Resolutions or Changes?

Do you make New Years resolutions? Do you keep them? I used to make them, mostly of the losing weight variety, but typically I’d break my diet by noon the next day, if I made it that far, so I gave them up. But I admit the New Year is a perfect time for beginnings and changes. In the past, I’ve been successful in changing unhealthy habits to healthy ones, but they weren’t on January 1.  I quit smoking when I got married in June all those years ago. I started exercising with some regularity. I don’t remember the months, Several years ago one summer, I made a conscious decision to floss daily. It’s such a part of my routine now, I can’t imagine why I’d been lazy about it. This past December,  I’m started drinking more water and less coffee. Not only do I need to keep hydrated, I’ve read it’s supposed to suppress appetite. There’s some theory circulating that you should quit dieting but eat healthier and only in a 12 hour span of the day, working toward 8 hours.  That doesn’t sound so hard. I love chocolate and wine, and instead of completely cutting these high-cal delights out, I’m going to limit my consumption. All very doable.

And writing wise? I’m going to try a new mystery series in the voice of a woman. I had even thought of turning myself into a “pantser,” one who writes by the seat of their pants. But I can’t. I’m a planner of sorts. Not a serious outliner, but I need to think and make notes before I write, so I have down in my mind everything about my new main character: personality, likes, dislikes, flaws, and positive attributes. Her family, past history and her goals and what’s keeping her from obtaining them. I came up with her  full name early: It is Millicent Luella McCandliss, but she goes by Billie, or Billie Mac. (Her Dad used to call her Millie Billie.) I need to think through the plot line, the crime and problems she’s confronted with and how she’s going to solve them. Oh! This is the fun part, letting my imagination have at it.

Change is good, people, so excuse me, I need to get back to Billie Mac. First, I’ll grab a cup of coffee  er. . . glass of water.