So, the first time I ever made a New Years Resolution was in my 68th year. I resolved to change my attitude/s. It's the only resolution I ever made and I've been renewing it every year since. That'd be almost 10 years! Yikes! I'll be working on this one right up to my grave site (& beyond, prob'ly.) Anyway, it keeps me young at heart to continue shifting attitudes as I navigate life changes.
May luck and pluck be yours in 2026, Grant! (I'm no longer comfortable w/ the words Happy New Year. Am thinking we're gonna' need lotsa' luck & pluck to get to the next presidential election.)
Oh, I love exploring your attitudes and thinking about how to change them. I also love the wish of "luck and pluck." Much better than the standard Happy New Year! May you be carried by luck and pluck this year as well!
This was so needed. I missed the first day of the 500 word Jan your story because I was lazing with my 78 year old mom and then had dinner with my best friend of over 30 years and our kids. I was feeling shitty about it and unnecessarily . Thank you
Oh, that sounds like the perfect day. To laze with loved ones. To dine with loved ones. What's better? You'll be well nourished for a good writing session ...
So smart. For years, my New Year's Resolution was to "Eat more fried chicken" and I never broke it! This year I'm just going to try to have fun on my own and with my loved ones!
The Rilke quote accompanies me to every class and workshop I facilitate. In fact, I finally made a print of it and it's awaiting a frame to hang in my office and see it every day. Because of course living the questions is the thing I need to accept right now. Thanks, as always, for such a thoughtful post.
I don't like New Year's resolutions for the mere reason that they do typically fail. I havne't made one in years and am not this year. I am however doing JanYourStory, and it's not a New Year's resolution - it's a challenge. And I'm up for the challenge.
I like your distinction, Carla: JanYourStory as challenge, not resolution. That's key. Also, we're not going to let 80% of participants fail. Also ... just showing up and having the intention to write is a part of success, so everyone succeeds in my book.
This morning, the first Sunday of 2026, my little Journey Imperfect Faith Community picked out star words (words printed on star-shaped pieces of paper). We picked up three and saved one. The one I saved was “now,” because with my husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, I want to enjoy the time we have while his brain works now.
Here's to NOW, Susan. For all of us. It's really all we have. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. I've been dealing with my mom's dementia, so I know how rough it can be.
Grant, I loved the cultural insight and the word “joyalutions.” I’m taking the JanYourStory too and wrote a post on returning to what matters. A different angle, though your post echoed so much of what I’ve been feeling. Here’s to joyalutions.
Every year I think about the vortex of resolutions. I like WendyMac's MORE/LESS list. Write what you want more of and less of. But this year instead of saying resolution, I'm saying experiment. I can't remember where I heard someone else talk about this, but it's feels more reasonable to experiment with something. Then failure is simply results--it's data, its insight, its saying okay, what's the next experiment?
But also this year, I'm celebrating the old New Year--meaning I'm going with the seasons and when the New Year was in March. I've tried picking a word for the year, but I get overwhelmed with the idea of picking a word that is going to work all year long. Instead, I pick a word for the season. And I'm taking the time between the standard January New Year and the old March New Year, so the word is liminal. It's a liminal time for me, waiting and working on some issues with family, and trying to decide what to do with my novel. It's all a process and I'm giving it time. And if it doesn't work? Lessons will be learned and I'll try something else.
Love your approach. The More/Less list sounds so good. And ... "experiment" means you're being led by your curiosity. That's a great way to live in my book.
You are so absolutely right. I came from India, and we had goals, and we worked very hard to achieve everything we have. I graduated third highest from my law school class in TX, became successful (defined by cases I won instead of money), my kids got into Yale, Duke and are docs. (Because what else can Indians be?) Sure I've lost cases, but I did not feel like a failure, because for each case I gave my very best. I had goals each year, growing up in India I did not know how to swim or bike, achieved those. Learned Spanish one year, forgot it the next year from no practice. Became a writer after retirement, and no, I can never be as successful as you guys, but I don't care. Yet, most of my American lawyer friends "feel like a failure." Even though they are successful. Find this more in women than men, and I really don't understand why.
Sounds like you have a lot of success to celebrate! Perhaps especially the success of enjoying the work for the work's sake. That's the best way to have success as a writer—and to never feel like a failure.
At 81, I'm accepting being in the twilight of my years here and how to be aware of every moment.
So, the first time I ever made a New Years Resolution was in my 68th year. I resolved to change my attitude/s. It's the only resolution I ever made and I've been renewing it every year since. That'd be almost 10 years! Yikes! I'll be working on this one right up to my grave site (& beyond, prob'ly.) Anyway, it keeps me young at heart to continue shifting attitudes as I navigate life changes.
