Day 3

Just a short check in tonight to say I'm workin' on it.

Busy with shopping and stationary design tonight.  Lots of photos to download and gifts to make.

Busy, busy, busy!

Whooohoooo- Day 2

A Challenge Can Be Reassuring
Well, here I am again. There is something reassuring about knowing that I have set this time aside each day. It takes away some of the wonder about what I should do when I get home after work. Should I clean, should I watch tv, should I stop at the store on the way home? 
NO! I am going home to take care of the dogs, have a small, but healthy dinner and I am going to allow myself the pleasure of focusing on learning how to do "blog" things and to enjoy the creativity of working with my photography and publishing software.  And writing, I really do love writing. Then somewhere during the evening I will spend time with my husband and daughter.
Now, sooner or later, I will have to do some cleaning, laundry, holiday shopping, and all the other things that make my house a home. And I am ok with that. For now, I am grateful that somehow my evening is less chaotic with this blog and business time specfically set aside to focus on the 21 Day Challenge.

Less Reassuring
Earlier tonight I spent time on the online blog class. I confess I am still overwhelmed with the notion of setting up a self-hosted blog. I am not quite there, yet. I have to wonder if a hands on class is what I need. I have no real technical background to glean from.  Perserverence will have to be the word for this part of blogging.

Other Progress Today
I figured I would be working on my photography and stationary more over the next 21 days and now there is no doubt. A dear friend has just put in an order for some holiday gifts. I am so excited! I am thrilled to be able to create something for a friend and I am thankful that now I can't put it aside, which I might be inclined to do if there was no one waiting for it.

I spent time during the day looking at other blogs again. There are so many wonderfully creative people out there. I feel slightly intimidated and also hopeful. I know that I cannot be them, nor should I be. I see that there are so many different styles and I will find my own. (especially if I can figure out how to self-host and design blogs or at least find someone who can see my vision).

And Tomorrow
Tomorrow I begin to work on designing my friend's gifts, continue reading and/or class, and remain open to my next step.

...Go! Day 1

Today is Day 1 of my

21 Day Challenge to do something every day for blog and business. It is also my husband's birthday. So my word and focus for today is committment, with a little bit of "presence" thrown in.

"Committment" because I choose to honor my committment to my challenge AND also to spend time with my husband to celebrate his birthday.
"Presence" because I am trying to "be present" and give my full attention to whatever I am doing. That is not always an easy thing to do when I have put so much on my agenda.

So a full day of work at my 9-5, an evening of pizza and birthday cookies with husband, daughter, and granddaughter, and now... my challenge.

My goal tonight is not to write an amazing post, although I wish I could. My goal is simply to be here and to write as a first step toward creating a habit of daily activity. And, I will read Chapter Four, Blog Writing, from Problogger before I go to bed.

I have an idea hatching about tomorrow night's post, but it is a little too philosophical for me tonight and I need to think it out. My plan for Day 2 is to make a blog post and to begin working on some photo stationary designs for a friend who is giving them as holiday gifts.

Stay tuned!

Prepping for My 21 Day Challenge

My 21 Day Challenge

Well, I was supposed to begin my 21 day challenge for blog and business a week ago when I returned from being out of town. I returned on Sunday, slept all day Monday, worked 10 hours each on Tuesday and Wednesday, then came Thanksgiving and the weekend. Which all brings me to today. I am not looking back and feeling bad about putting this off. I am just beginning on a different date.

My challenge will be December 1 through December 21--- 21 days. I have spent time thinking about how to define this challenge and think it will have to remain somewhat undefined. This is not meant to be evasive, it's just that there is so much that can be done. There are two things I can define though. One is that I have to blog each night about what has been done that day. The second is that I will spend at least one hour daily doing whatever I do.

Some options for activities during this challenge include, and are not limited to;
*writing a blog post, other than just a report of the daily activity
*working on my online blog class
*creating photo stationary
*creating a web page or some type of online store
*creating another blog
*finalizing my business name
*reading at least one other blog daily

So there you have it. My goal for this, my first 21 day challenge, is to develop a habit of doing something every day with the belief that even an hour a day will move me forward toward my real goal of a successful blog and business.

So stay tuned, and consider joining me in creating your own 21 day challenge. Is there something you would like to see more progress in? Tell me about it.

Part of composing a great picture in photography

is by focusing on your subject

and

eliminating the clutter in the scene.

It's not just what you get in the shot,

it's also what you keep out of it.

~ ~ ~

Part of composing a well lived life

is by focusing on what is important to you

and

eliminating the clutter.

It's not just what you keep in your life,

it's also what you keep out.
~ ~ ~
I am taking a little time to visit wild places.

To just "BE" and marvel at the wonder of life and nature.

Somehow, when I return from such places,

I am more whole, less cluttered.

better enabled to live well
and

focus on what is important

to create the picture of my life

that is consistant with my vision for it.

It's all part of my creative proces.

~ ~ ~

How do you focus on what is important?

How do you keep the clutter out-

or de-clutter if clutter has crept in?

Blog School

This is just a quick "check in" post to track my efforts to do something every day for blog and business.  I have been looking at my pictures and taking some new ones when the moment and opportunity hit me.  In addition, I have been thinking up phrases I might use with the photos on stationary or a card.  That has been fun.


I have also been thinking about what/when I might begin my first real blog. Remember, this one is for practice and for tracking my progress for blog and business.  Problem is, I have become sort of stuck with this blog because it is more of a personal blog and not the kind I will likely begin and so there are things I have not tried here. There is more I would like to learn before I proceed.  I want to make the right impression the first time and do it right so I am stalled. So tonight I began going to online blog school.  No, really.  I have read some books, but I really like being able to hear and see someone explain how to do things,even if it is on video. Thanks ProBlogger.net, I am excited about this chance and hope it will help me to the next step.