New Year’s Resolution 2018
I make the same mistakes, repeatedly. You? And, so, as each year comes to an end and a new one is about to begin, I seem to make the same resolutions. Heavy sigh. This brings to my mind, with a smirk on my face, the words of Saint Augustine: “ever ancient, ever new.”
Too often, my New Year’s resolutions center on me:
I will be more…
I will be less…
I will be a better…
But, this just goes round and round, and I circle around myself, like circling around a drain.
So, this year, in order to make a difference, my resolution is focused on a thing –
a book.
I resolve, God willing, to write a book by March 1 and to put it into the hands of an editor before my birthday (which is in April.) I make this pledge loud and clear, witnessed by the world (which is you, my dear reader) so that the world (you) will hold me to it.
So, ask me how my book is going: Have I finished my outline? How many chapters have I written? Is the first draft done? Bug, harass, harangue me – but don’t let me slack! Help me not to make the same mistakes this year, so that my book won’t be just an idea that bursts its fire upon the sky to be heard no more.
(If you have a New Year’s resolution with which you need help, please write it in the comments below and I will gladly bug you, too!)
Thank you, “world”. And may you have many blessings in the new year!
© 2017 Christina Chase
Photo by Glen Noble on Unsplash
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Christina Chase View All
Although crippled by disease, I'm fully alive in love. I write about the terrible beauty and sacred wonder of life, while living with physical disability and severe dependency. A revert to the Catholic faith through atheism, I'm not afraid to ask life's big questions. I explore what it means to be fully human through my weekly blog and have written a book: It's Good to Be Here, published by Sophia Institute Press.
Christina Chase 
Congratulations on your goal of writing a book! That will feel so amazing. Best of luck to you!
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Good for you, Christina! So I’ll go ahead and ask: Have you started your book? Do you have an outline? Is it fiction or nonfiction?
I haven’t made any resolutions yet. Still praying and discerning.
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It’s nonfiction – that’s a good start, right? 🙂 Still praying about whether it will be a collection of spiritual essays/reflections or a memoir… or a combination of both…? Stay tuned…
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Yes! A resolution that will make the world a better place
without your actually trying to do that.
And there’s more: God’s Spirit will live in the book
simply because you agreed to write it.
It will be like a little nativity, if I may.
And an epiphany. (OK, not
Exactly, but)
I’m serious! I’ve read enough here to know
That you are not writing alone.
So yes to the book, Christina.
Yes to where God invites us, and leads us,
And is “everywhere present, filling all things,”
As a favorite prayer has it
And I believe it.
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Thank you for the encouragement, Albert – and such beautiful encouragement! “It will be like a little nativity…” I will ponder this in my heart as I go forward with the writing of the book. Thank you!! Pax Christi
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That’s great news! You mentioned writing a book before, and I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on it finally
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Yes, I have mentioned it before – this time I mean it! (Please God.) My plea for help, in the form of pestering questions to keep me on track, is a genuine plea. So, I hope you will bug me about the book! (Interesting side note: I said into my dictation system “I hope you will bug me” and it wrote “I hope you will love me” 😀 Yes, sometimes it means the same thing.)
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Haha, I’ll do my best 😉
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Christina,
This is a wonderful idea. A rather tight timeline you’ve set for yourself but perhaps that is the way to do it. I’ll gladly help bug you – it’s a worthy endeavor.
I wrote a book of sorts a couple of years ago – nothing that will ever be published but it was important to me to write it. It was an interesting experience because, once I said “yes” to doing it, it just appeared in my mind and I typed it in a few weeks. I don’t mean that I knew exactly what it was going to say or that I didn’t have to do any editing, but it just unfolded. I wish you the same experience.
Good writing is when God writes through us. So glad you’ve said “yes”!
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Thank you, Mary! Yes, it does seem like a tight deadline, but much of the content is already written. Previous work needs to be combined with new work and pulled together into a book, with order, theme, flow, etc.. It seems like I’ve started hundreds of projects in the past, never to complete them. With this deadline, my public commitment, and the help of friends and fellow writers, I hope this book will get finished and become a reality!
Why do you say that your book (“of sorts”) will never be published? I, for one, would love to read a book by you! God works in mysterious ways…
Happy New Year! Pax Christi
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Hallelujah!
This is an answer to my urging you to publish a collection of all your works. And put me right up near the top of your list for a copy….maybe several for gifts!
I’m EXCITED!
SIOUX!
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I’m excited, too! And a little scared, I admit…. But, approaching all of this through prayer, because it is only with God that all things are possible. Thank you for your constant encouragement and enthusiasm, Sioux!
Pax Christi
Christina
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I’ve not made a resolution for more years than I care to remember, but I will make an exception from this point forward: To do my best for the environment by buying and using less plastic, creating less waste and recycling more. So the challenge is to use canvas bags, not using disposable coffee cups etc, and being more conscious of what I am consuming and throwing away. Good luck with publishing your book.
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Thank you! And best of luck to you on your worthy endeavor. If we all did the fairly simple things that you propose, we would much better fulfill our call to be stewards of God’s Creation! Wasting God’s gifts is never wonderful.
Happy 2018!
Pax Christi
Christina
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Hello Christina was able to get on the comp today and write to you. I do not do news resolutions. nope! 🙂 blessings on all your planning to do as we spoke in the past I will do whatever you need. Suggestion Do not push yourself too much get burned out it happens to the best of us. You have lots of support that is great. I need some accountability too. I need to get beta readers too. offfer that up in prayer if you would stay in touch. blessings
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Your suggestion not to push myself too hard and get burned out is very well taken. Thank you! I have burned out of other ventures before. This is another reason that I so appreciate support, suggestions, and reminders. You are a great friend and have been a great inspiration to me, Donna Maria! Looking forward to reading your book when it comes out! Know that I am praying for you.
Pax Christi
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