May luck and pluck be yours in 2026, Grant! (I'm no longer comfortable w/ the words Happy New Year. Am thinking we're gonna' need lotsa' luck & pluck to get to the next presidential election.)
Oh, I love exploring your attitudes and thinking about how to change them. I also love the wish of "luck and pluck." Much better than the standard Happy New Year! May you be carried by luck and pluck this year as well!
So true, isn't it? Thanks for this meditation and wow—you (and by extension me) have a lot going on. Your Italy retreat looks amazing.
Lordy, do we have a lot going on!? Come to Italy!
This was so needed. I missed the first day of the 500 word Jan your story because I was lazing with my 78 year old mom and then had dinner with my best friend of over 30 years and our kids. I was feeling shitty about it and unnecessarily . Thank you
Oh, that sounds like the perfect day. To laze with loved ones. To dine with loved ones. What's better? You'll be well nourished for a good writing session ...
So smart. For years, my New Year's Resolution was to "Eat more fried chicken" and I never broke it! This year I'm just going to try to have fun on my own and with my loved ones!
I love this. I love that you can say you've never broken a resolution (just don't tell people what your resolution). Have fun having fun!
Loved this reframing of resolutions as discovery rather than self-correction.
I love this... I think the self-improvement culture is true for New Zealanders too.
The Rilke quote accompanies me to every class and workshop I facilitate. In fact, I finally made a print of it and it's awaiting a frame to hang in my office and see it every day. Because of course living the questions is the thing I need to accept right now. Thanks, as always, for such a thoughtful post.
I quote from it all the time as well. Live the questions. Write the questions. It's a wonderful way to be.
I don't like New Year's resolutions for the mere reason that they do typically fail. I havne't made one in years and am not this year. I am however doing JanYourStory, and it's not a New Year's resolution - it's a challenge. And I'm up for the challenge.
I like your distinction, Carla: JanYourStory as challenge, not resolution. That's key. Also, we're not going to let 80% of participants fail. Also ... just showing up and having the intention to write is a part of success, so everyone succeeds in my book.
This morning, the first Sunday of 2026, my little Journey Imperfect Faith Community picked out star words (words printed on star-shaped pieces of paper). We picked up three and saved one. The one I saved was “now,” because with my husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, I want to enjoy the time we have while his brain works now.
Here's to NOW, Susan. For all of us. It's really all we have. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. I've been dealing with my mom's dementia, so I know how rough it can be.
Grant, I loved the cultural insight and the word “joyalutions.” I’m taking the JanYourStory too and wrote a post on returning to what matters. A different angle, though your post echoed so much of what I’ve been feeling. Here’s to joyalutions.
Thansk, Mahi! And I hope JanYourStory is its own kind of joyalution!
Oh how on point and perfect timing. Thanks Grant.
Every year I think about the vortex of resolutions. I like WendyMac's MORE/LESS list. Write what you want more of and less of. But this year instead of saying resolution, I'm saying experiment. I can't remember where I heard someone else talk about this, but it's feels more reasonable to experiment with something. Then failure is simply results--it's data, its insight, its saying okay, what's the next experiment?
But also this year, I'm celebrating the old New Year--meaning I'm going with the seasons and when the New Year was in March. I've tried picking a word for the year, but I get overwhelmed with the idea of picking a word that is going to work all year long. Instead, I pick a word for the season. And I'm taking the time between the standard January New Year and the old March New Year, so the word is liminal. It's a liminal time for me, waiting and working on some issues with family, and trying to decide what to do with my novel. It's all a process and I'm giving it time. And if it doesn't work? Lessons will be learned and I'll try something else.
Love your approach. The More/Less list sounds so good. And ... "experiment" means you're being led by your curiosity. That's a great way to live in my book.
You are so absolutely right. I came from India, and we had goals, and we worked very hard to achieve everything we have. I graduated third highest from my law school class in TX, became successful (defined by cases I won instead of money), my kids got into Yale, Duke and are docs. (Because what else can Indians be?) Sure I've lost cases, but I did not feel like a failure, because for each case I gave my very best. I had goals each year, growing up in India I did not know how to swim or bike, achieved those. Learned Spanish one year, forgot it the next year from no practice. Became a writer after retirement, and no, I can never be as successful as you guys, but I don't care. Yet, most of my American lawyer friends "feel like a failure." Even though they are successful. Find this more in women than men, and I really don't understand why.
Sounds like you have a lot of success to celebrate! Perhaps especially the success of enjoying the work for the work's sake. That's the best way to have success as a writer—and to never feel like a failure.
Beautiful! I think these will make great writing prompts.
Love your alternative resolutions! I've even printed them out and hung them by my desk. :)
Thanks, Kris! Joy instead of productivity! Or productivity defined as joy ... I hope that's where they will lead.