2018's theme: Be Engaged, Be Present.

I always do resolutions. I've been doing this "new year, new you," thing since high school. As I've gotten older, I've come to terms with the fact that resolutions - at least in my case - are unattainable. I stopped doing them altogether when I had children. This mama doesn't need one more thing to add to her pile. 
Life does happen even as we plan. However, the only way to help this organized chaos for this anxious mama is to sit down and come up with some semblance of a plan. A few small things that I'd like to accomplish.
In 2017, I only set out to write one book. I didn't plan for it to be a memoir, let alone one riddled with poems. I didn't even plan on being involved in anthologies, but three published my poetry and one is set to publish my novelette. 
I don't know if I can even follow up or top this year, but 2018 is looking promising. I've been fortunate to live in a city where the super bowl was hosted, a world series happened right after a hurricane changed our landscapes and leveled neighborhoods. And a few days ago, a winter wonderland to remind us of how random and beautiful life can be. 
So my writing friends, what will 2018 look like for you? 
In this coming year,
1.) I will do some querying for my upcoming (and work in progress) poetry collection.  the Token Asian writes will find a home somewhere. 
2.) Submit articles to the Mighty, the Huffington Post, Blessed is She and inCourage. 
3.) Submit poems to 12 different publications - 1 poem or 1 publication per month. 
4.) Continue to promote and market books; do 2 different things for marketing once a month. 
5.) Continue to learn, to engage, to participate in the writers' community:

• Attend a workshop, a conference, read and review 1 book a month from an unknown poet or author. 

I also started a theme earlier this year. For 2017, I choose joy in all things. And it's been a lovely mindset. I've learned to be grateful; to breathe. To know that there are things that come to pass and things that are completely out of our control. I've been contemplating on what I'd like 2018's theme to be. I am going with Be Engaged. Be Present. 

• Be engaged in family, in fostering friendships, in my mama tribe, in my children's education, mental and physical health.
• Unplug once a week.
• Go on a trip without needing to feel like "checking in" on social media. Some times are sacred and we should remember to honor our time with our loved ones while we still can.
• Be engaged in the writing community. Learn from others, ask away, answer questions, reach out for help and be a guide for those struggling. 
• I need to be more engaging in my content. I've had friends and strangers reach out to me and tell me about their preeclampsia and depression. I believe one of the reasons most writers write is to touch one person and I'm so grateful that I already have to several mamas. The connections I've made this year have humbled me and made me realize that we are not immune to darkness, no matter how much light we emit. I want to be more involved in maternal mental health, in whatever shape or form. 

So as we reach the end of the year, I'd like to thank you friends who have helped shaped my 2017. Get to writing.
And in case I don't have time to write again, have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family. I'll see ya next year! ​