Those Pesky New Year's Resolutions

I'm pretty bad at keeping my New Year's resolutions.

Go to the gym every day? Ehh, I'd rather sit here on the couch and...exercise my eyelids.

Eat healthier? Oh, look! A block of cheese! ALL FOR ME.

Keep in better touch with friends? *Distracted by shiny things* *Feels guilty*

Hmm.

But I really have been trying to keep my resolution for 2012, which is to find more peace in my life.

Namely...

To stop and breathe when I get overwhelmed and to be grateful for the things I have
To speak up, to communicate, whenever I get frustrated/angry/sad instead of bottling things up
To spend quality time with the ones I love and to delve into new activities that make me happy
To enjoy my writing--'cause what a fun profession it can be!--instead of dwelling on my failings

So, lately, I've been trying to figure out photography. It's a hobby I've wanted to take up for years and, yes, I've become one of those annoying people who tote around my camera wherever I go. Still, I like being annoying! And I love capturing moments of daily life--moments that would flutter away otherwise.

{My fab friend Allie and me}
{Eating lunch with my dad and grandma}

Not the best photographs art-wise! But these pictures show the people I love so that's what counts, right?

I've been lucky enough to spend time with my best friend Allison in the last couple weeks. We met on the first day of seventh grade (I was the new girl at school) and we've been crazy, giggly friends ever since. Nowadays, Allie lives in San Francisco but we get to see each other a couple times a year, which I look forward to more than Cadbury Mini Eggs. (And I have a deep abiding love for Cadbury Mini Eggs!)

I've also been spending more time with my paternal grandmother, my NaiNai. She's turning 89 this year and she isn't as as mobile as she used to be. So...she wants to hire me as her maid! Haha, isn't that hilarious? I would never let my grandma pay me for housekeeping--I mean, she changed my diapers as a kid!--but I still chuckle at the notion.

Anyway, I know I have a lot of room for growth when it comes to my 2012 New Year's resolution but I'm trying to keep at it--and I think it's making a difference. At least, I'm feeling the difference.

Yay for peace and friends and grandmas!