"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 – Jan Beaver Coad provides her November-December Update!
I met Jan in 2009 during 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. Formerly a community college instructor and administrator, she is a delightful creative soul, multi-media artist and author. Jan has Undergraduate Degrees in Respiratory Therapy and a Masters Degree in Community Health Education. She left full-time employment to pursue an art and writing career. She and her children face many obstacles, including Asperger's Syndrome, attention deficits, learning disabilities, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Tourette's Syndrome.
Jan is the author of 'Why Don't They Come With Instructions?', a collection of personal essays about a Mother's journey raising special needs children and how it lead to the creation of a non-profit organization, The Lavender Door Foundation (the book will be available in August of 2010). Jan is currently working on a memoir about the importance of setting goals and following your dreams. She and her husband, children, cat, and dog live in the Seattle, Washington area. [Read Jan's 2009 Year End Essay.]
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)?
Jan Beaver Coad: I spent November and December continuing my exercises and doing some speaking and signings for my book. I have lost about 10 pounds total and I still am enjoying using the elliptical machine and swimming laps, or walking in the pool.
I have continued working on marketing plans: arranging more book signings and speaking engagements for 'Why Don't They Come With Instructions?' (StoneGarden.Net Publishing). In November I was interviewed on KLAY 1180 AM Radio Lakewood, Washington (on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving). It was a fabulous hour-long radio show and I really enjoyed every minute of it. They sent me an MP3 of the show and I was able to use bits of it to make a book trailer that I uploaded on my YouTube page and on my Facebook page.
In December I spoke with two groups in the Bay Area, California and did some book signings. Those were pretty successful events and I enjoyed meeting others with Asperger's and parents of special needs children.
Kim Simpson: What were your significant obstacles? How did you overcome the obstacles?
Jan Beaver Coad: Finances have still been tight – with the holidays and moving out of our home, the children had to go through quite a bit of change all at once. They are really adjusting to life aboard a boat and "WE ALL LOVE IT!". I wish I had been able to buy more for them, but we had a wonderful Christmas Eve with my best friend at her new home eating and playing games until very late. On the way home my son said, "This is my BEST Christmas Eve EVER." And on Christmas morning we had a great time just the four of us (plus Princess our crazy pup) opening gifts, and then we enjoyed a great dinner together later in the day aboard our boat. So, it was a wonderful first boat Christmas!
I continue to overcome my obstacles by taking small steps forward and trying not to allow anxiety, or lack of health insurance to overwhelm me. As long as I focus on the end goal, it keeps me going . . . and the entire family repeats the daily mantra, "Everything is going to be alright!"
My husband's new company is keeping him busy and I have been helping with marketing and office management, and creating marketing materials, along with a website for his business. I also made Christmas cards and purchased small gifts for his clients, so he had a great time visiting with them just before Christmas, and he knows he will have some great work in the New Year.
At the end of December my laptop computer (second one this year) got a huge virus that disabled the operating system and my computer crashed for the second time. Luckily, my ingenious husband was able to download everything from the hard drive and recover all my files! So lesson learned for the SECOND time: back up, back up, back up! [Kim Simpson: Jan, this is one of my top, on-going, resolutions, backing up all of my important files on multiple portable drives and putting one in my safe deposit box. It is so important! Keep going with those back ups!]
Kim Simpson: Were there lessons learned?
Jan Beaver Coad: NEVER give up on your DREAMS. I am a DREAMER and a DOER and I love encouraging others. I have met wonderful people this year, as I have been networking. As we help each other, what we put out there comes back to us in spades! So I continue to be of service to others as often as I can.
Kim Simpson: What is on tap for the next few months?
Jan Beaver Coad: I am still working on more plans for speaking engagements, book signings, and soon, publication of my second book, 'Connecting Food, Farm & You: 40 Farmers Markets In 40 Days, Western Washington (StoneGarden.Net Publishing, March 2011). I continue to work on the San Francisco book (second in Farmers Market Series scheduled for 2012 publication). I also intend to find an agent and send a query for my memoir about growing up with undiagnosed Asperger Syndrome (almost complete, so I plan to finish writing this book). And I guess, shop for a new laptop! :) [Kim Simpson: Good luck with all of your 2011 plans, Jan. Keep up the great work!]
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 – December 30, 2010
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