I'm Gonna Make a Resolution... (think Beatles, and "Revolution" tune)

Do I dare make resolutions for the New Year? Should I give a shout-out to 2005 that I'll do what I say I'll do? Or would I be lying?

I made one major one for Rosh Hashanah -- I joined a women's-only health club, planning to go at 6 a.m. 3-5 days a week when said club opens its doors. But my resolution has fizzled so far -- no 6 a.m. visits have been made, and I've only gone about 8 times since I joined 2 1/2 months ago.

Should I pick up on that resolution and re-resolve to visit the club religiously...or at least VISIT THE CLUB?

I think I'll put it on my list of things to do. But in no particular order, I should also resolve to:

* Follow through with what I set forth in motion, ie. querying publishers about picture-book manuscripts or poetry that I have written, requesting they view my work. I have been given the green light from several, but have not taken that next step. I should.

* Keep writing personal essays, poetry, children's books. I should not just list the titles and ideas I have for creative pieces, but should actually breathe live into these projects.

* Make time for me.

* Make more time for my husband and children...and parents and siblings and their families.

* Enjoy each moment to the best of my ability because time is fleeting.

* Continue to strive to be the best person that I can be.

* Continue to look for the good in the people around me, even if it's not so obvious.

* Continue to be thankful to Hashem for all that I am, all that I have and all that I can be.

Wishing you all a Good Shabbos. Wishing you a bright and beautiful 2005.

Please, and Thank You

I kept a journal for YEARS--books upon books, details upon details. The books were not just catchalls for my thoughts, but also held mementos: ticket stubs, airline boarding passes, snippets of articles, quotes I cherished, cartoons from the New Yorker, ads from New York magazine (funny, there's a trend there; I think this Torontonian wanted to take a bite out of the Big Apple), comedy material I'd written, etc.

I loved journal writing, but knew that I was doing it just for me -- nobody would share my words, nobody would have access to these sacred books that had my personal stamp all over them....

But a blog is somewhat different; it is an extension of the journal writing I did, but the personal words have become public words, the personal thoughts finding their way across vast distances that lay well beyond my computer screen.

So to that end, I must ask a favor of you pearlies of wisdom readers...if there are any. Could you please leave me a comment every now and then, just to let me know that I do have people interested in what I have to say. I have chosen to keep a public blog, not a personal diary, and to that end I need readers. It's difficult to write in a vacuum, without getting any feedback.

But I musn't be negligent and I must say thank you to those of you folks who have already left comments since I started my blog earlier this month. So thank you. Keep writing, and I will, too!