My 2017 Resolution Action List

res·o·lu·tion rezəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/ noun

1. a firm decision to do or not to do something.
2. the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter.

I do not always make New Year’s resolutions, probably because I have not had great success with the implementation of such. Perhaps because my resolution lists of the past were more about definition one above: a firm decision to do or not to do something. This year, I have changed the way I think about my list, adopting definition two: the action of solving a problem . . . or contentious matter. Because it is all about the action, right? A decision is really meaningless without action.

So here is my 2017 Action List, and 12 is the magic number this year. Why twelve? Simple: one action for every month of the year. I have committed to focus on one of the 12 actions each month, evaluate my progress in solving that particular contentious matter, and write about the progress, or lack there of. Committing to writing once a month will, I hope, help hold me accountable to the first action on my list (see below). I invite you to hold me accountable, and I am here to hold you accountable for your 2017 “action list”, if you want. Let me know. Here it goes:

1. Write more. Simple, right? It should be. However, I allow everything else to jump in line before writing. Even though I know writing is therapeutic for me, and good for my businesses. So, I will write more in 2017, and that will start with this: sharing my Action List with you, and at least monthly, expanding on one of the actions. I will share why each action is on my list and where I am in solving the “problem or contentious matter”.
2. Bring more peace into my life. I deserve more peace in my life. You deserve more peace in your life. How do we bring more peace into our lives? First, for me, I decided to escape for a while to force a slow down in my day-to-day life, and to help set limits. I have spent the month of January in a small cabin, in the mountains of western North Carolina, with my husband and fur kids. Not everyone can do this, I know. I will share more about the action with you in February, and let you know just how much peace the action brought into my life.
   

   The mountains are calling and I must go.

3. Be kinder to me. I will carve out more time for me and give much less focus to my inner critic. Rather, I will cultivate my inner advocate, I will forgive me, and above all, I will take better care of me.
   

   Be kinder to me.

4. Eat half, walk double and laugh triple. An extension of taking better care of me. 2016 was a tough year in many ways, and served as a major health wake-up call. I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a mammogram found two lumps in my left breast, and I learned that I have fast-growing cataracts. The cataracts will soon be repaired with a fairly minor procedure, although I apologize to all who continue to suffer through my error-filled texts and emails. Mom died with breast cancer at 58, my uncle died with a malignant thoracic tumor in his early 40’s, and I tested positive for BRCA1 and BRCA2 years ago. So needless to say, I was frightened to learn that my mammogram last May showed two tumors, and then relieved to learn weeks later from biopsy that both were benign. But the pulmonary hypertension diagnosis has thrown me for a loop, and I am still trying to wrap my arms around it. This is the first time I have divulged this information with anyone outside of a small circle of friends and family, which I suppose is a step in the direction of acceptance. I will share more in coming months, including the drastic changes I have made in my self-care.
5. Keep traveling, as often and as far as possible.
   

   Enka Lake, Asheville, North Carolina

   I do not regret one cent or one moment spent traveling. My mind and heart are open in large part due to my geographic exploration. That will continue.

6. Rant more. Uncharacteristically, I bit my tongue a lot in 2016. Especially when family and politics were concerned. In November I was called on the table. “Why didn’t you use your voice, Robin? You have an audience, and you chose to be silent. I was surprised, and disappointed.” Thank you for calling me out. And biting my tongue in that family situation . . . well that made a big difference (insert sarcasm). I will rant more in 2017.
7. Honor my dreams. Being a cheerleader of other peoples’ dreams is something I have always been good at. Friends, boyfriends, husbands, children, stepchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, employees, employers, and so on. No regrets, but who has been my cheerleader? It is time for me to honor my dreams.
8. Live in the moment. I pledge to not live in yesteryear. I pledge to not live in future world. I commit to living in the moment, at least more than I do now.
9. Increase my emotional intelligence. I will improve my ability to not only identify emotions, both others, and mine, but to then properly manage those emotions. Ultimately, to harness those emotions and apply them in my actions when problem solving. Ongoing work, and I will share more with you later this year.
10. Get my documents in order. I am oddly organized in some areas of my life, and totally disorganized in others. At this point, I really should enlist the help of someone to help me improve upon this. But I have to get organized first.
11. Focus with greater precision and efficiency on time management. I waste a lot of time. I have no excuses. I must improve upon this. Hold me accountable.
12. Water the flowers that are growing.
    

    Again, water the flowers that are growing.

    Finally, to wrap up 2017, although this will be a focus for me throughout the entire year, I will focus on those who love me and are loyal to me. I have wasted a lot of water and fertilizer on plants that are dying. No more. Repeat after me: water the flowers that are growing.

Did you notice that there is no mention of Out of the Weeds or Three Birds Tavern in my list? That is because I know that as I improve, my businesses improve. Everything above is not only about my personal life, and my relationships with my husband, children and friends, but also my professional life, and my day-to-day decisions that impact both Out of the Weeds and Three Birds Tavern.

Do you have a 2017 Action List? If so, I would love to hear how you are doing with it. If not, it is not too late to make one right now. I will help you stick to yours if you help me stick to mine.

Cheers, my friends.

Robin