Calling in the New Year 

 This week brings me to a journey.
 
      I'm off to the Boston area to celebrate the Jewish High Holidays (better known as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur)  with my family. 

      Rosh Hashanah, for those not familiar, is the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement and requires a 24 hour fast- no food, no drink, not even water. Seriously. They mean business.

       For almost 30 years I traveled first to Michigan, then when the fam moved, to Massachusetts twice within two weeks. Sounds crazy, right? 
       While I was teaching, I had to fly back to Georgia for the 10 days between the holidays. (Who knew the school system wouldn't view economizing on flying as a legitimate use of personal days!) Yeah, they did give us three personal days per year- which I promptly had to use for the High Holidays in September- but they drew the line at taking a week of extra days just for convenience.

       When I retired six years ago, I decided I would  go and stay for the whole two weeks; no more double flights for the holidays. My mom was thrilled; not sure if my sister and family were as thrilled, but they were/are tolerant. LOL

       The two weeks have provided a different sort of journey as well. It pulls me out of my everyday environment with all my "stuff" around, both physical and emotional,  and places me elsewhere with just  whatever I can bring. That means thinking through what writing I want to work on, which books to read,  and which beading projects to work on. After I've culled through all of it, I have to see what will fit into one suitcase, keeping in mind I also need two weeks of clothing including "nice outfits" for synagogue (which I will attend four times).                                                            

       Thinking about which clothes, books, and projects to bring is not the only thinking that goes on. We are told as children- and it's a theme of the holidays- that the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a time to think about and 'fess up to any wrongdoings from the year (okay, they're technically called "sins" which is fine for grownups but a little over the top, in my opinion, for kids) and then make amends. No, it's not a 12-step kind of program, but the goal's the same. Admit to your mistakes, then apologize to the wronged person and make amends in any way necessary. That's legal. And not committing another "sin!"

 So here's my official pronouncement.....
to you and you, oh and you over there too.... if I've said anything or done something that upset you or angered you, or hurt your feelings, I sincerely apologize for it. As for the amends part, we'll have to  work that out when I get back into town!


      Wishing all my Jewish friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances a Shanah Tovah, a happy and healthy new year, and an easy fast. Not sure if I'll get out a post in the next 2 weeks, but check back just in case.

Write From the Soul

Happy New Year Everyone!!!   

Now that we've made it through the holiday season, it's time to settle back into a calmer pattern of "normalcy." Well, maybe normal isn't the perfect word for it, but it is time to move onward.

Heading into January often includes those dreaded resolutions for the new year. Some of them seem to find their way onto the list every year (lose weight, exercise more, organize the house) because we want to do them. Yet somehow, they never get done, or we fall short of the goal. I don't know about you, but that just has a way of making me feel bad about myself rather than helping me improve. So this year, I'm only writing things that either: A) I know I can accomplish and WILL accomplish, or B) are reasonable and purposeful even if I only accomplish a portion of them. 

Here we go. Oh, and the reason for announcing them publicly? 
It keeps me from weaseling out of doing them- I'm good at the rationalizing and avoidance thing- and I firmly believe in the power of positive expression. Putting positive thoughts out in the Universe brings that positivity back to you. And I'm a big fan of positivity as a means to Heal the World.

So, the list. 
1. Blog more regularly. 
If I want to stay connected to the kidlitosphere, I need to participate in it. Blogging is the simplest form of that. This also includes responding more to comments left on my blog- sorry I'm not so good at that.
2.  Go to at least one writers' conference and try to attend one I've never been to before.
3. Begin and hopefully finish at least 2 writing projects. 
That means 1st draft, working it through critique groups, and revisions. I'm thinking a picture book and a middle grades book.

Seeing a trend here? Lots of goals for writing, yes, but also do-able. Okay back tot he list...

4. Read at least 4 writers' craft books. These could be books on developing plot, writing query letters to agents, creating better dialog, or promoting yourself and your writing.
5. Enter a manuscript in a contest. 
I really shy away from this because I'm sure I'll never win or place. Not. A. Positive. Attitude. This year, I send one in.
6. Send a dozen query letters out to agents. 
I'd really like to find a literary agent this year. But in keeping with my statement about making resolutions purposeful and do-able, sending out those queries is the means to the end. Without querying, the agent is never obtained.

Okay, that's plenty for the writing side. Now for the more personal goals.

1. Eat healthier with the goal of lowering my A1C number.  
This is the diabetes indicator and I was classified as "pre-diabetic" for 2 years then had a period of time this past year when I became diabetic. Hate. It. I'm back down into the 'pre' category but would like to get down into the No-diabetes category......and soon.
2. Make a new friend. 
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing icky about the friends I have! But, for me, when I make a new friend- and I mean when you really develop that connection with someone- it feels like my heart grows a little bigger. I find that connection to others extremely life affirming for me and that's the kind of positivity I want surrounding me.
3.Find an additional way to help others. 
There are some mini and small scale things I do with regularity that help others, but the largest ways I helped out others have gone by the wayside. Service to others feeds my soul and I'm feeling a little less 'soulful' than I like to be. I'm hoping something will strike me this year. (Well, not literally strike me!)

I actually have a couple more resolutions, but they are extremely personal and I'm not willing to share them with the world just yet. I think for now, they will just stay quietly on the edge of my brain.


So, what's on your resolution list? Anything you want to share? Looking forward to connecting with all of you this new year.