Saturday, December 31, 2011

365.

Did you see that number at the top??
365.
I can't think of anything else that I have ever
done 365 days in a row without stopping once.

I realize it's not some amazing feat
that I was able to take 2 pictures a day
for an entire year,
but it was a bother at times.
I can't tell you how many times I would be laying in bed
about to fall asleep and I'd remember that I hadn't taken
a self portrait yet.
I'd stumble out of bed in the darkness
grumbling to myself about what a stupid idea this was...
and take a self portrait.
Self portraits at midnight when you're half asleep
are not attractive I tell you :)

But it was a fun way to document the year.
And I'm so so glad I did it.

One of the main reasons I started this was because
I've always wished I was a better journaler,
but I'm just not.
I never remember to write every night
and I'm not good at recording day to day life.

So I knew I needed to come up with a way to
document my life daily, and then be kept
accountable for it.
Hence the two pictures every day and a blog
to keep me accountable :)
And I did it.
365 pictures of the day
and 364 self portraits.

The year 2011 in 729 pictures.

I only missed one day of self portraits
because I really did think I had taken one
and didn't realize until the next day when I went
to post it that I in fact, hadn't :(
boo.
I'm type A and that one miss is
really going to drive me nuts.
I'm working on getting over it.
moving on...

I've been thinking about wether or not I want to continue
with this idea into the next year,
and I've gone back and forth about it.
I love having a whole year documented.
I love being able to go back and get a daily peek into my life.

I so quickly forget things, and I hate that.

So I think I will continue...
just with a few little changes to the rules.
I don't have to post EVERY day.
If I miss a day here and there, it's ok.
Also, the self portraits don't have to be taken by me.
The reason for the self portrait in the first place
was to have pictures of me
(when I was young and hip--haha)
to show my kids someday.
That may sound super cheesy,
but if my mom could pull out a book
full of pictures of her from when she was 22
and little descriptions of what her day to day life was like
I would looooove that.
Hopefully I will someday have a kid as sappy and sentimental
as myself who will appreciate the effort.
But I'd rather have pictures of me that are more than
just my face, so my "self portraits"
don't have to be taken by me, I just have to be in the picture :)
And I want more people in my portraits,
I want to end up with lots of pictures of me with people
who are important to me :)
(hello family, get ready to be photographed!)

Also, my goal when I write is not to write for the readers
but to write for myself and hoped for future kidlets.
I felt like a lot of the time this year I would catch myself explaining
who people were or what certain things meant...
but I really want the writing style to be just like I would
write in a journal to my littles.
Some of my favorite verses are Deut. 4:9-10b

“Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself,
lest you forget the things your eyes have seen,
and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.
And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, 
…and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me
all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.”

This blog is just one way that I want to "take heed"
and do my best to not forget the things I have seen.
I want to be diligent about recording the goodness of my God
who "daily loads us with benefits"
so that someday I will remember and tell my children all about it.


So this next year I'll change things up a little,
but the (almost) daily posts with continue :)

Looking back over this year...
AND

...oh snaps it's been a good year :)

And looking forward:
"...the land which you cross over to posses
is a land of hills and valleys,
which drinks water from the rain of heaven,
a land for which the Lord your God cares;
the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it,
from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year."
Deut. 11:11-12


So, here's to another year of Authenticity!
Happy New Year!


p.s. I'm absolutely terrible at scategories. really I am.



6 comments:

  1. ahh yay! :) you've inspired me... I'm gonna give it a try. :) also...Scattergories is funnnnn.

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  2. Jessica, you are an inspiration. I have so enjoyed your Authentic blog and cheers that it will continue! love that Deut. verse as well. thanks so much.

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  3. I have loved following your blog all year! :) I'm so, so glad that you are going to continue! You have inspired me, too. I think I'm going to take the challenge this year with my own blog!

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  4. O hurrah! You made it!! Thanks for sharing this project with us, it has been fun to get a little glimpse of your year :)

    So, so, so glad your dad is feeling better!

    Here's to 2012!

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  5. So glad our families gaming habits have rubbed onto your fam. :) Scattegories is not my best game either... but, when you finally think of that answer that actually has three of the same letter and you get triple the points, it's just a great feeling! Cherish the moment when it comes girl. Your year looks marvelous in review and one to be treasured. It was a happy year for us too as you were introduced into our lives. :) I admire your dedication to getting out of bed to take those self-portraits. For the first time this week, I had the same feeling. Went to bed, two hours later realized I had not taken my 16 week photo, got out of bed begrudgingly, changed clothes, took the picture, put my pjs back on, and recrashed into bed. In the morning I was glad I had done it...it's all worth it for the pic on the exact right day, isn't it? Looking forward to next years' posts J Shae!!!

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