Making Resolutions

Every year I ring in the New Year by writing on the first blank page of my newest journal. Before I do this, however, I reread the previous year’s journal. I like connecting with the people, places and emotional highs and lows that have been part of my life. I’m often too preoccupied in my busy life to write every day, but I try to update my journal at least once or twice a week. Rereading is like watching an old favorite movie. I remember the good parts, cheer for achievements and mourn disappointments.

2014 was a banner year for me since my book, Dream of the Antique Dealer’s Daughter, came out last winter. I took part in a Calliope reading at West Falmouth Library as one of the featured poets in January, had my book launch at the Cultural Center in South Yarmouth in February, participated in a Voices in Poetry event at the St. Christopher Church in Chatham in April, as well as reading and playing piano at the International Woman’s Day in March (also at the Cultural Center). In June, I had my book displayed at the Author Palooza at the Osterville Library (hosted by Books by the Sea), as well as a book signing around Labor Day. The Steeple Street Poets gave a poetry reading at Sturgis Library in November.

Now, it’s time to contemplate 2015. My New Year’s resolutions are usually the same: Write more, exercise more, eat less. Sound familiar? I read recently that resolutions should be more specific. In other words, I might resolve to write for fifteen minutes a day, finish the first draft of my young adult novel (the one I’ve been working on for years), submit to more poetry journals, etc. 

I want to try something different this year. With time on my side, I would like to complete a new poem every week and find an old poem to rework. I know some poets aim for a new poem every day but I think, for me, that’s unrealistic. I also want to submit to at least two journals a month and also subscribe to several literary

journals and buy new poetry books (or at least check them out of the library). Hopefully, I can report back in a few months that I have at least been semi-successful in keeping my resolutions. Meanwhile, I know I’ll enjoy writing in the pages of my journal.

As Oscar Wilde once said, “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.”