New Year, New Beginnings

Last Sunday after church I bought a spiral notebook that had on the cover a picture from one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books, Oh, the Places You'll Go! It shows a little boy in a hot air balloon following a bunch of other hot air balloons up in the sky. The message of the story is simply that life is full of infinite possibilities. I figured having a journal with this image where I write down my ideas, blog drafts, and other items related to achieving my dream of becoming a published children's author, would be a good way to remind me to keep working toward my dream, even when the madness of life hits like it is prone to do.

One of the first things I wrote in the notebook was my 2011 New Year resolutions. Like last year, I've created eight resolutions to focus on. It's a bit of an ambitious list, but with discipline I think I can do most of them. Here they are:

1. Begin a blog to document the 100 children's books I will read this year. It will be research I conduct before submitting my children's stories to agents and publishers. I read an article in one of my writing magazines where an agent was quoted as saying that writers should read at least 100 children’s books before submitting their own to publishers in order to get a good idea of what kinds of children's books are popular.



2. Create a professional blog to serve as a resource of information for my resume clients and potential clients. This will also help with goal # 3 which is to:



3. Self-publish a resume writing handbook that also features chapters on networking and other career related tips.



4. Complete my science-fiction novel.



5. Complete my women's novel.



6. Read at least one novel a month. Any writer can tell you that the more you read the better writer you become. And since I am working on finishing a women's novel and a science fiction novel, both I began writing over a year ago, I think reading other books will help me to finish the ones I want to get published the most.



7. Save $500-1,000 to have an fantastic 40th birthday trip in November to Florida or Las Vegas. Because with the exception of my then-4 year old nephew giving me 30 kisses on my 30th birthday, that birthday sucked, and I am determined to make sure 40 doesn't.And last but not least...



8. Go to God with every important decision that I need to make, especially those that really weigh on me.

As for the last resolution, you would think that I'm already good at going to God to ask for guidance in decisions, but the crazy thing is, I haven't always been. There have been many times in my life where I've struggled with a decision because I didn't go to God with it, and those times that I did go to God in prayer, I woke up the next day feeling at peace and knowing the right thing to do.

So this year will be different. I'm going to do what it says in Philippians 4:6 and ask God's input for those things that really weigh on me - then listen for his response. Because going through struggles without seeking God's help many times has ended in disaster for me. But those days are over now!

As I read over the list, I realize I might be biting off more than I can chew, but I believe in aiming high, and since 2010 was a really difficult year, I'm determined for 2011 to not just be good but great. I encourage you to do the same - create a happy New Year, don't just hope for it to happen.

So get working on those resolutions, and be blessed in 2011!