New Year’s resolutions.
Yeah, I know I’m a few days late on this topic, but at least I’m fashionable.
Resolutions are everywhere, and for good reason. It’s a time to reflect and try again. I think New Year’s Day is a wonderful figurehead of the Queen of good intentions: fulfilling old dreams and creating new ones. Yes, I’ve also been a cynic before, especially in the dreadful, barren winterland of January where no life breeds and the silence is so still and icy cold, I can launch my intentions no further than from my bed to the couch.
But some years, I am inspired. We all need a brand new beginning. Like the blank page in a writer’s arsenal, I am the creator of character, stories, and escape. I bring something beautiful to this life. That will be enough for me this year. Along with some other stuff I’m committing to paper to help fuel the beginning. Of course, I woke up sick today. Real bummer. But my year doesn’t start until I’m better, so I feel no pressure to begin doing any of this until Wednesday.
Maybe Friday. We’ll see.
Here are some of my I’m going to do this and I’m NOT going to do this. Sorry for the sloppy wording. I’m usually better but today I’m hyped up on Nyquil so my brain is a bit fuzzy.
I’M GOING TO:
I’m going to keep my senses open to story but my eyes attuned only to my page and my journey. We cannot walk in another’s path. I wouldn’t want to. Because if you choose someone else’s life to imitate, you get all the bad that comes with the good. I’d rather take my bad stuff any day rather than a life I don’t know about.
I’m going to be less cynical. Less cynical on politics, and money, on publishing and sales, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
I’m going to use Facebook and IG a lot less this year. I’m going to live instead of post, or do actual things without looking for the number of likes to see if I was clever, or funny, or interesting. I will just…be.
I’m going to play more board games and watch less television. I adore my boys – they are so much fun and we love to interact. Way too soon they won’t want anything to do with me, and Netflix will be ready to launch then.
I’m going to lose 5 pounds and stretch more and mediate for just five minutes in the morning before I start my work. Just five minutes. No more. No less.
I’m going to eat smaller portions of all the things I love.
I’m going to take my dog out for a walk more instead of letting her loose. We both need to walk and experience different smells and different sights.
I’m going to volunteer at a dog shelter and actually show up instead of just sending money.
I’m going to cook more on my own terms rather than for survival. I’m going to cook for pleasure.
I’m going to reduce my internet time by ONE hour per day. Just one hour. And with that hour, I will do something I want to do and not feel guilty.
I’m going to treat my career like the Godlike gift it is and go to the page big, bold, and as creatively as I can. It may be my job, but I need to treat my Muse more like a Queen and less like a workhorse trained to the plow twenty-four hours per day with no lunch, sick time, or vacation.
I’m going to make Monday my bitch and live it like it’s a Saturday. When the big ball of junk looms up on Monday morning, I will not succumb. I will laugh in its face and conquer it to the best of my ability and it will all work out. Doesn’t it always?
I’M NOT GOING TO:
I’m not going to be on social media or answer emails or take a million photos on vacation. Because it’s my vacation, and I don’t need to show anyone how much fun I’m having. I just need to have fun and shut up about it.
I’m not going to lose 20 pounds or go to the gym three days a week. I’m not going to the gym at all. And I’m not giving up peanut butter or chocolate or pasta. Or wine.
I’m not going to beat myself up about writing more books this year, or how those books do sales wise, as long as I do my very best.
I’m not going to worry about everything I can’t control. I work hard enough on the things I can control.
That’s it. Some of my resolutions and hope for the new year.
What are yours?
I have a focus rather than resolution, and that focus is “Complete”. As an example, I have many partially finished manuscripts nagging at me to ‘complete’ them, so this is my year to get them off my back, so to speak, and move on to new stories. I will complete the yard work and house repairs I’ve put off. These aren’t big projects, and I’ll be happy and ‘complete’ when they’re finished. *grin*
I embraced the overall philosophy of your blog post years ago, and life is so much slower-paced and enjoyable as a result. It reminds me of the What About Bob? philosophy of Baby Steps.
Happy New Year to you.
Another inspiring and wonderful and thought provoking essay.