I. can’t. believe. 2009. is. already. over!

2009 has been an amazing, crazy, high-speed, no-holds-barred whirlwind of a year, and I’m thankful for almost every minute of it (Hey, no one is thankful for strep throat)! January 1st is always extra special to me because it is my birthday, but it’s also the day of the proverbial fresh start. For some people, it’s just another day, but for me and millions of others, it’s a way to brush off the dust of troubles past, step forward into new light and start over. Anyone can do this any day, but this symbolic renewal is invigorating and revitalizing for me. The beginning of a new calendar, the freshness of the cold winter air, and the fact that I’ve got a support group of millions of people across the globe doing the same thing is stimulating. The fact that my birthday is the same day makes it even more so!!!

That said, I’m not a huge believer in New Year’s resolutions, as they are usually pledged. I believe in constant self-observation and self-improvement all year long. I don’t believe in waiting until the New Year to begin any sort of program or take action to benefit your situation in life. I don’t believe in using New Year’s Day as the day to implement a myriad of decrees and firm declarations for your life that are impossible to uphold. I don’t believe in disappointing yourself and feeling like a failure if things in your life don’t live up to your New Year’s expectations. What I do believe is using this time to shake off troubles that you have no control over, examine the troubles in your life that you do have control over, and think of ways to improve things in your life that you aren’t 100% happy with.

Here are some quotes I love about New Year’s Day and resolutions:

Aisha Elderwyn
“Every new year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself.”

Benjamin Franklin
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.”

So here are my New Year’s Declarations – what I hope to accomplish or even just some steps I wish to take in 2010. Many of these are goals that I set for myself every year, and plan on having for the rest of my life.

• Form an even closer spiritual relationship with God – I have so much to be thankful for, and it’s no coincidence.
• Develop a partnership between my photography business and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They are an amazing organization, and don’t waste a dime of the money that is so generously given to them. You can still give today for tax-deductible donations for 2009. Just go to the website and click on the link. They use volunteers, and don’t send out paper mailers unless necessary in order to save money and use it all for research.
• Become a better photographer – this goal will always be here. I will never stop learning. I will never stop striving to improve my passion in both the artistic and technical aspects.
• Make more time for relaxation – 2009 went by so fast in part because I didn’t stop long enough to look around and get some rest! 🙂 I am going to do my best to try to relax a little in 2010 and spend more times with friends and family.
• Get married! My wedding date is March 20, 2010 – and I will be marrying my love. We’ve been together 8 years, and that day will be the 9 year anniversary of the day we met. 🙂 I’m excited!

There are countless other things that are spinning through my head, but it’s not in list form at the very moment. Suffice it to say, you will be seeing me around plenty, and I invite you along for the ride! I am so thankful to my friends, family and my clients for being such an awesome support to me through everything. I couldn’t do it without you!

So, to end 2009 – THANK YOU. I wish you the most heartfelt of best wishes this coming year. I hope to see and hang out with all of you. Don’t forget to create memories, and I hope to be a part of many of them!!! Take a look below at some of the memories that 2009 has created through Stephanie Snyder Photography:

Here’s to an amazing 2010!!!