Tidbits

After celebrating the warmth and wonder of Christ's birth, it's always hard for me to say goodbye to the Christmas season. But, even if it's to a lesser degree, there's something pretty great about celebrating the new year. That's because this is a natural time of reflection...a time to think about choices made and changes to be made.

For me, this past year has been one of exciting growth. Although there have been many areas of growth, I especially feel that it's been in the area of relating to people. I've gotten better at being open and honest about myself. I also think that this year I've become a better talker. As a naturally introverted person, I can tell a lot about people just because I'm detailed and have a designer's observant nature. However, this year, I've improved my question asking skills...I've been less afraid to ask all kinds of questions in order to try to find out more about others. These skills have also made me a better designer, because I won't assume that I know what a client's thinking, but will instead ask him or her to explain it.

Anyway, in looking to the new year...

• I'm REALLY excited about learning how to use our new SLR camera! I can't wait to take some pictures and post them for y'all to see.
  
  
• I have several exciting ideas for new marketing strategies, including both an online venture and a cool brochure idea.
  
  
• Improve my time management skills. To help with this, I designed a beautiful, personalized cover page and put together a three-ring binder with different sections for short- and long-term to dos as well as for several other categories I'm planning to spend a lot of time on.
  
  
• Spend more time investing in others. This may take a variety of forms, but I'm looking forward to God's leading in this area. Investing in people is SUCH a blessing and has way more than monetary benefits.
  
  
• Speaking of money, I want to look into options for investing in the stock market this coming year. I've had an interest in Wall Street dealings for many years and think the time is right for me to do some investing of my own. I'll keep you posted.
  
  

So, my friends, enjoy this New Year's Eve. May I leave you and the year 2011 with the words from 2 Corinthians 5:17:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.