Setting Audacious New Year Writing Goals

I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions because A) I can set an artificial starting point any time and B) I fear the humility of failure. It has always seemed best to just quietly “do better” and surprise everyone when I (hopefully) pull it off. 

But if I have learned anything from pandemics and “big” birthdays, it’s that tomorrow isn’t promised. Audacious goals it is!

I started being audacious (for me!) already. The hubby has been wanting to downsize for quite some time, but I’ve been less enthusiastic. Our home was in a terrific neighborhood and filled with all the stuff we had lovingly gathered during the 30+ years we lived there. I was in no hurry to leave. The “big” birthdays reminded us, however, that time was no longer on our side. 

So we sold the family home and moved into a much smaller house in a 55+ community. All our household tasks are simpler now and when we travel, someone else will take care of things. We have talked with a few of our new neighbors who said they moved here for the same reasons, but then illness or Alzheimer’s upended their retirement plans. These sober reminders nudge me to be more audacious.

So I’m setting goals: Even though we are still not unpacked from the move, we’ll be traveling. Even though this book project is huge, I’m going to complete it by the end of January. Even though we are still running our business full time, we’re going to also publish and market the new book in 2022. How’s that for audacious?

To tell you the truth, the scariest part of audacious goal-setting is telling you! Negative thoughts keep whispering in my ear, threatening me with failure, but I will try my darndest not to fail. After all, I’d rather say I tried and failed than admit I never tried at all. 

Do you have any audacious writing goals for 2022? I’m rooting for you! If it helps keep you on track, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.