The vernal equinox is coming at the end of the week where I live and in my opinion it can not arrive soon enough. It’s been a long, cold winter and I’m ready for a change.

The days are steadily getting a bit warmer. Just yesterday I witnessed the sparkly, slushy goodness of the spring thaw in action.

And as the last bits of snow pull away from the edges of the path before me I feel as if I am entering a new chapter. Like the icy patches I see disappearing in the late afternoon sun, I can feel winter’s grip melting and letting me go. It’s like a mental equivalent of a good spring cleaning. Moving those big pieces of furniture you rarely bother to reach behind. It’s time to dust the corners of my mind.

And as I thaw I find myself lucky enough to be here at Viewfinders. The beginning. A time to look forward. But I can’t help but constantly check my rear view mirror. I’m pretty clear on where I’ve been but I’m not sure where I’m going. So looking behind me feels safe.

Perhaps I need to do an assessment; establish a baseline before I can move forward. I am a woman who likes to have a plan. Or would it be more like a wish list? A dream? Or a promise to myself? I definitely don’t want to use the word “goals”; there’s too much pressure in that.

And then I worry.

If I say it out loud. If I write it down here, in front of all of you. What happens if I fail?

Well, I know you’ve got my back. And we agreed to share our challenges and mistakes here. It says so in Our Manifesto. So I’ll tell you this–I’m mainly a mobile shooter, but I’m going to try to get better results from instant film. I’ve replaced my broken Spectra, I’ve finally unpacked my Instant Lab, and I’ve ordered some new Impossible Film. This thaw has me springing forward into new territory. I’ll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, welcome, I am so glad you are here with us.

~Christy {Urban Muser}