Optomistic

The turn of the year is a strange book end to life. All of a sudden people begin to compartmentalize their experiences into a 365 day package to be labeled blessed, bad, or maybe worse, unremarkable. As the world is in a mass moment of self reflection I can't help but to look back with the same use of evaluation. 2013 for me, was a year of change and challenges, both under my control and out of my control. The phrase "New Year" means for many of us that we are going to try something new. To make things better, more in our control, or at least a fun story to tell this time next year. Equip with a list, I am participating in 2014 a bit differently then the year past. With more purpose and the type of optimism that doesn't just hope for a better year, but with the belief that I can make the year better.  

Graduation!

As the year comes to an end, I've crossed off two more items on my list: Graduate and Organize Documents for my Portfolio. At my portfolio presentation I learned that I had the top score of all of the education portfolios. Apparently it paid off. 

I anticipate completing two more goals before the new year which are Moving Out and Staying Vegetarian.

For 2013, I am going to go through the last two years of unaccomplished goals and refine them as new goals. I am going to toss out the items that are no longer me, keep the ones that I should have done, and add new ones that reflect who I am now. 

Going to quality of quantity of goals this year. Thinking about who I am and what I want to accomplish for myself. 

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. 

-Maya Angelou 

Hub Pages

Hub Pages is a great motivation to continue writing. Just today, I was reminded of a seasonal article I wrote when a surge of views came in. Just a reminder that getting paid for a Hub Pages article was one of my goals! Getting a new wave of readers also gave me a new wave of modivation to write something of value.

Check out my article from last year!
http://cocoa1990.hubpages.com/hub/An-Indie-Halloween

DIY Kindle Cover

After scoring a kindle for $40, I was not about to spend $30 on a cover. So I got Pintrest inspired, ripped apart a book I didn't care for (Sorry Molly Ringwald), and Mod Podged over the cover with the artwork from one of my favorite books. Not an item on my list, but an accomplishment nonetheless if I do say so myself.

You Should go do Them

See a Vegas Show

Saw the Beatles' LOVE this weekend! I've seen it twice before, and it is still as amazing as ever. I felt overjoyed to have experienced this with my very own love. Millions of thanks for a great birthday weekend!

Better than the Movie

It is no secret in Hollywood that Roald Dahl books make great movies. That was my initial appeal to the author. Who was this man who's words have been turned into many amazing classics. I just finished reading three of his most well known children's books that have also been turned into movies: James and the Giant Peach, The Witches and of course, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. No matter how old you are these books are wonderful pieces of fantasy.

Here is where I am with finishing all of Roald Dahl's Children's Books:

The Gremlins 

James and the Giant Peach

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The Magic Finger 

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Danny, the Champion of the World

The Enormous Crocodile 

The Twits

Georges's Marvelous Medicine 
Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes 

The BFG

Dirty Beast

The Witches

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me 

Matilda

Rhyme Stew 

Esio Trot

The Victar of Nibbleswick

The Minpins