Let's Talk with Nancy J. Cohen
Let’s Talk with Nancy J Cohen
January 14, 2021
New Beginnings
by Nancy J. Cohen
January is the start of a new year and also the beginning of decisions to come. Should you join a health club, plan the vacation you’ve always wanted or submit your manuscript to a publisher? We start out with great resolutions that often fizzle along the way. It’s best if you set concrete goals that are achievable and list the steps you need to take to get there.
For my writing, I set creative and business goals. Then I go down the list throughout the year. In my personal life, it’s often the same refrain—follow a better diet, take longer walks, spend more time with family and friends, allow time off to reflect on life and enjoy our blessings. This year, we’re in a new house and I have to start my next book. I’m not particularly fond of starting over in either respect but it must be done. It’s easy to get complacent without change.
I can’t go on without mentioning the pandemic. Hopefully, this is the year of the vaccine and the reopening of our world. We’re all ready for change in that regard. We’ll see a political upheaval in Washington D.C. that will address climate change and foreign relations and other issues that have been neglected, among them preparation for any future pandemics. Many lessons could be gained from these past few years. Everyone’s lives have been disrupted and we are all hoping for the beginning of the end to these problems.
What’s on your personal list for 2021? Are you going to try something totally new or continue on to reach a current goal? Name at least one thing you’d like to accomplish this year. Good luck and best wishes for a healthy and productive future ahead!
While you’re here, click over and enter our January contest. One entrant will win their choice of book from the 6 books up for grabs. (Print book winners must have US mailing addies.) The contest runs from January 1-18, with the winner announced on January 19. ClICK HERE for the contest page.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Nancy J. Cohen • Tags: BLB Discussion, Let's Talk, Nancy J Cohen, New Beginings | 18 Comments
Hi Nancy, I’m ready for a fresh start. My one big goal for this year is to finish a project that’s been on the back burner for too long.
Good luck with this project, Cheryl. It’s exciting to work on something different for a change.
At this point, I’m just hoping we all survive everything that’s going on and we’re not hit with anything else. I’d love to have a boring year.
Amen! I’d like nothing better than to settle into a normal routine. I would like to be able to meet new friends, though, since we’ve moved into a new neighborhood and the pandemic restricts social gatherings. I look forward to in-person meetings and events in the near future.
I’ll finally finish the sequel-Edison’s Last Breath- to my first book Papa’s Problem. My protagonist was 6 years older than me when I wrote the first book. Now he’s six years younger!
I’m sure you’ll feel a sense of completion when you have this done, Patrick. Good luck in writing the book!
I write for fun in hopes that one day I’ll be a published author. My big goal is to get my book at least halfway done if not completely done.
What’s your one big goal?
Happy New Year.
My goal right now is to write another Bad Hair Day mystery. It’s hard to focus while fitting into a new environment. I find it helps to set a concrete daily goal, such as 5 pages a day or whatever works for you.
I definitely have a goal of polishing the one book I finished 5 years ago and I am now just re-reading. It’s kind of good. And also start a new writing project.
Those are great goals, Jane! Good luck with them.
My No. 1 goal for this year, as in previous years, is to maintain my health. That means maintaining my walking and yoga regimens. It’s a pretty basic goal, but it’s one that we all too frequently set aside for other things. Unfortunately, once we lose our health, we probably can’t get those ‘other’ things done!
You are so right, Terry. We’ve let things slide since we began our moving preparations but now we are trying to get back to normal in finding new doctors and getting into a routine. Warmer weather would help. My brain and body freeze when the temps drop below 65.
My goal: world peace… oh wait a minute, someone already claimed that one. Let’s see: happiness … elusive …. I know: exercise – the thing I hate most in the world second to cooking.
I agree with your opinion on exercise. Now that we are settling into our new place, we really need to start taking walks. Then again, it’s been too cold out.
I had someone approach me today, and it was an extended family member, and he got too close (about 3.5 feet) and I freaked out. I hope to get back to an even keel with regards to personal space during 2021. In addition I hope 2021 is nothing like his older brother, 2020. No health clubs or vacation in the near future. Would love to be able to travel to see kids and grandkids.
We still won’t eat out in restaurants, although we do get takeout. I won’t feel safe until the vaccine is more widely distributed, and even then, it will take a while. But I know what you mean about personal space, especially now.
My goal for 2021 is to be less cynical. So far not doing too well with that one, so probably should go with the old standby of losing a few pounds.
I’m with you on losing a few pounds. These last few months of stress eating have not been good for my waistline.