I Resolve To® . . . Resolutionista & Kentucky Playwright, Trish Ayers, Takes The Challenge – September 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 September installment. 

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)? 

Trish Ayers:  My goals for September:

1. Input the final edits on the full-length play 'Taking Stock'.
2. Work on de-cluttering our house.
3. Continue working on our bedroom remodel.
4. A reading of 'Painting The Egress' at 517 Playwrights.
5. Work on organization binders.
6. Shred paper.
7. Start a new play.

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

Trish Ayers: I think most days I made at least one small step toward my goals.  For instance:

1. I tried to work on a scene or two each week.  I have one scene to go.  So it will be ready for the reading in November.
2. We got a number of items off our back porch.  Every week I take at least three things from the porch and either find a new home by donating, or giving  it away, or throw it away.  So, I work on this once a week before trash pick-up.
3. Our bedroom continues to be a work in progress.  In September we bought the paint for the trim and a new white iron bed.  It looks amazing.  I also put on the comforter set I bought almost a year ago, but wouldn't put it on until the room was painted.  We also pulled everything out of the little closet and sorted through it.  Now there is room for my husband's dress shirts, our laundry basket and my box where I store future birthday, or Christmas gifts.  I would say I worked on our bedroom about 10 days in total.
4. Successful reading of 'Painting The Egress' with some good insights, which inspired me to revise the play.  I did the revision and love the changes.  I worked on this about seven days and even managed to run off a hard copy to put in my one-act play binder, so next time I want to submit it, the play will be ready to go.
5. I am finding myself working on the organization binders at least several times a week.  For example, when our house taxes came in the mail, I went straight to my home binder and put it in there, so when the time comes to pay it, all I have to do is pull it out.  I also finally located our will and put a copy in the binder and the official copy in our lock box at the bank.  I feel so much better that if something happens to us our daughters won't have to search through all kinds of papers to find our will.  With regards to my writing binders, they already came in handy this month because when I needed to submit a piece I went to the binder, pulled out the play, made a copy, and mailed it off.  Of course I replaced the original script back in the binder.  My binder system is a blessing.  I have never been a good filer and the papers used to stack up.  Now I just locate the binder and "file" that way!
6. Every day I would shred paper that we didn't need that came in the mail; and once a week I would do a major shredding, so I could fill our recycling bin.  As an active playwright, I have so many different revisions of plays, and multiple copies of some I have had a reading of that play.  So, every time I ran several copies of scenes of 'Taking Stock' for the upcoming reading in November, I would sort through my writing papers and decide which ones needed to be shredded, which ones I needed to keep and put in a binder, and which ones I would just place in the recycling bin.  I am seeing progress.  I am not just moving the piles of papers around!
7. I started a 10-Minute Play and wrote it slower than usual because I only worked on it a few minutes every day.  I would say I worked on it at least 15 times this month.  I only have one page to go before my first reading.

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

Trish Ayers: I had a couple of significant breathing problems, which required medicine and when I take that medicine it always takes me time to get back to normal sleep patterns.  I found when I could sleep, I had to sleep.  I overcame these obstacles by writing in my journal what I hoped to achieve while remembering to take in account my energy level.  It seemed if I did a little at a time, I still continued to make progress.

Kim Simpson:  Were there lessons learned?

Trish Ayers: I found that slow and steady was the answer for this month.  I would do a little at a time every day and I still saw progress.

Kim Simpson:  What is on tap for next month?

Trish Ayers: So much on tap:

1. Hold my new granddaughter Josie Lyn, who was born October 3rd!
2. Help my daughter settle in after having Josie.  I will be at their apartment as long as they would like.
3. Finish inputting the final scene of 'Taking Stock'.
4. Finish the last page of my new play.
5. Complete and send out publicity for November reading of 'Taking Stock'.
6. Submit one play for publication consideration, or a contest.
7. Work with the director on the details of the production of the collaborative play, 'Money Blue$'.

Kim Simpson:  Other thoughts?

Trish Ayers:  This month I am giving myself a break from house projects, which includes shredding paper, working on our bedroom, binders, and de-cluttering, since I may not be home much of the month.  Dear little Josie may just occupy my time!  [Kim:  Congratulations Trish on you success with priority projects – small steps do add up over time!  Enjoy your time with Josie!]

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 – October 17, 2010
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