Goodbye 2023, Hello 2024

It doesn’t seem all that long ago that I wished you all a happy 2023. It may seem to defy the laws of physics, but time does seem to go by more quickly as we age. The reality is that many of us have simply slowed down. We can deny it all we want, but our bodies come with an expiry date. For me, it’s the joints that are the biggest problem, for others it’s the heart, the lungs, or the mind.

But I’m not down and out yet. I have plans for 2024 starting with finishing some editing for a very special friend and taking a vacation down south for some fun in the sun. When I come back, I will set up my work calendar. I intend to publish books in 2024. Not as many as in 2023, or 2022, but a manageable number given that I work slower now than I did and have a number of responsibilities that cannot be overlooked. So, as Jack says, I’ll still do things–some dumb, some not so dumb–but I’ll do them slower.

And since it’s the cusp of the New Year, let’s talk about goals and resolutions.

Every year, some of us set our goals for the coming year. To be honest, I don’t have a good track record here, but I may as well try one more time–the difference is that I want to be practical this year.

First goal, I want to focus more on my health. I’m tired of being sore and tired all the time. So my first goal will be to see the doctor for a check-up. Part of this goal will be to lose some weight. According to the experts, the best way to do this is by being accountable to someone other than yourself. So, once a month, I will post my current weight and distance to my goal. I’ll start now at 166 lbs. Goal weight? 150 lbs–I’ll still be overweight for my height, but as I said, I intend to be realistic. I hope to increase the number of steps I take each day. With bad knees and hips, that won’t be many, but I hope to stand more and maybe throw in some chair exercises. We’ll see.

The second goal will be to complete 6 books by the end of 2024, three of which have been started but have languished on my desktop as I committeed to completing other work instead. I will set a six-hour workday for writing, which I hope will allow me time to do some of the other things I’ve put off for too long, like reading for pleasure and promoting my work. To that end, I will continue with my weekly Tuesday Tales and try to blog about something interesting once a week.

The third goal/ resolution is not to overextend myself and to truly think before I commit to anything else be it in my personal life or my writing life. I find it very hard to say no and I have to remember that saying no can be a positive thing. There’s only so much of me to go around.

My fourth goal is to get out more. Yes, I like to travel, but in all honesty, I am not a social bunny. I tend to stay home more than I should. So, in 2024, I will try to get out for something other than visits to the nursing home and grocery shopping at least once a month. Maybe hubby and I can plan weekend trips or date nights. We’ll see.

And my final goal will be to let things go that I can’t change instead of dwelling on them. I can donate to charity, but I can’t end poverty. I can pray for peace, but I can’t end war. I can wish I was younger, but I can’t turn back time. Dwelling on all the things that happen that I can’t change simply wastes precious energy and makes it harder to get the sleep I need. I have to let it go!

That’s it. In keeping with these goals, I’m starting the New Year off with dinner with friends and family. I will stay up past midninght, reaffirm my goals in the morning and start January 1st on a positive note.

Wishing you all a great 2024. Do you make goals and resolutions? How good are you at keeping them? My track record has been abysmal. Hopely, in 2024, I’ll do better.