Resolutions are great things because they spur us to be better. But they also point out the areas where we feel we’ve failed–either ourselves or others. Which got me thinking. Why do we spend all this time and energy thinking about the ways we could be better and all the things we did wrong– rather than celebrating all the things we did RIGHT?
So, I’m going to do both. Here is my personal celebration of 2011 and my hopes for 2012:
I Rocked:
I left my comfort zone so far behind in 2011, I’m not even in the same zip code. When my book came out, I held a launch party and spoke in front of a huge crowd. I faced classrooms of 8th graders with nothing but a powerpoint and my nerves. I flew to New York to sign and promote and do things I had no idea how to do. I figured out Twitter and Facebook and made business cards and bookmarks and a book trailer. I shouted out my good news when I’m not the kind of person who’s comfortable even whispering that sort of thing. I did all that. Me. And yeah, I sucked a good portion of the time and never did quite enough–but I. Did. It.
I Resolve:
To follow through better. I got excited about opportunities and started the ball rolling and then never chased after it.
I Rocked:
I wrote. Not always well, but always. When I heard about a playwriting opportunity for teen plays, I felt OyMG would be a great submission. So, I sat down and I worked my butt off and I wrote it. And I submitted it. That was hard and I’m so glad I did it. Fingers are still crossed–in January I’ll know which three plays out of 175 submissions will be chosen!
I did NaNoWriMo and completed 50,000 words for a new book. Life did not wait for me or pause and yeah, I was cranky in November, but I. Did. It.
I Resolve:
To stop believing everything I write is crap. To appreciate the talents I have and not to yearn for the ones I don’t.
I Rocked:
I exercised my butt off. (Figuratively.) Even when I had no time, I made time, and I also started lifting weights because it’s supposed to be good for me even though I hate it. I played tennis on two leagues and kept up with golf enough so that I can still play with the hubby most weekends.
I Resolve:
To be a better loser. I’m generally a great winner–humble, kind, self-deprecating. But when I lose, I get mad. I cuss (at myself) and sometimes I can let a loss at tennis ruin the rest of my day. I gotta let that go!!
I Rocked:
I did nice things in 2011. I helped people out when I could. Tried to listen more than I talked. Told my kids I loved them every single day.
I Resolve:
To be a better person. That’s pretty general but it’s always out there. Give more, laugh more, share more, do more, hug more, help more… Thing is, I don’t know where or when the need will arise. But when it does, I hope I’m there to give of myself. To be a mentsch.
There it is. For now anyway. The Good and the Could Be Better. How about you? What did you accomplish?
May we all resolve to make 2012 a year when we rock! 
