New Year, New Start

2012 is finally here. This year, I'm hoping to find more focus in my life since focus has always been a big problem for me. This year, I will be turning 40 and I want to start living in accordance with my values and interests. Instead of waiting for things to happen, I would like to make them happen. I want to write more and really delve into photography. I would love to make a living by writing about different subjects and publishing nature photos. Travel would be fun too, if that's where that road leads me.

During the last two months of 2011, I've written and published two poems as a Yahoo! Contributor. The first is a short haiku, which was a popular form in 17th century Japan. My haiku is called Ruby in the Snow. My second poem is a sestina entitled The Winter Journey Home. Uncommonly seen today, sestinas were invented during the 12th century High Middle Ages in what is today the southern section of France. With 6 stanzas of 6 lines and a two line envoi using words repeated throughout the poem, it is the longest and most challenging form of poetry I've ever written, but the finished product was very satisfying.

I've also been thinking of applying for a position as a Guide on about.com for Word Processing. With my professional background in that subject, I think that I might stand a fair chance of writing for that topic. It would help me break into professional writing and I would be able to share my word processing knowledge with others.