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This year is a milestone year for me. I turn fifty this year. It has been a mounting feeling of panic and dread as 2011 came to a close. I always thought fifty was so old and now....well, here it is right in my face front and center.
In December, I decided this would be a good year to actually celebrate a milestone instead of letting the doom and gloom of feeling like time is running out take over my very being. And trust me when I say that would be oh so easy to do. That is just really how I deal with uncomfortable things. The gloomy will take control if I allow it. But not this year.
I purchased a journal while out Christmas shopping and started January 1st writing something each and every day. This is a new concept for me, so I really am having to force myself to write in there and yea....you are right it is only day four!!
I also decided to log a perpetual calendar. This was super simple to put together with just some note cards, a date stamp (purchased online) and a box to hold the cards. The idea here is that the calendar sits on your desk and each day has a card. Each day you can write a note, a little memory, or a quote and then move the card to the back of the stack revealing the next days card. Year after year you can add new notes to each days card, while also reflecting on the notes and messages you left for yourself from years past. ( I wish I had started this a few years ago...but then again, I am turning 50 this year, so it is as good of time to start than any)
And lastly, I decided to document a year in photos and called it The Coloradolady Project 365. Taking a single photo each day for one year. I added a new blog just for this. Made a new button which is on my sidebar. Clicking it will take you there. At the end of the year, I plan on turning these daily photos into a book to serve as a reminder of this milestone year.
Ambitious? Maybe since I don't normally do these types of things. But I think it is totally worth a little time out of my day to do this at least this one year. I have found so far it only takes about 10 minutes from start to finish to do this and well....we all can find 10 minutes out of our day.....or at least I can.
What about you?? Do you do something like this already? Have you ever thought about doing a project like this...maybe not all three at once, but one or the other? What's holding you back?? It is only day four into the new year...and well.....we all know bloggers take photos daily....so it is not too late to get started. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I have lots of friends turning 50 this year as well.....its not too late to get started!!
A Great Idea. I once read a diary that my Grandmother had written in 1955. It was Fascinating to read. Someday someone will read what you wrote. I like the perpetual calendar idea. and the picture a day...I might try those.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds great,and a good time to start,it's a bit late for me to do that,but I already make little notes regularly. I keep a note book next to my comfy chair and write down all sorts of ideas and things I want to remember.
ReplyDeletex jeanetteann
These are great ideas. I think people in general don't take the time to do this type of thing. We just let life pass us by at warped speeds and nothing is savored for anyone to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great plan for this year! It will be treasured in years to come. Thanks for the inspiration.
I keep my call wall calendars, my collection goes back to 1983. On 4 Jan. 2006, my friend from Germany, Karla, was visiting for a few days. I used to keep diaries, but threw most of them out in 2010 when I realized I kept a lot of hard feelings written down. Diaries can be used for good or bad. I sometimes write things on my calendar, or put smiley faces, or describe a day - but there's not lots of commentary. Just a reminder to me and mine of what we were doing when.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge believer in journaling. Originally I had hoped to do something of this sort by blogging but discovered I was not ready to share my honest experiences, deepest emotions and every day thoughts with the world in perpetuity so I do have "secret" journals and letters written to whoever finds them once I am dead.
ReplyDeleteI find it a wonderful thing to do and hope after I am gone they will prove interesting to someone else as well.
What great ideas, Suzanne! In 2009, I started uploading all my photos daily, into dated folders with a little blurb about what they included in the folder name. At the end of the year, I put all those daily folders into an inclusive folder for the year. It makes it very nice to go back and find a specific photo or event. :)
ReplyDeleteYears ago, when my children were still little, I wrote in a Prayer journal every day. I like your idea of a picture every day. I have signed up to follow :-)
ReplyDeleteJocelyn @
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/
What a fabulous idea Suzanne! You have inspired me to think about doing the same sorts of things. I wish I had done them the year that I turned 50 (2004) as my birthday is in December, so I would have had all the year's info and photos etc. Just love it!
ReplyDeleteHugs n Blessings from Sue in Oz xx
What a fabulous idea! I wish I had thought of something like that for my 60th year...this year I turn 62 and so I just might join you for at least one of these projects. I need some reflections on this coming year I think. Hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne, I didn't remember that your name was also Suzanne!! Your idea is a good one! I know what you mean about the gloomies. Turning 50 (did so a few years ago...) was not too hard, but menopause sure threw a kink into it! I started taking SamE this past year every once in a while, and it sure helped chase some of the gloomies away!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
I totally love the idea of a perpetual calendar! What a great idea. I may start one for myself.
ReplyDeleteI did "Patch 365" from 12-23-08 to 12-22-09, documenting our first married year. I have all the photos and journaling done, just slowly putting together weekly scrapbook pages to print it out. I never would have thought to photograph our marriage license with the Social Security paperwork to change my name if I wasn't doing that and it's a really neat photo to have!
A milestone year is a perfect year to document that way. Best of luck to you!
DogsMom - I have a private journal too! I consider my blog to be "The Chronicles of Nani Public" and the full Chronicles is on my hard drive with private entries in addition to copies of my blog entries. No one has read the "whole story." :)
ReplyDeleteI have kept written journals for years as well as make notes on my daytimers that I file away "just in case I need to look something up" & I still do the Simple Abundance way of coming up with 5 things each day that I accomplished or made the day memorable - actually I turned it into 6 things because I don't like uneven numbers but don't tell the author! This year, with my new blog, my plan is to document our lives. So far, so good but as I get more comfortable wtih this process, I think my posts will become longer and more meaningfull beyond what we bought at the charity shop.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 50th this year. It is also mine (oooh, I said that one out loud for the first time) and looking forward to this new milestone. And having fun telling people "I'm 50!"
Chy
Good luck with your projects. It's good that you're starting now because I just turned 66 and know I'd end up forgetting to take a photo or write in a journal at least every other day. You have to do these things while you're young and only going on 50. The picture of that sky was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt is a little late for me to start a journal. But, I do right on a calendar a lot of things that I have referred back to. To hope my blogs will be of value someday to my family. It has been kinda a way of preserving part of my life. Nothing to exciting tho.
ReplyDeleteI love your perpetual calendar idea. I'm going to start one, even though I've past my milestone year, lol! I've just started jotting notes in a desk calendar so I can switch this now.
ReplyDelete