We suspects of a certain age have learned, at last, to be cautious about New Years Resolutions. We’ve learned to focus our eyes on the moment – the unexpected ray of sunshine, the flit of a mockingbird – and to anticipate little more than the certainty of the vernal equinox.
The temptation is still there. The note pad awaits a short list of desiderata for the coming year. Resist!
I can cheerfully review the victories of 2010 while observing that they weren’t foreseen last January. Among them:
- Twenty pounds lighter (thanks to a bout with shingles)
- Publication of Escape from the Alamo
- New comfortable teeth
- Gardening in containers on the deck
- Avoiding the cruise ship disaster
And Christmas back in Texas, family, good food and good friends. Well - that was foreseeable, at least.
Back when I was professoring I urged my students to put together a 90-day plan, a quarter’s worth of goals. Choose carefully, I warned, choose only two or three. They can signal a successful quarter.
In that spirit I hereby offer my 90-day objectives for winter 2011.
- Lose ten more pounds (it’s doable!)
- Write 20,000 words, about a page a day.
If I’ve accomplished those small objectives by April first, I’ll call it a victorious winter.
Wish me luck.
Dac Crossley
1/1/2011
"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every New Year find you a better man." - Benjamin Franklin
Good luck, Dac! You can do it--make it to April with goals accomplished.
Donna
Posted by: Donna McGinty | January 03, 2011 at 05:14 PM
Solid advice.I hope to finish my sequel this quarter, but I'm not confidant since I got so little done in my first year of retirement-maybe 25 pages. Most of my time went to marketing the first book, but I think I'll let that simmer now. I did contact Dog Ear Books and they've taken five books on consignment-thanks for the idea. May even invite me for a signing. Have you looked into the Booth Western Museum, Cartersville, Ga? I think they're going to stock some of mine too. Still haven't decided on the WWA trip. You?
Posted by: Mike Long | January 02, 2011 at 10:26 AM
OOPS, I just realized you mean 20,000 words in 90 days, which would be about a page a day. Sorry!
Posted by: Janice Pulliam | January 01, 2011 at 09:32 PM
How do you ever fit 20,000 words on one page? Well, more power to you.
And I feel like Celia, there are so many things I should be doing that if I resolve to do them all and take it seriously I will be overwhelmed and depressed and thus surely fail. I like to think that in general I will try to be a better person each year. But this year I HAVE to lose some weight. Let me know when you lose those 10 pounds, and I'll let you know when I lose my 10 lbs. Deal?
Posted by: Janice Pulliam | January 01, 2011 at 09:30 PM
My last new year's resolution was to make no more new year's resolutions. Best one I ever made!
Posted by: Eric | January 01, 2011 at 05:58 PM
Happy 1-1-11 Dac: The idea of looking back at all the good things in the year gone
by is great. I can do that. Much success with your goals for the next 90 days. There are
other ways of losing weight beside getting
sick. Live in the moment...appreciate each
and every thing. You are a bright spot. Take
care. Jan
Posted by: Jan Okey | January 01, 2011 at 05:12 PM
DAC, Happy New Year to you. I marvel how the year slips by so quickly. I do not make resolutions--I just enjoy each day as it comes and give thanks for so many blessings that come my way. Larry
Posted by: Lauro F. Cavazos | January 01, 2011 at 04:20 PM
HAPPY NEW YEAR, DAC. I like your idea of the 90-day plan. Me? I never make resolutions at all. There would be so many, I'd feel overwhelmed. So...just take one day at a time--with a vague outline in mind.I'm very pleased to become acquainted with you this past year. You are a joy and a ray of sunshine. Take good care of yourself--Celia
Posted by: Celia Yeary | January 01, 2011 at 03:20 PM