Though I’m writing this before the new year starts, I still want to give my updates and news before 2024. I have been spending time with loved ones and developing my craft as a crocheter. I have been moving to newer heights and doing a lot of reading. I’ve read 16 titles this year; my goal was only 10! What we can do when we set goals is amazing!

Over the past year…

I have learned a lot about myself and my determination. My name, Emily, means industrious, hard worker, and one who flatters; at least, that is what I’ve read over the years whenever my teacher had us do name meanings when I was a kid. After looking at what my name means, I realize how much I am living up to it. It is what I have been doing for my channel! I don’t know why I was afraid to start it!

Many businesses have failed and come back after reorganizing, reworking, and redefining who they are and what they represent. Though my original ideas for my business did not work out, I have done more research and have spent much time working on my brand. I know that I have a lot to learn, and I have met some great people who have been and will continue helping me along the way. A friend of mine who has started his life again after some tragic events told me, “All businesses have people who help them. There is no such thing as doing everything alone. Everyone needs help once in a while.” He couldn’t be more correct!

So, I listened, and now I’m not hesitant to ask for help. It will take some time to grow, but I will steadily continue working on my plans. I’ve learned much about myself and created lists of goals I plan to accomplish over the next few years.

Something interesting that happens occasionally in my life is that I come across people I need to talk to. Have you ever had those experiences where someone you bump into or talk to is exactly who you need to talk to at that precise time? Some call it happenstance. Others believe it is a religious experience. I see it as an opportunity to learn something that could be life-changing.

This opportunity happened while I spoke to a customer service agent on the phone, which took me by surprise because, originally, I called needing help with some insurance information. Instead, we went on a huge tangent by discussing my business and plans to become an entrepreneur through content creation. She was on board with it all. She even shared some things from her life and how she is currently extremely content with her career.

I shed some light on my hopes and dreams of one day turning my content into my real job. Though she might not have realized that she’d done this, she challenged me to use the word “will” or the phrase “the day will come when…” in place of the word “hope.” Speaking it into your life makes it more real and attainable. Hope simply keeps it locked in a dream that may or may not come true. In other words, the word will gives it purpose.

She continued to build my confidence by sharing useful resources, subscribing to my channel, and discussing plans to spread the word to her loved ones who had recently started learning to crochet. Her next piece of advice is what has prompted me to move faster than I’d been moving in the past.

Lantern Purse and Floral Moon Bag

Every business begins with a plan. She told me to write a plan with a list of objectives to complete by a certain time. Once you reach that objective, move to the next one.

Clinical psychologist William Glasser stated, “To fail to plan is a plan to fail,” (Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories and Interventions Sixth Edition, Reality Therapy/Choice Therapy). When I read that in my graduate courses to become a clinical mental health therapist, I was shocked by the authenticity of his words. Then, this next part took home the cake: “People who go through life without some sort of a long-term plan, usually divided into a series of small plans to reach larger goals, are like ships floundering without rudders.” Without hesitation, I immediately picked up a pen and paper to jot down everything I wanted to accomplish.

The mini plans, as I call them, are what truly helped someone like me, who has anxiety, make a daunting task more doable. Also, instead of setting deadlines, which hurls me into a panic due to my perfectionism, I say, “Get these done when you can over this year.” The interesting thing is that when I put it that way, it takes a lot of pressure off of worrying about whether or not I can finish my list in a timely manner and switches it to a dare to finish them in record time. Yes, my brain is wired like that. I like challenges, and if I feel I’m capable, I will not only complete them but also do a good job at them. Remember the ten books goal at the beginning of this blog? I not only met my goal of 10 books but also went over by six—and I’m still reading! I need to take the pressure of my perfectionism and anxiety and focus on what I want to get done.

This message is not to say that we shouldn’t worry about deadlines. We have deadlines in our lives for a reason, so please meet them if you need to; however, in my case, I can be lenient because my deadlines are flexible for what I’m doing.

New Year, New Camera

This is my new Sony SV-1F Vlog Camera! It’s so pretty and nice to use!

With that said, be prepared to see a tremendous transformation in my channel, crochet talent, and personality over the next five years at turtle speed. Slow and steady is the key for me. If I rush, I’ll miss other opportunities at greatness.

I got a new camera, so the quality of my videos will increase as I continue to learn about this camera. The pictures in this blog entry are from that camera, with the exception of the pictures of the actual camera. Those are from my iPhone. I love the way it captures my photos! Nice and crisp! Soon you will see how much more spectacular my videos will be! I took some videos on a trip with my sister, and I couldn’t believe how detailed the footage was! I’m definitely going to invest in different lenses, which this camera does allow.

I also plan on doing more than crochet tutorial videos, but a little at a time. I don’t want to overwhelm myself. I will also create a schedule where I post more frequently than now. This will come after I have had some time getting to know my camera and increasing my comfort with posting on YouTube. I’m still nervous about that. Can you believe it?

Slo-Mo or slow-motion videos are something I’d like to do for beginners who learn in a different way. My brain is wired differently, so it takes an extra step for me to understand something complex. There are tons of people like me in that it will take an extra step, such as slowing the video down to view a certain step to understand how to do the Magic Circle or creating a slipknot, for example. I’ve actually been talking to some people who are beginning crocheters. They have expressed that watching a tutorial video is sometimes intimidating and exhausting because some tutorials move too fast for them. I will experiment with slowing down parts of my video so that beginner crocheters won’t get worn out with my instructions.

I admire all the crochet and knitting instructors on YouTube because teaching someone your craft takes a lot of time, study, and preparation. I understand this well as I do this every day while teaching English.

I won’t divulge too many details of my plans, but know that I’ve got a to-do list, which you will see growing over the next few years.

Thank you for subscribing to my YouTube channel and Instagram. Thank you for reading this blog. I appreciate all of you because my followers keep me going. I create this for you.

Happy New Year! May all of you have a blessed and welcoming year filled with new opportunities, new friends, new beginnings, and happiness.

Truly yours,

Emily

Freelance Crocheter and EC World Designs CEO