Again, we’re here closing another book in our lives, 2018. It was a weird year! I’ve been describing things as “weird” for more than 10 years. I’m about to be 30 this year and I don’t see that changing. But, really, it was weird! I had many different jobs, lived in 5 different places, fostered more than 10 animals, got more politically involved than I ever wanted to be (it gives me heartburn), traveled, experienced a Sisyphus of emotion with my family, hated and appreciated my trade, started working on my passions more consistently, become more confident but still ambivalent, loved like it was my last day on Earth, discovered many many new beers and things I love, got into cooking (wut!), started taking self-portraits again, came up with an art series I’m actually proud of, actually worked on my design skills (shocking!) and started my journey to be happy with my decisions.
I spent a long time thinking about what I wanted for myself this year. It waterfalled out of me like magic. It covers my desire to build on my strengths and need to obliterate my weaknesses. I get held back because of the crippling guilt I have for being myself, doubt, insecurity, procrastination, overloading, etc. But I am also inspired by nearly anything in this world! I need to harvest that.
- Complete my series “XYZ”
- Have a gallery show for “XYZ”
- Continue to work on my studio skills by taking portraits in my studio. Insert more meaning into my portraits by experimenting with foraged props, fabric, paint, and other recycled materials
- Open a print shop for my photographs
- Sell my paintings and take on more commissions
- Run analytics on my website to strategize better ways to grow
- Decorate my own home. Get a home first jaja
- Get a pet… a dog I guess, since someone is allergic to cats =P
- Let myself be happy more often than not. Focus on the positive, don’t let yourself feel bad about your failures, and be OK with the way people view you. Live for yourself; don’t be defined by someone else’s standards
- Start my 100 Things a Man Should Know project
- Work on making still lives for symbols that are close to my heart
- Come up with a new hobby, such as calligraphy (maybe, I have a lot to do)
- Write more. Re-read at the end of the month to analyze your strengths and weaknesses
- Create a product photography portfolio by practicing with brands you own
- Practice “Miracle Mornings”
- Spend less time wondering and feeling insecure and just create
- Create everyday
- Get my PMP certification
- Be present in all that I do. Enjoy every moment, don’t let the bad things define me
- Start shooting film. Buy a camera to start on eBay and learn how to develop at home
- Find brands to work with
- Shoot more still life with food and flowers
- Define my style as a painter and photographer. Set realistic goals every month
- Stop wasting. Try new methods of staying green
- Drink less alcohol, drink more water
- Be more comfortable with who you are
- Stay healthy and be more active
- Find a community of artists to stay inspired
- Save for a house
- Finish learning Portuguese
- Use the 1 Second a Day app
- Learn how to use Adobe Premiere Pro and make mini music videos
- Read more about photography and art history and keep up with the current trends as well as current prominent artists to be able to teach others. Find new techniques and share them through social media
- Buy cooking equipment to experiment more with cooking. Be adventurous in the kitchen all year long! Keep up with menu for the week to reduce wasting food
- Make more collages
- Forage and explore nature more with hikes and my new rollerblades
- Start a new project with Rigo
- Take a moment everyday to realize how lucky you are
- Take a class
- Come up with a better organization system for my photos so that I stop running out of space on my phone =P
- Create an art studio where I can paint and take pictures in a new home with Z
- Re-decorate my mom’s room and mother in law’s guest room
- Wake up earlier!
- Go to Big Sur
- Road trip to Arizona
- Take a hot air balloon ride w/ Z
- Celebrate 7 years together in SD
- Go on safari
- Make soup every week
- Build a dark room
- Print photos every month
- Take the train to new cities
- Work on my food photography
- Learn about pictorialism
- Go to more museums to educate myself
- Work hard on growing our business. Make CBD a priority!!
- Spend more time with my nieces
- Be my NYC niece pen pal and send a thank you painting to my NYC family
- Take photos with my instant camera
- Illustrate a children’s book with Jessica
- Go to New York City to visit my family
- Watch my sister graduate college in Dominican Republic
- Go on a mom and daughter trip
- Help more immigrants
- Get involved more with animals
