I Resolve To® . . . Resolutionista & Kentucky Playwright, Trish Ayers, Takes The Challenge – March Update!

"Do you know where your New Year Resolution is?" 

That is an often asked question in the days and months that follow the new year.  Statistics show that the majority of resolution-makers eventually abandon their pursuits.  During the past five years, as I have studied and practiced what works and what doesn't work, I have encountered scores of passionate people who do persist day-after-day.  I coined the word 'Resolutionista' for these folks and the 'resolve' they patiently display:  Resolutionistas make resolutions, keep resolutions and enjoy the journey!  Borrowing on my years as a working journalist, I am running an inspirational series of interviews with ordinary folks who do extraordinary things.  They breathe life into their dreams, resolutions and daily goals, one small step at a time, one day at a time over the long haul.  Though they may statistically be in the minority of resolution-makers (the ones who succeed), I want to highlight 'what works', and give them credit for their accomplishments!

Resolutionista (rez – o – lution – ista)  Noun 1. Someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions and enjoys the journey.

In  2010 several Resolutionistas have agreed to take the I Resolve To . . . Challenge:  365 Resolutions For Health & Happiness.  They are building their year-long game plans around their own personal dreams, resolutions, goals, and Daily Resolves.  Each month, they will report on their achievements, obstacles and lessons learned – Trish provides her third (March) installment today.  She deserve a whole series of 'gold stars' on her calendar for a job well done because she was dealing with health issues while making progress one small step at a time, one day at a time!

I met Trish Ayers in 2009 in my travels around Gather.Com, a Social Networking Site for the over 30 crowd, and also the home of my Gather I Resolve To . . . Group.  Trish is a wonderful essayist, workshop presenter and an award winning poet and playwright from Kentucky.  She originated and leads the Kentucky Women Playwrights' Seminar, which twice has been funded by the Kentucky Foundation For Women.  Her plays explore social issues such as breast cancer and have been presented throughout the United States and Japan, including venues such as Live Girls, Hedgerow Theater, Iowa State University, Western Illinois University, and Berea College in Kentucky.  [Click here to read Trish's 2009 Profile.]

Kim Simpson:  Please provide highlights of your priority goals (you may have one theme with several goals, or goals that vary each month, or some other combination)?  [Note:  Thanks to the crush of daily activity and other obstacles, monthly updates by Resolutionistas are sometimes delayed beyond the first of the month.  Obstacles are a common threat to progress – the trick is to take them in stride, make course corrections, and continue follow through via rewewed small daily steps.]

Trish Ayers:  March Goals –

1. Work on going through our 'Junk Room' and begin to turn it into a guest room/craft room.
2. Submit one piece of writing.
3. Lose weight and eat healthy.
4. Shred paper (as a playwright, poet, essayist, I have a stack of revisions).
5. Work on organizing my papers into binders.
6. Begin production of a collaborative play.
7. Edit one scene on new full-length play, "Taking Stock'.

Kim Simpson:  How many days did you successfully achieve at least one small step toward your priority goal(s)?

Trish Ayers:  March was a rough month.  I continued to deal with respiratory issues and I fell and hurt my side!  Not much fun to breathe.  Still, I managed to meet some of my goals and worked on my goals at least half the days in March.

1. I did very little work on the craft room because of my health issues.  I plan on getting back to this project now.  We did manage to remove several large items and found good homes for them.
2. I submitted one piece of writing and gave permission for another person to read a couple of my plays, which are in an in-process manuscript.  In March, even while ill, I managed to have five of my 10-minute plays ready to submit.
3. There is nothing like trying to lose weight while taking Prednisone.  I managed not to put on weight by watching my food portions.
4. I did a bit of my 'shredding paper' project, but it also was limited.
5. I did little work on my effort to 'organize my papers into binders', but I did maintain the binders I had started; and my husband was thrilled when it came time to figure out taxes that everything was on one binder!
6. I am sad to say the 'collaborative play' had to be cancelled because two cast members were dealing with a seriously ill child who was fighting a contagious infection.  It was decided to postpone the show, so as not to expose the cast, and out of concern for the cast members dealing with the illness of the child.
7. The play 'Taking Stock' is moving along nicely.  During the editing process I have been able to flesh out my characters more and the play is strengthening.  Editing is a good thing.

Kim Simpson:  What were your significant obstacles?  How did you overcome the obstacles?

Trish Ayers:  Once again, my health limited me on the amount of work I was able to do on goals.  I took it one day at a time and tried to take small steps, which also helped me to stay positive during a challenging time.

Kim Simpson:  Were there lessons learned?

Trish Ayers:  I learned that maintaining positive patterns is also important when working on goals. Even though I wasn't able to move forward as much as I desired, I saw benefits of the previous work.  This reinforced my desire to continue with my goals and making small steps.

I also learned that sometimes a good dose of family will make me feel better!  Balance is important and fun is part of that balance.  Of late, I have become way too serious.  I need to relax a bit and hold my grandson while listening to my daughter's laughing.

Kim Simpson:  What is on tap for April?

Trish Ayers:  Well, since it is 3/4 through April, I can say that I have backed off a bit on my goals, so I can completely heal.  This past weekend we had a wonderful mini-family vacation that has given me the burst toward getting back on track with my goals.

My goals for next month:

1. Take a bag of books to sell at the local used bookstore and move bookshelves into the office-craft room.  I also plan on spending 15-minutes each day sorting through things and organizing items.
2. Submit one piece of writing.
3. Lose weight and eat healthy.
4. Shred paper.
5. Work on organizing papers into binders.
6. Finish editing the First Act of 'Taking Stock'.

Kim Simpson:  Other thoughts?

Trish Ayers:  Once again, I strongly encourage people to join us on the Gather.Com chat you have.  I always feel inspired by the comments of others participating during the chat.  [Note:  The next Gather Resolutionista Chat is June 29 from 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. (ET).]

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration?  Wear Your Resolution By Visiting The I Resolve To . . . Shop At CafePress:  IResolve To . . . Resolutionista Gear And By Joining The Official I Resolve To . . . Group At Gather.Com.   Get going on your 2010 New Year Resolutions with the I Resolve To . . . Worksheet & Promise.  View my 2009-2010 Health & Happiness Tapestry by clicking through Daily Resolve Photo-Resolutions.

Kim M. Simpson – April 25, 2010
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