence. remember that you’re very, very small. (both √ & un√)
• lead with a limp. (√?)
• learn to take a true sabbath every week. (un√ - Wow was I running on empty at times)
• read books outside of your typical genre. read more novellas, because you like the word novella. it’s like an itty bitty novel. so cute. (√ - Favorite book of the year)
• take off the headphones more often while in cafes. (√ - They were stolen. That helped.)
• embrace singlehood. it’s a unique season. don’t view it as negative, but rather use it well. there will be no other season in life like it. (√ - I think)
• become more of a lead worshipper as opposed to a worship leader. lead by example. admit mistakes. seek humility. (√ at times, un√ more often)
• live on less. (√ish)
• climb mount rainier. (un√ - Next year?)
• camp in yosemite. take photographs. look at photographs. wish you were ansel adams. (un√ - Missed it on my road trip out west. One day…)
• again…remember: you’re going to be ok. (√ - still true)
• keep creating. keep creating. keep creating. (√ √ and definitely √)
• be honest with God. very honest. He’ll like that. (√ishkindofsorof)

———————————————-

As I look over this list I feel pretty good about the things I wanted to do and how I went about them. 2007 was a good year. Tomorrow, we start over.