Need to resolve to do some writing this year upcoming. Have been, but it’s been mostly for professional or personal reflection. I have submitted some stuff some places and been pleased to have been published. My most recent is over at The Catholic Standard, https://www.cathstan.org/voices/new-years-resolutions-of-faith-before-the-jubilee-year-ends.
The Jubilee Year of Hope is about to end, and I happened to spend an hour in adoration this past week, where the Holy Spirit reminded me, there is still time to help souls in purgatory through January 6th of 2026, with intercessions and indulgences. There is always time, because God always hears our prayers, but the disciplines and graces afforded during this special year, with the Holy Doors, will cease on Tuesday, January 6th.
Writing has taken a back seat this year, to grief, to teaching, to life. However, I felt the push again to try and pursue this most unlikely of venues, because it is a source of insight and joy for me. You can’t really teach Creative Writing and not either get bitten by the writing bug because you aren’t writing, or bitten more because you are. Either way, you will find yourself having to sit at the keyboard and pouring out the words.
It’s rather like prayer –talk to God, you will start hearing God’s answers. Go to visit God, you will start seeing God everywhere else. Begin, and God will invite you deeper. It is the way of love, to infinity or it is not love.
I personally love New Years’ resolutions and I almost always make lots of them, and wind up keeping none. So I did a little digging to see what I wrote last year.
Scrolling back, let’s see. Did I write more? Yes. Even started getting published again as of September.
Did I read about a book a month? What did I read….
The Outsiders –because I’d never read it. (really).
Typhoid Mary
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club.
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect.
Everyone in this Story Has a Secret.
Lessons in Chemistry
Lord of the Rings (all of it) –so Fellowship, Two Towers, and Return.
1/2 way through Winston Churchill’s My Early Life –before I lost it, just refound.
Only the Ball was White –reading, misplacing, having to restart…
So ten books over the year, and two I’m working on…not bad.
Did I lose weight? I lost twenty pounds if you count losing the same two pounds ten times.
Applied for and became full time teacher this year.
Applied for and did not get nationally certified. Trying again this year. (Because I’m very stubborn).
Still need to –finish editing Helen and Doctors –working on a plan.
Still working on playing piano. Can’t do drums, it upsets my puppy too much.
Did I pray an hour a day? Some days yes. Some days no. Did not keep track or account. Probably should have. But God knows, I did listen to the mass some days on route to work and that I tried.
Will be more intentional or intend to be more intentional this year.
What are my goals for this year? To lose an actual ten pounds (More realistic).
To read twelve books over the course of the year, and yes, audible books count.
To get published once a month in two different venues, and maybe try some new venues.
Actually exercise. Like dancing or swimming or weight lifting…like I said, the triumph of hope over experiece always lurks in my resolutions.
Fortunately, I think every day is like New Year’s. Begin again.
Happy New Year everyone!
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