Goodbye, 2022
Every year when December rolls around, I begin doing an analysis of the past year. Sometimes this process is a discouraging one as I tally wins and losses (too often focusing on the losses) and look at my goals not achieved:
Did I exercise 5x each week? Did I walk far enough with the dog each day? Did I eat enough vegetables and fiber, and did I successfully avoid sugar? Did I watch too much TV?
This year I am weary of analysis that results in me coming up short. This year I’m focusing on gratitude. I decided to evaluate the year by focusing on those things for which I can be grateful. Here is my list so far:
After years of talking about one day writing fiction, in 2022 I finally started working on a novel. It has been slow-going and at times painful, but I am grateful to have begun.
While I haven’t yet found the right combination for motivating and fueling my writing energy, I am focused on writing in a way that makes me happy. If it doesn’t make me happy, I don’t have to do it. I am grateful for this attitude.
I am grateful I signed and published books in 2022 that truly make me proud, and I’m grateful to get to know the women who have authored those books. They are a huge part of why I love what I do.
I am grateful to be working with a team of editorial, production, and design women who are so smart and talented they make me look awesome. Every week in our Monday status meetings they make me laugh out loud. Because of my authors and my team, I love coming to work each day.
We didn’t have pets growing up, so when my son and I got our first dog many years ago, I was nervous about how much added work it would be and nervous that I might not love the dog. I didn’t know then what I know now. To have a dog is to love the dog. In October of 2022 my sweet pup Lexie died of cancer at age 13. I loved that dog, and I am grateful to have discovered how much joy a dog can bring to one’s life.
I’m grateful to do work I’m passionate about. I believe women face unfair obstacles in publishing, and I believe by publishing excellent writing by women, I am contributing to making the world a better place.
I am grateful to be alive and healthy and to have another shot at exercising more and eating more fiber in 2023.
When you look back at your 2022, I hope you also find much there for which you are grateful. I hope, too, that you get writing and/or keep writing in 2023 and that you find a way to share your writing with others.
Best,
Emily