Do you make new year’s resolutions? I do… I can’t help it.
For 2011, my resolution is to live a fuller life and be a better person to the people who love me. As much as I love writing, it’s had a starring role in my life for the past few years and I need to put the people I love back to front and center. Which doesn’t mean I won’t be writing (hell yeah, I’ll be writing! I have a whole new book to revise!), but it does mean that I’ll be trying to enrich the parts of my life that don’t involve writing, as well.
Pretty simple resolution, yes? But oh so complicated.
And to demonstrate just how committed I am to doing this, I’m off to Toronto for the holidays (for the first time in three years). Words can’t express how much I’ve missed spending Christmas with my family and my bestest friends, and I can’t imagine I’ll ever allow another Christmas to go by without them just because plane tickets are expensive and life is crazy busy. We can always make more money… but after losing three people I loved in the last eighteen months, I’ve learned that what we can’t get back is TIME.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and I’ll see you back here in the new year! I’ll only be blogging part-time in 2011, but I promise I’ll do my best to make it count.
In the meantime, what’s YOUR New Year’s Resolution?
Happy New Year, everyone!
I know exactly what you mean! Writing can be so consuming that we put family on the back burner. My resolutions are similar to yours. 🙂
Have a wonderful time with your family! Merry Christmas and Happy, Happy New Year!
That's an excellent resolution. You're right, time is the one thing we can't get back and the thing we regret losing the most. We must spend it wisely. Thank you so much for that reminder. I think I'll have to add that to my new year's resolutions!
Mark Twain said that each day was a coin. You could spend it any way you wanted, but to beware : you could only spend it once.
Have a safe trip, happy times, and fulfilment of your resolutions. Mine is to develop a thicker skin for those rejections and those friends who misunderstand my best intentions. Happy Holidays, Roland
I love your resolution and relate to it. Writing has a way of taking over our lives! And it sounds like you've got exciting things coming up in your writing life, so spending time with those you love will give you a great sense of balance 🙂
Have an amazing trip with your family!!
P.S. Just went to your official site. So awesome!!
I like Roland's Mark Twain quote! I am sorry for your losses over the last eighteen months. Having lost a close friend this year, it has changed my perspective as well. I went from being depressed about turning 40, to embracing it because it's GREAT to have reached that milestone! Last year's resolution was to be less judgemental. This year? Haven't decided yet. I'm kicking three around and trying to decide which one to commit to. Have a wonderful holiday, Jenny.
Writing can sometimes take over everything. And I know exactly what you mean. Time with the ones we hold dear is so valuable, but we take it for granted and spend it on such stupid things.
May your time with your family be a wonderful one.
🙂
I also like Roland's Mark Twain quote. And yes, losing someone changes priorities. Have a blessed vacation and great luck in the New Year.
Our writing can consume us; it's a tough balancing act sometimes. Sounds like you've got your priorities straight, though.
Next year, my resolution is to write a story a week and submit it to a paying venue. I will also start re-querying my novel-length stuff!
Since the twins were born a few years ago, I have not made resolutions. I could certainly pick from plenty of things though–positive attitude, physical fitness, writing, etc.
I hope you have a great Christmas and safe travels.
I hope you have a safe and wonderful trip to Toronto. =o)
I don't make resolutions. For me, it's like setting myself up for failure. Instead, I hope for the best every year and try not to let the little failures get me down.
I usually make resolutions, but then I never follow through on them, so every year I say I won't make them again. But then I usually do at the last minute anyways. 😉
Have a safe trip!
Happy Christmas!
I don't make resolutions but yours sound like good ones.
I hope the New Year will be the start of better times for you.
It sounds like a great resolution, but a difficult one to remember, especially when there are so many other things happening.
I hope you have a wonderful time in Toronto. 🙂
Happy holidays and have a great time in Toronto!
I'm not much for making resolutions because I seem to work double hard to break them in record time. For me it's like daring the petulant child within. lol
Hi Jennifer – Sorry about losing three people who are close to you so quickly. It's ture you can't get back time and you've made a great resolution. Glad you're going to see your family. I'm sure you and they will have a blast!
I love resolutions, too. Mine are: Tighten the ass(ets). *grins*
Revise mg novel.
Spend more quality time with the hubs and kids. I'm a stay-at-home mom, so I see them alot, but I'd like to REALLY see them more often.
Happy Holidays, Jennifer!
Always put life first, though sometimes it’s hard when we get caught up in the drama of our novels.
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Oh, so many good posts here! Glad to hear you survived four 14-hour days! That is impressive. And the list of things you learned at the copy edit stage was quite funny. I also enjoyed reading your transcript of your conversation with your mother! Finally, I don't really do New Year's resolutions, but I liked yours. You can't go wrong with putting friends and family first!
Resolved: get my second novel written, and the first one published (I hope).
Best wishes for the holidays!
I haven't really had the time or energy to really sit down and think about my resolutions, but I'm glad to hear that you are going home for the holidays and spending time with your family and friends. You must be so excited. I'm excited for you!!! Have fun!!
Happy New Year, Robin! Enjoy Toronto- I lived their for 8 years and had the time of my life. Don't totally abandon us this year, though.
Blog less, write more. But I have already failed!
I love the re-write process myself but I can't seem to decide on an opening…keep fussing with it. LOL. Happy New Year!