No, I’m not talking about the movie (although it’s a good one). I’m talking about my determination at the start of a new year.

For many reasons, 2017 was tough. But I’m choosing to focus on the good things that happened, from getting my 5-year-old’s severe eczema under control in time for kindergarten to finishing my second book.

Now, I am looking to this new year with hope and faith that it’ll be better than the last. I did come up with some resolutions:

1. Go out on sub with my upmarket suspense.
2. Finish my next WIP.
3. Submit more essays.
4. Run a 5K with my husband.
5. Take my kids to Mount Rushmore.
6. Start painting again.
7. Get more sleep.
8. Do more yoga.
9. Be the good I want to see in the world (and want my kids to see).

Now that I’ve written them down they seem pretty ambitious. I have a tendency to overcommit myself, then get overwhelmed. (I think I’m not alone in this.) So while that last resolution is non-negotiable—it’s a rule to live by, really, and I hope to be braver about my beliefs—perhaps I can summarize my goals for this year as follows:

1. Do my best.
2. Don’t give up.

Wishing you all the best this year—may 2018 be the year all your dreams come true.