New Year, New Resovle

Everywhere there is a reminder that with the New Year there are certain expectations of self-improvements. Television and newspaper ads, internet popups and your own mind all nip at you. And we all expect that of ourselves, for now, but it’s hard to stick with any of it—the weight loss, exercise, saving money, time management, organization and purging clutter. The year begins with the hope and thoughts, with those goals.

And maybe, it is all doomed for failure, but even a little, tiny, smidgen of a change for the better is good. And so I begin and with the first thing, the fun thing, the hopeful thing: My yearly planner—A new one—pretty, smart, well suited to me. This year it’s purple—for no other reason than it caught my eye and it’s different from the hundreds of others I’ve had over the years. There are big splashy tulips across the front and randomly through the pages. It makes me smile.

First order of business: My quote from Josey Wales (The Outlaw Josey Wales) taped to the inside: Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you’re not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean, plumb, mad-dog mean. “Cause if you lose your head and you give up, then you neither live nor win. That’s just the way it is. A good quote for any circumstance, don’t you think?

Then, a quote from me, just below that: Be a different writer, just for a moment and surprise even yourself. And finally a quote by Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.: In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong with hope.

On the title page, up in the left-hand corner: You can be bitter or better, and on the right-hand upper corner: Writing begets writing.

Next, I read last year’s goals and give myself credit for all that I did accomplish—No, I celebrate. Never do I let myself dwell too long on those things I didn’t get done. Last year is over and done. I wait to write down my goals for this year. Time enough for that tomorrow or next week. If I do it too soon, I’ll put too much on the list, things that might not be best for me, but in the heat of the moment and to fit into the rest of the world, I’ll listen to the hype and ads.

 Instead, I read my planner and write down those things that still have a meaning for me. Like the message on the last page. I know it’s from three planners ago and yet the bullet points apply to every difficult situation, even, especially, writing:

(MPGN) For Chronic Illness:

•             Get support

•             Don’t forget to breathe          

•             Get an advocate

•             Get a second opinion 

•             Become an expert

I enter anything the needs to be done regularly during the year: computer cleaning and tune-up, file purge, yearly contests. And I figure out a loose weekly plan.

Once my book is exactly how I want it I sit back and smile because I’ve begun and that’s the hardest part.