MY 26 BEFORE 27 LIST

I've had these goals mostly figured out for a while now, but I'm finally posting them!  Sometimes I think I make too many serious goals and not enough "fluff" goals, kind of over-stretching myself goal-wise.  But I know I can always adjust mid-year if things seem totally un-doable.  Last year I realized mid-year that a couple of my goals didn't make much sense, but I did end up completing almost all of my goals!  I'll post a recap of how I did on my 25 before 26 list on Sunday.   I've mentioned some of these goals in passing already, such as my ethical clothing goal, fitness habit goal, and my 52 week photography project.  I think what I really want is for some of these not just to be one year goals, but more lifestyle shifts, so that at the end of the year, it's just become part of my lifestyle.  I think a lot of these goals are health related because of that.  I really enjoy the way I feel when I'm active, eating well, and fit.  And even though I'm only in my mid-twenties, I know that establishing a healthy lifestyle now will ultimately help me in the long run.  I've heard a couple ladies around the blogosphere talking about getting fit in order to have their bodies ready to have another kid, and while I never thought of that as a reason to be in good shape, it totally makes sense!  Dan & I aren't planning on trying for kids for a few years, but it makes so much sense to have strong and healthy body going into a pregnancy, so that's another good reason to care for my body!  

A lot of my goals are related to photography, which I'd really like to focus on this year.  I already use my camera on a daily basis for the blog, but sometimes I get stuck in a rut and find that I'm definitely not pushing myself to improve.  One thing I really want to do this year is to branch out and take on photography clients who aren't me.  I have a much higher standard for my work when I'm taking photos for someone else, which I know improves my work, so I'd like to do that a lot more.  I really love doing food photography, and I've been doing a few portrait sessions in the past couple months, and I'd like to increase those kinds of shoots in the coming year.  I have a ton to learn, and I know that pushing myself to work for clients, rather than myself, will help with that.