This time of year is full of various emotions for me, particularly today being New Year’s Eve. I’m excited about what 2011 has in store, I’m sad to see yet another year pass so quickly, I’m motivated to make 2011 another great year, I’m reflective on how much happened in 2010, I’m curious what new opportunities will arise, and I’m slightly overwhelmed by numerous other thoughts and feelings swirling around within me as this year comes to an end.

I’m a goal setter. I get in honestly. I think it’s in my genes but it’s also what I’ve been trained to do from a very early age. My dad, mom, brother and I now joke about our goal setting routine from my youth. Every year on our drive back to Texas after spending Christmas with family in Kansas just about midway through Oklahoma dad would launch that probing question  … “Boys, what are your goals for next year?” I was seven. I had lofty goals like “draw more” or “play Hot Wheels.” What else can a seven year old aspire to do?

Today, I find myself in the same goal setting mode with Christmas behind us and the New Year at our doorstep. I have great goals both personally and professionally. “Great” meaning ambitious, fun, good and maybe even admirable. Professionally, one of my ongoing goals is to push myself creatively. Sure, I have my business goals about revenue and operations, yadda yadda … those are all fine and necessary, but it’s the creative goals that make life fun and keep me from getting bored. And, if you know me, boredom comes quickly.

Last year I set out with the goal to create a series of photographs of food pairings, but with a little twist. While the series isn’t anywhere close to being complete I find some satisfaction in looking at some of the results from this creative endeavor.

Next year? I’ve got plenty of ideas gestating in my head. I’m actually looking forward to the next 365 days being filled with creative exploration and being right back here making a blog entry about what fun food photography project I’ve done. While I can see it in my head (and have sketches on paper) we’ll both have to wait until New Year’s Eve 2011 to see it here. I hope you’ll hang around and enjoy this next year with me.

Happy New Year.

Kyle