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Are you looking for motivation in the New Year? Trying to find a way to stick with your New Year Resolution each and every day? One way to insure that you will take small daily steps toward achieving your dream, resolution and daily goals is to take a class, or a series of classes throughout the year. A class about the dream of your choice will help you to expand your creative and intellectual horizons, learn something new, introduce you to folks who share your passion, and help to provide a structure for your daily, weekly and monthly action plans.

I recently pulled out a journal from 1994. I decided in 1994 to get serious about my long-held passion for photography. Practicing my craft - serious professional photography - is one of my Lifetime Resolutions, a dream that has been with me since childhood. Photography is one of my gifts. Like writing, it makes my spirit soar, keeps me energized, makes me happy. I love picking up my cameras and heading out on a shoot - whether for work, or my personal fine art interests. It's all the same. Once I have my camera in hand I can go for hours and hours. I slip into the 'zone', a pretty blissful place. I enjoy the journey as much as the destination - pointing my camera, framing my shot and and pushing the right buttons, all the way to making the final image in the darkroom, or on my computer in Adobe Photoshop. I enjoy the journey as much today as I did as a kid with a tiny Brownie Camera.

My point: Back in 1994 I made a decision to get serious about my passion, my dream, and to make photography part of the eventual business that I would build. My first step was to make an initial decision to 'go for it'. My second step was to define specifically what I wanted to do; then I got busy with my research and developed a long-range-plan and a short-range plan, so I could take small daily steps toward achievement.

One of the first things I did was join the Smithsonian Insitution's Open Darkroom Program in Washington, DC where I lived and worked. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The Smithsonian is first-rate and its instructors are fabulous. They taught me more than words can convey and the people who participate in Saturday Open Darkroom are passionistas like me. I have made countless photography friends over the years. I say "friends" because of the camaraderie we developed over pans of chemicals in the darkroom, and during our shooting 'fieldtrips', but also because of the good times shared outside our photography interests. These dear folks hold a special place in my heart because they are kindred spirits.

Taking a class and finding a community of like-minded folks who share your vision, your dream, resolution, and daily goals is one of the surest, happiest ways to make the journey toward achievement and making it a Lifetime Resolution that is with you for good. Give it some thought. A class just might be in your future!

Remember: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!

Learn more about this author, Kim Simpson.
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