Startled out of bed, I awakened shocked to the sound of a giant fireworks BOOM! It’s been happening all night, even though the New Year celebration is supposedly long over. I drag myself up, tired from a long night of firework alarm clocks, and start my day because of my resolution to get up earlier.
My resolutions:
- Up by 7
- Read a passage in the Bible before I check e-mail or social media
- One hour workout, five days a week (two days a week with a trainer)
Gym owners will tell you that 80% of their signups happen the first week of the new year, and that most people show up for the first 30 days and don’t come back. But keeping their membership active makes them feel like they are doing something.
Did you make resolutions?
Have you broken them yet?
The moment you break a resolution, it’s over. So make sure you are committed.
And, if it’s goal-related, like weight loss, you’ll need a process or a plan to follow. Just saying you’ll lose weight is like saying you’ll show up in Hawaii without getting on an airplane. List out the specific steps to be followed. Be specific (such as limit to X calories a day, exercise for X minutes a day, get your heart rate to X for X minutes daily, etc.)
Accountability is also important. Share your resolutions with those who will challenge you if you break them, and give them permission and encouragement to call you out for cheating.
That’s all for today. I’m keeping it brief so you can concentrate on your resolutions.
Eric Rhoads
PS: Though I had lots of projects to get done over the holidays, only part of them were finished. It gives me an excuse to take some more time off in the future, I suppose. Or not try to do so much.
2022 promises to be a great year (if you make up your mind for it to be, no matter what).
Be strong.
Keep your mindset in check.
Follow your weekly goals.
Keep your head in the game.
Here are some things that will be happening at Streamline starting tomorrow.
- If you did not see it, we consolidated the Streamline Art Video, Liliedahl, and Creative Catalyst video brands into PaintTube. This will mean less confusion, fewer e-mails, and better service.
- Starting this week, PleinAir Today, our landscape painting newsletter, will go daily, including a summary Saturday. If you’re not signed up, go here.
- American Watercolor will move to twice weekly for the year.
- Our big watercolor conference could hit record attendance this year. We decided not to raise the price after all, so you can still get a lower price if you go to this secret website for Sunday Coffee readers to use (you won’t find the price on the regular website).
- This week we’re launching a new video on painting cars, called Wheels & Steel with Lyn Boyer.
I love the daily PleinAir Today emails. They give me a daily reminder of things I have forgotten or new ideas or ways to look at my next painting. It’s an awesome gift! Thank you!
Great advice
I’ve tried to sign up for the daily plein air newsletter, but it fails to go through, every time! How can I get signed up? I’d really like to receive it!
Thank you. Shirley Hackett
Thanks, Eric, I appreciate the suggestions and encouragement. I’ve set my New Year’s Intentions (the semantics work for me) this year and also have a new fitness program in place. My gym closed during the pandemic and I haven’t returned due to the poor ventilation there, so have struggled to get the aerobic workouts I need and crave. I’m committed to one hour of aerobic workout at least 3 times a week with yoga & tai chi on the other two days, plus tennis 1 x a week (doubles). I got a new stationary bike for Christmas which I love and have also started jogging again (slogging actually, a combo of walking and jogging). I’ve also set my artistic /business goals with the help of a recent article you wrote.
I really appreciate all you do to help and encourage artists to set and meet their goals!
A very happy new year to you!
~ Laurie
Starting this week, PleinAir Today, our landscape painting newsletter, will go daily, including a summary Saturday. If you’re not signed up, go here.
FYI….”here” here …. doesn’t do anything??? Thanks! Happy New Year – Frani Bopp
Happy New Year, Eric! Thanks for some new mantras: “Mindset, Goals, Head in the game!” I find that my resolutions work out better when a few key words are added to them as quick reminder buttons throughout the day. “Mindset, Goals, Head in the game.” Okay!!
Other mantras that I have come up with are:
“Fresh, Sparkling, Juicy, Juicy….Graceful, Grace-filled, Practice”.
(“Juicy” twice refers to juicy brushstrokes and juicy food, but not taken together, LOL:D).
Am building momentum and I am determined. Other than Art goals, my personal goals are twins of yours. Hope you get a better night’s sleep tonight………off we go into 2022! May it be a good and blessed year for all of us! God willing and God loving.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ERIC
What ever happened to Plein Air Today? i have signed up a number of times, and now it doesn’t even show up in my in-box once or twice before going away.
When I look at your list of accomplishments at the end of your weekly Sunday Coffee, I am overwhelmed with the amount of influence you are having on the art world. I personally am thankful. I am energized and looking forward to Watercolor Live. I was the one who last year told you that it has enabled me to attend something that was not affordable in a live location. I could see the compassionate look in your eyes and was touched. This is a gift that Covid provided to me. While I am fully a watercolor painter, I signed up for Realism live this past year and have already enrolled for next year. Both have made me a better artist and teacher. Several of my students will be on for Watercolor Live this month. I hope to meet you in person one day to shake your hand and thank you.
Anne Hightower-Patterson