Full disclosure: I’ve had a really rough 2023. For lots of reasons, most of which wouldn’t be very interesting to you. But for this list of resolutions to make any sense, I need to preface: I am one tough cookie, but 2023 still left a lot of bruises.
And that’s okay. I’m coming out the other side of it stronger and healthier than I was going in. It’s all good.
But here’s the thing about resolutions: I hate them. For the first many years of my life, I would set the normal resolutions: lose twenty pounds; go to the gym three times a week; get up at four every morning to read my Bible; limit my chocolate consumption (hahahaha). And I would always fail, and then I would always feel awful about failing.
So a few years back, I quit resolutions.
But like a good author, I didn’t quit setting yearly author goals.
It’s a thing lots of us do. We sit down and plan out our year, and we set goals.
Well, my goals going into 2023 were really, really big. They weren’t impossible, but with all of the other hard stuff going on in my life, my goals tried to squish me like a bug. So, when it came time to set my 2024 goals, I sort of froze. I was scared to make any.
And then I had another thought. Don’t refuse to set goals. Just set fun ones. So, are you ready? Here we go!
- Read more with my goats. That’s right. Like any good weirdo, one of my favorite things to do is to prop up a folding chair in the pasture and read in the sunlight. And my goats like that too. I didn’t do that much this past year, so this year, I’m going to do it A LOT.
- Go for long “research” drives. I love to road trip, but then I feel guilty for doing it, and so I don’t. But 2024 will be the year for long, aimless drives to anywhere. Like I’m starring in a good country song, I will throw a dart at a map and then get in my minivan and GO! Then, when I see something cool, I will pull over and write about it. Hence, the research.
- Embrace my inner coffee snob. That’s right, I’m going to stop drinking bad coffee. Life is too short. Yes, it’s expensive. I’m going to try to stop caring. We have a chain here called Aroma Joe’s. They are going to know me. (One time I took my baby goats through the drive through, and they gave me free coffee. Maybe that’s the answer: more baby goats.)
- Do the Griddy more. I live in New England. People are kinda mean here. Often, when they learn that I write Christian romance, they get snarky. Then I weep. NO MORE! From now on, whenever someone is mean, I am just going to do The Griddy. (Okay, so you don’t know how funny that is until you’ve seen me do it, so now I have a new resolution …
- Film myself doing The Griddy and post it for all the world to see. (Also working on humility this year, I guess.)
- Laugh (loudly) at my own jokes. Last night I was editing, and I laughed super hard at something I wrote. Then I felt guilty. NO MORE! From now on I’m going to entertain myself every day, and if someone doesn’t like it, see Resolution #4.
- And last but certainly not least … eat more chocolate. Guiltless, delicious chocolate. The expensive kind. The fancy kind. The pretty kind. The kind with bacon in it. The best kind I can find. Yes, it will make me jiggle more when I do the Griddy, but they will be happy jiggles.
Here’s wishing you and yours a truly joyous, loving, and loveable 2024. Take care of yourself! 💚
Hi, family! My name is Robin Merrill, though I write under a few other pen names. I live in rural Maine with my family and an assortment of barnyard critters. I have written more than fifty books, many of them during my daughter's dance events or my son's cattle shows. When I'm not reading, writing, or driving the minivan, I can often be found frolicking with my small goat herd. I also love gardening, but I'm really bad at it. Visit me at robinmerrill.com.
Love this!
Happy New Year Robin! Loved reading this blog that made me laugh. Great resolutions and many this retiree can relate too. Plan to enjoy some quiet mornings hearing the waves of Lake Michigan. Fortunate that from November thru April I can park along the beach and hear the waves from the comfort of my car. While I prefer to drink my coffee at home – I have been purchasing special roasts and not the generic Maxwell House. Laughter is the best medicine. Love to keep my 7 year old granddaughter entertained by silliness during our weekly FaceTime moments. Hubby and I also enjoy being silly. Keeping a holiday Dollar Tree elf that turns on the lights at night. Gives the retirees something to look forward to each evening. While I don’t have goats, I do enjoy their antics. Best wishes.
Reading with goats and chocolate? I love it!
Happy New Year to you also. I also quit making resolutions. I know make goals, and every four months reevaluate them. This seems to work well for me. I have different categories also. Like reading my Bible, quilting, housework, etc.
Awww, Robin! I did goat yoga once. Best day ever! Also, I need to know what the Griddy is!
I do not make resolutions or even set goals. Like you, I make them, then break them. But I LOVE your goals for 2024. I need to learn The Griddy. Then I can join you!!
Happy 2024!
I’m definitely going to change a few of your suggestions to where they fit me!!! The last quarter of 2023 was very stressful for me, and I love to laugh! Plus, I live alone, so it doesn’t matter if I laugh out loud or not! I don’t make resolutions, I never kept them, and I don’t set goals. I try to be open to whatever God has for me, and try to cling to Him harder when times are stressful, so I’ll keep doing that, with even more intention. My New Year is starting off well, with a new insurance client (that bring my total of new clients for 2024 to 10), and I’m already editing a book, so both of my businesses are off to a great start!! I already know of three other books I’ll be getting by the end of this month!
I quit making resolutions many years ago for the same reason as most people. I didn’t keep them. I set goals for myself. This year, I will eat healthier, drink more water, and walk at least five days a week. I already read my Bible every day and ARC books that I receive.
These are my kind of goals! Have fun achieving them! ❤️
Hi, and Happy New Year!! I loved reading your post and all I can say is “Good for You!!” Lets make 2024 a much better year than last year!! Have a great rest of the week.
This is such a lovely positive post for the new year. I totally understand what you mean with resolutions, I have stopped them myself as they just became something else for me to feel bad about, instead I try to set some goals for the year on my birthday.
Wishing you better things for 2024.
Happy New Year, Robin! It sounds like you’ve got yourself all sorted!
I love good coffee, so bought a decent machine and make my own most of the time. That way I can buy the really good beans!!
I pray God will guide you and make this year your best yet!
What a wonderful post, and you aren’t the only one who had a really rough 2023. Now I understand when people say if you had a rough year, congratulations on surviving it. If you had a better year, then wishing you an even better year!
I sometimes do resolutions but now I ensure they are discrete and measurable and sometimes stretch me, but are simply not something I’m not going to achieve, like be skinny, lol. So ones for this year are read one author new to me each calendar month and to experience one new activity/location/event etc each calendar month. I let go of beating myself up years ago about them and I am happy you are too!
Happy New Year. I do not make goals or resolutions. I have a word for the year. It is Trust. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Thank you, Ellie. :)
Hi Renate! Thanks so much for this. It sounds delightful! I have spent a lot of time in Michigan, and I used to drive to the beach in the winter to have my lunch while staring out at the snowy bluffs and ice covered lighthouse!
hahaha!
So my friend (the yogi) and I (the goat lady) were going to start offering goat yoga, but then we accidentally got a cow who pooped everywhere so we couldn’t ask people to roll around in the grass. But future goals!
lol! Me too! :)
Good for you! That sounds lovely.
Haha, yes! Team Griddy!
Oh that’s all so awesome, Trudy! Praise God!
Nice! I love walking too. So good for us!
I will do my best! :)
Yes, it needs to be better! Thank you. :)
Right?! I do not need to be setting myself up to feel bad later! Thank you, and you too!
Thank you, Margaret! Yes, a good home coffee system is such a valuable source of happiness!
Those are great goals!
That’s a great word!