Resolutions, goals, promises you probably won’t keep… it’s that time of year, right?

Whether you just go about your business as if nothing’s changed or you have a list of things to do in 2023, there’s always something to be thankful for. I’m looking at 2023 hoping to give birth to another healthy baby at home. That’s my first priority since I’m due on March 2nd.

There is so much we cannot control in life, but we can follow certain directions, change course, or consciously decide to take on a specific path.

As a writer I have at least 1 book I would like to finish, polish, and shop around this year and plenty of articles waiting to be written, and some that already exist and need some serious revising. Securing another regular everyday writing job is a huge goal for me, but regardless I’ll be doing my usual thing.

I had 557 works published in 2022 and so I’m trying to prepare myself for accepting less. I don’t expect 2023 to be as good or to offer more, it would be nice and I’m hoping for more prospects but I know that ups and downs are part of the job so I’ve been working to keep my feet on the ground and remember that 557 is a HUGE number to follow.

Getting out in the world and adventuring with my family is another big one. I love dragging my husband on crazy hiking trails and helping my younger kids learn to swim. We definitely need to take more fishing trips, and my youngest is dying to learn how to ice skate.

So yeah, I make lists. I have lists in my head, on my desk, randomly crumpled in the bottom of my purse. Sometimes I write them on napkins or cough drop wrappers, and not everything gets done, but it’s fun seeing what manifests.

If you’re an anti-lister and totally not into laying things out, that’s okay too. Chaos has its own compass at times. But whatever you do I hope you look ahead with excitement, and maybe a smile.