Halfway check-in

I never really thought of June 30 as milestone, but a number of my favorite bloggers' recent posts looking back on the first half of the year have got me thinking that this might be a good time for a check-in myself.

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2011, Part I

When I started this blog, I mentioned 3 big goals for the year:

1. I want to run a marathon
2. I want to write a blog
3. I want to stop procrastinating so much

I have been blogging for almost three months -- woo-hoo! And 3 months in, I have to say I really love it. It is harder than it looks and a LOT more time-consuming, but ultimately so much fun. I have learned a lot about myself and this great blogging community, I have been perpetually inspired, and hopefully I have shared a few things that made others smile, or laugh, or think. I knew that I would be making some life changes this year, and I wanted a blog as a place to collect my thoughts along the way. But a funny thing happened...writing my blog and reading many others have actually inspired a lot of the changes that are happening. Chicken? Egg? I don't know, but I'm loving it!

I definitely haven't fixed my procrastination problem, but I'm not giving up yet. My marathon training is really half marathon training at this point (baby steps!) and it is going slowly. I began the year WANTING to become a runner and train for a race, and I guess my progress report mid-way through 2011 is that I KNOW I can do it. It's not a question of if, it's just a matter of when. That's a nice feeling.

2011, Part II

There are GOOD things coming later this year, I know it. I don't have a lot of details yet, but there are at least 8-12 Lovely Life List items in my sights right now -- by the end of the year, I am going to have a lot of crossing off to do. And that is CRAZY to me. A dozen dreams coming true... I can hardly wait!

And what is even more amazing is that I'll make all of it happen myself. I had goals, I made plans, I dealt with obstacles, and still I kept going. Henry Miller said, "We create our fate every day we live". I'm ready for the fate that I'm creating for myself.

I'll have news about bigger plans soon, but for now I'm excited about tackling this item:

Learn how to use all of the features of my DSLR and be a photography rock star

This week I'm starting my Photo 101 class courtesy of Nicole's Classes, and I can't wait! When it comes to photography, I think I have a pretty good eye and I know I have a decent camera, I just need to know how to make both work a little better for me. 

I've never taken any kind of online class before, so I'm kind of intrigued by the whole process. And I am so excited to have better photos -- of my vacations and adventures, of Audrey the Dog, and of course of all things blog-related. 

I'm looking forward to a great weekend, and a great rest of 2011! How are you feeling about the year so far? Have you achieved the goals you set out for yourself, and are you excited about the next six months? You guys inspire me all the time, I'd love to hear what you've got planned!