5, 52, 365
What do all those numbers have in common? Well besides having a 5 in them… which i just realized when I wrote that question out.
These are all common numbers in challenges put in front of us, especially around the new year. I am speaking mostly on photography related challenges. 5 day challenge to kick start your (enter long term goal here). Project 52 which focuses on 1 photo a week usually with some theme to it. 365 challenges are one photo a day. I have also done random monthly ones.
In December (with the exception of this past year) I have always tried to do a photo a day of our family happenings for the holidays. That December project is one of my favorites because I do it with a group of other parents and we try to remind each other to capture those moments, even if it is crazy, chaotic, mess, or disheveled selfies. Of course, 2019 December, I was such a disheveled self, I did not have the mental fortitude to follow through on it.
So many numbers and challenges flying about. Themes or no themes these challenges can seem overwhelming. They are there for a good reason, but we tend to psych ourselves out when it actually comes to doing them. There are GOALS and goals are missed sometimes (lots of times if you were anything like me playing soccer in high school). I am here to tell you not to let missing one, or two, or 20 make you want to quit.
I did a 365 two years ago. It was exhausting. I had goals to not just take a photo, but post a photo every day. I missed both sometimes. In the end I still ended up with 365 photos of my life. I made an album out of it. I LOVE looking back on that year. I am here to tell you not to let little things get you down in the grand scheme of a bigger project. I am following along a 365 by Lashwanitz, but I have no presumption of actually completing a 365. My real goal for the year is a project 52 to get 52 photos of me and my girls doing our thing. Ideally it will be one a week, but if I get to December and need to take 40 photos, I will do that too.
I want to challenge you to find a photo challenge that you love and do it. I hear so often how people do not get in the photo enough. You and your spouse, you and your kids, you and your friends (I will be honest, this last one is a constant struggle. I need to challenge myself to just take a picture no matter what when I first see people).
Don’t feel bad and don’t give up if you miss a day,
or if you fall behind. These are for you – no one else and you will be so happy at the end of whatever challenge you join with the photos you end up with. I also love the challenge prompts, even if I do not use them everyday, they can help inspire me when I need a quick prompt, even if it is cheesy.
