Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new year, and also my birthday! I’m always excited on New Year’s Eve, because the new year always holds so many possibilities and promise, and also gives a marker for a fresh start in so many areas of life.

As I approach another birthday, I honestly don’t feel sad or panicked at the thought of growing older, or leaving my 20s behind. I think it’s because I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and more thankful and grateful than I’ve ever been. I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished so far, and I’m looking forward to continuing that trend! This is just my opinion, but I truly believe that the biggest accomplishments are within yourself, and have nothing to do with material things. Have you grown as a person? Have you recognized certain trends and behaviors that you want to change, and have you changed them? Have you set and met reasonable goals for yourself, and have you stopped beating yourself up over the goals you haven’t met?

As I approach the New Year, I feel blessed to be able to look back and see how amazing this past year has been.  The people I’ve met, the fun I’ve had, the emotions I’ve experienced during good and bad times, and the events I have photographed have made such an impression on my life. I have been given so many blessings. I was able to marry the man I love in front of all my family and friends, I adopted a new kitty, I met two new adorable babies (Ellie and Audrey), I took on multiple home remodeling projects, I traveled halfway around the world to Hawaii, I completed a Network Plus certification class and begun my certification for Certified Professional Photographer through the PPA, I’ve booked photo shoots and weddings, and so much more.

What’s most important about all of these things is the people who have been by my side the entire way. Otman, who has steadily become my anchor when things do get rough, my parents, who have been there for me every day of my entire life, my sister, who’s always a cheerleader,  and my friends who know that friendship is more than just having a sidekick – it’s about having a family you get to choose.

I’m drafting many new goals I want to accomplish in 2011 and beyond, and I’ll definitely share some with you. I’m outlining my business plan and focusing on where I want to go. The main theme for all of my goals and my life is faith. Faith that everything happens for a reason, and I need to pay attention to my reactions and the repercussions of those actions. Faith that as long as I have faith, things will work out.

2011 Business Goals

1. Continue to focus on people

2. Continue providing the best customer service – always be there for my clients in any way I can

3. Continue offering the newest products – what’s the fun in having gorgeous family photos if they aren’t displayed?

4. Work harder, but smarter!

5. Stay passionate by doing more personal art projects – keep the creativity flowing

6. Get more involved and help out the community with my photography – promo photos for a charity organization or something along that realm

7. Never stop learning

8. Sell my personal landscapes as canvases – limited edition prints

– These are just what came off the top of my head as I am writing this blog post. I have so many more goals swirling around my noggin, but they are wispy like clouds, and I need time to define them and make them concrete.

I know now more than ever that I was meant to live the life I’m living. I’m in love with my life and the people in it. I’ve learned so much, but I’m so excited, because I have so much more to learn – about everything under the sun. That’s what makes life exciting.

To summarize everything in one single phrase: I’m grateful.

I’m so blessed, and I want to share it. For those of you I haven’t met yet, I am so excited to meet you! For all of you who have been in my life, thank you for helping me become the person I am today.

I’m happy and eager to face all the possibilities and opportunities the prospective year will bring, and I’m so thankful to be sharing it with you.

See you next year!

Love,

Stephanie

P.S. No blog post looks good without a picture, so here’s a shot of Dexter from last night. Doesn’t it look like he’s looking forward into the New Year, too?  🙂

What about you? How do you feel about 2010? What are your goals for 2011, or are you just going to play it by ear? My type-A personality won’t allow that for myself! 🙂

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South Carolina Wedding Photographer, Portrait Photographer and Boudoir Photographer
For more creative and interesting photography, please visit http://www.stephaniesnyderphotography.com!