I asked a dozen or so people yesterday whether they were making resolutions for the new year and every last one of them said no. There seems to be a negative connotation to the word for many people, but for me, the new year is a chance to reevaluate and wipe the slate clean. It's a time for renewal and to set goals.
Here were my 2011 resolutions:
1. Write some stuff.
2. Stop using smiley faces. :)
3. Continue to workout to those horrid Jillian Michaels tapes. I love/hate her.
4. Continue drinking coffee in abundance, but spend less money (i.e. less Starbucks)
5. Don't fall asleep in my contact lenses or on a bus.
6. Get Chris to workout by any means necessary.
7. Read as many books as I did in 2010, even if I find full-time work.
8. Say no every now and then just for practice, so it's not awkward when I really need to say the word (this will be fun).
9. Come up with a bad-ass pen name so that I can write vampire erotica without anyone knowing. (I'm open to suggestions.)
10. Blog regularly.
10. Blog regularly.
So how'd I do?
1. Done
2. Working on it
3. I did this until May, when I pulled a tendon and had to modify my workouts
4. Utter failure until, rather recently, my car battery died in the drive-thru of Starbucks, which I took as a sign to man up and renew this goal.
5. Only a few misses here
6. Utter failure
7. Sure enough read as much as possible. I'm currently reading The Marriage Plot and will have a lot to say upon its completion.
8. Did it, and yes, it was fun
9. This may or may not still come to fruition
10. Semi-regularly
Okay, so I didn't hit on quite a few of those but I'm in no way, shape or form discouraged. In fact, I feel like I have all the more resolve for the new year. After some reflection and reevaluation, I'm ready to begin again.
2012
1. Tell the best possible story each time I write
2. Do not write to publish but simply write, then publish
3. Vary my workouts and avoid backbend push-ups, no matter what
4. Eat just a little better than last year
5. Don't fall asleep in my contact lenses or on a bus (this one is worth the carry-over)
6. Make trips to see my family despite finances
7. Be patient with my loved ones--let them make their own resolutions
8. Pay outrageous student loans without cursing, stomping feet or looking up to the ceiling and screaming, "Why?"
9. Find either a) an agent and/or b) a fellowship that will bridge the gap between the larger literary world and my working life
10. Smile more (this one's weighted)
11. Get in the habit of turning my cell phone off at work and on when I get home (a biggie)
If you have resolutions, I'd love to hear them.
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| Photo credit: Sarunyu_foto |
HAPPY 2012!
!)Continue writing short stories. 2)Seek for new opportunities to reach readers who are interested in reading them. 3)Do regular yoga and meditation. 4)Read as much as I read in 2011 or even more. 5)Write a review of every book I read.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love the balance. I'll be looking out for your reviews, Julia, and happy 2012!!
ReplyDeleteMy ultimate goal this year and forever to find out what I'm passionate about. It's an overused word in my opinion. (Like "epic." Latte's are not epic. Good? Sure. Epic?)
ReplyDeleteI haven't been reading enough from my friends in the blogosphere...I think that might help me realize my passion.
LOVE that you're still writing like mad. I'll visit more often...and this post is perfect. (Epic maybe?)
Andy, thanks for reading, and it's so good to hear from you. I think you're passionate about inspiring others (from what I've seen), but I know what you mean... it's tough to pinpoint.
ReplyDeleteKnowing you might check in a bit, I'll have to re-up that blog writing goal from '11. Have an epic start to your 2012, Andy, one filled with passion.