In January, for the past 9 or so years, I have begun the year with words of intention. For 2023, I chose grounded and I was grounded by

• regular workouts with my daughter trainers

• my father's strength of spirit that motivates me daily to be and do my best (he has had serious health struggles for nearly 3 years)

• hiking

• exploring tidal pools, dense tropical forests, and remote locations in Hawaii

• visiting with family and friends

• connecting with former students and swimmers

• Island time on Hilton Head with my husband, kids, and family

• swimming

• teaching swim lessons

• coaching

• puzzling (28 in 2023)

• painting

• reading (over 200 picture books)

• and, writing with the support of writing friends

I re-entered the writing world in February 2022, committed to being serious about writing picture books. In 2023, despite passes and rejections by agents and editors, I got tremendous joy from writing. I worked on 24 picture books. And, I am slowly querying about 1/3 of those. I vowed to step in 2023 with sensibility, reasonableness, and an appreciation for life's simplicities. I promised to learn passionately, embrace life, and chase adventure. I committed to give freely and express gratitude. I critiqued hundreds of manuscripts and shared many first-read-throughs. While I don't do these things perfectly, I did do them in 2023 and they helped me to stay grounded.

Querying is hard. Facing rejection repeatedly is not easy for a perfectionist with occasional depression and anxiety. So, I am a work in progress. Late in 2023, reminded of my commitment to staying grounded, I relabeled query rejections as 'not magical.' While this is semantics, I hope this will better serve me until I find a 'magical' fit.

Now, I am thinking about a single word for 2024. One that will continue to guide me in my writing journey and my personal journey, through joy and sorrow and everything in between and all around. I have chosen DISCOVERY. In 2024, I will unabashedly pursue discovery of all things, big and small. And, as I did in 2023, I will move forward in my writing adventure toward publication. Not because I need to be published. Not because I want to be published. But because I CAN.

I know that I am blessed with time, good health, and determination. Today, I AM UNDENIABLY LUCKY to be living the life that I have been gifted. And, I can, and will, squeeze every bit of discovery out of every day of 2024.

Marcel Proust said, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapres but in having new eyes." For me, 2024, will be a year of 'having new eyes.'