Every year people make resolutions, and every year I think about making some, and then I don’t. Maybe it’s because I’m so goal-oriented to begin with that I don’t see the need to set up additional resolutions for myself. But the more I think about it, I realize that while I do a lot, there are things I put aside because of the time and effort it takes to get them done.
For example. I write books, but they are presently only available on Amazon. My writing “goal” for next year is to publish another novel in the Kelsey Porter series and put out a horror anthology. My “resolution” is going to be to finally get all my previously published books formatted and put on other platforms besides just Amazon.
Another goal I try to do is to socialize as much as I can. I go out with friends, get together for special family occasions, etc. But my resolution this year is going to be to “bring more people together.” I want to throw a few random parties where it’s not because of a holiday or a special event. Maybe I do “Thanksgiving in February” and invite people in the neighborhood I’d love to see more of? Maybe I do a holiday dinner “a week before the actual holiday” so that I can be assured that all the different families are around and not already booked with their immediate family celebrations? My goal has always been to let my children know that they have a wide community of people that care about them. So my resolution this year is going to be to foster stronger ties with those people and create a stronger sense of community with those neighbors and friends I’d love to see more of.
My last one is a tricky one. The number one resolution everyone always seems to make is to exercise and eat better. Well, I do that all the time. It’s always something I try to do and with a bad back, it sometimes gets in the way of this goal. My resolution this year is not going to be “I’ll exercise and eat better” but it will be to “not allow my body to dictate my life.” If I need to rest it to heal, I will, if I need to kick myself to get down to the treadmill, I will. In 2015 I’m not going to let my “body” be one of my goals – it will simply be there as part of “me” and my resolution is to not let my limitations dictate how I live my life.
So, do you have goals and resolutions? Do you have things you always say you’re going to do, but don’t? I suggest you think about them differently. Come up with ones other than eating healthy or exercising. Find some new ones that speak to your sense of community, your family, your inner circle and run with them. You may be surprised at what you accomplish.
Elyse Salpeter 
What an excellent plan for 2015 for both your physical and emotional health. Random parties and gathering people together is a great idea.
Thank you Onisha – lots of changes happening and I just need to readjust my priorities…
Thanks for this thought-provoking post. I love the idea of Thanksgiving in February!
So do I! Everyone thinks I’m crazy though! LOL!
Wow good luck with your resolutions. I want to finish my first novel and do something with it (not sure what this will be). This year has been about building the foundations for my writing career but next year I need to build on it. My story idea has performed well in mini focus groups and I need to take courage from this.
My advice is to just write it. Don’t get mired in what other people think. Go and write the next one too. Courage is something you will always need being a writer – good luck!
Thx elysesalpeter 🙂
I don’t do resolutions. It’s true that what we want to achieve must become something pursued in our daily life, not once a year. Happy New Year!
I’ve got my resolutions ready with what I like to think of as specific, attainable goals. Every year I claim I want to lose weight but never really set a goal. Also, the idea of a get-together is something I’ve done from time to time – like “2nd Chance New Years” on the last weekend of January. First time I had like 60+ people, the subsequent parties were “more controlled” with no more than 20 attending. Besides, new year stuff goes on sale in time for the party.
I have to say I don’t resolve anything at New Years, either. I do, however, set goals toward overarching ambitions in multiple domains. Elyse, I appreciated your ambition of helping your kids understand they live in a diverse and wide community. As a parent, that is awesome, for if they can understand that as they grow, I suspect they will continue this and be stronger for it in the end. Thanks for sharing.
Great post! I love the idea of goals vs resolutions. And Thanksgiving in February!! Love that! I am going to try to do set reachable goals this year and resolve to not let my body dictate meeting my goals as well. Thank you for this. I needed it today 🙂
I’m so glad it helped.
I love the idea of resolutions you can enjoy. I’ll try a few:
– I resolve to talk to people more
– I resolve to savour the things I like, more
– I resolve to give up one pedantic verbal obsession; I just have to figure out which one.
Thanks for the good example!
Excellent start!
This year I am working on a production plan for my writing and I am using S.M.A.R.T. Goals to get it done. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound). When it comes down to it, “Talent is just the beginning…Work is the magic element.”
Good for you – everyone needs their own plan based on their own personal growth. What works for one person isn’t always right for someone else. Good luck!
Good luck, Elyse. That’s an ambitious plan, but I’ll bet this time next year, you’ll be telling us that you accomplished all these things and a few more besides.
I’m adding a new resolution to my others. “Remember that people are more important than projects.”
Thanks for challenging us here Elyse – been thinking on my plans/goals for next year.
Personally though I try to make decisions, rather than resolutions, because in my experience resolutions almost never work out.