Resolutions or goals ?

cj Sez: I admit I have never been able to keep any New Year's resolutions. When my career in a corporate environment taught me to set "goals," a lightbulb went off. 

  The writer in me said, “No wonder I can’t keep a resolution.” The word “resolution” infers a passive ending…you know, set it and forget it because it's reached resolution. Whatever that was has been resolved.

 

  The word “goal” infers action…a constant striving to reach it or be defeated. The important thing is that a goal must be realistic and reachable or it is automatically defeating.

  

  I admit I have yet to set a goal for 2023. Since I love words and the syntax and cadence of a well-crafted sentence, paragraph, chapter, and story, I expect my reachable goal for 2023 will to once again sit down and write something—which I did not do in 2022. Yet enthusiasm wanes and ennui waxes when I contemplate self-publishing and marketing my novels. If a return to writing turns out to be my goal, I will not be defeated.

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  The new year does bring hopes for new opportunities, but it also brings with it memories of times gone by. Some memories bring fresh tears, some preciously bring smiles and warm feelings of love. A friend’s recent Facebook post sent my mind wandering back to my childhood days and my grandfather in Texas. The first things I remember are his blue eyes and thick Swedish accent. Of course, the years have enhanced my memories of Grandpa, but my fondest memory is still this:

Sitting across from him and his big, bushy, white mustache, playing checkers on top of an over-turned galvanized tub and dipping mama’s homemade bread into the hot, black coffee he poured into his saucer. I was about four years old and winning the game (so I thought).

  Does the arrival of 2023 bring memories for you? I hope they are mostly happy. 

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   When I first saw the picture of Mr. Scrappy Rooster, I wasn't sure if he was the winner or the loser, but then I thought, he's not only upright, he’s strutting, He’s definitely the winner. He’s my mascot again this year.

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A readers and writers note 

  

  Something to think about: If you replace “W” with “T” in What, Where, and When, you get the answer to each of them.

§§

  That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for your health and safety.

cj

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