Originally published in the Dunwoody Crier
I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions. Sure, there were all those years when I resolved
not to gain the usual five pounds I put on every winter. That never worked. The
good news is I managed to take the pounds off in the spring, though that
challenge seems to get harder every year.
I’ve worked out regularly for ten years now, so I don’t need
a resolution about exercise. Yes, I
could resolve to walk more frequently, but I know it won’t happen. Instead, I’m
going to pat myself on the back for regularly visiting the the local gym to work out.
Maybe I should simply resolve to continue doing what I’ve
been doing—resolve not to
take anything for granted. It’s all too easy for things to fall by the wayside.
For example, I try to write every day, but it takes an effort to pick back up after
I return from vacation. In that spirit,
here are the things I’ll continue in the new year.
Write: Whether I’m editing or starting from scratch,
writing daily is a must. I write for two weekly papers, different columns for
each. I was already pleasantly busy, and then I took on a new challenge. This
year, I wrote my first cozy mystery and plan to complete the first draft of
book two by early January. I expect book
one to come out no later than February, and I hope to write a third in 2020 in
what I’m calling my Dickens & Christie Mysteries. Hint: Dickens is a dog,
and Christie is a cat. I’ll leave it to
you to figure out for whom they’re named.
Work out: I see a weekly session with my trainer as a
necessity. I had to find a new gym and new trainer in 2019, and I’ve been
delighted with Amir at the MJCCA. Many thanks to the Crier reader who
recommended him. I miss my workout partner of ten+ years, but we manage to meet
for lunch or coffee from time to time.
Happily, I also reconnected with Mary Sue, another friend
with whom I took yoga class until our instructor retired two years ago. Because
we’re both eligible for Silver Sneakers, and I knew she worked out at the
MJCCA, I got in touch. Now we’re attending yoga classes and the occasional
Pilates class together. Knowing we’re counting on each other to show up keeps
us going.
Connect with friends: Make time for lunch and travel
with girlfriends. I’m fortunate to have friends from all walks of life—high school, college, my teaching
days, and my corporate days. Add to
those longtime friends the ones I’ve met in the Dunwoody community through
yoga, writing, and my column, and I’m a lucky girl.
Read: It’s simple. Read at least two books a week,
maybe more. Of course, if I hadn’t taken
up writing mysteries, I’d have more time to devote to this pastime. Lately, I’ve gotten so caught up in my
writing that I often go upstairs to my office in the evening to write instead
of to bed with a book. Whereas reading was once my only passion, I’ve now added
writing.
Carpe Diem: Make the most of every day. Enjoy
day-to-day life with my husband and take pleasure in the simple things in life.
Whether we’re eating a home-cooked meal, dining out, seeing a movie or a play,
watching our favorite shows on television, or chuckling at the pets—we have much to be thankful for.
Perhaps the
overarching resolution is to wake up every day saying “Life is good.” The rest will
follow.
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