Jan 01, 2008
I know last year I had this big plan for SMART goals and all that stuff for my resolutions. I kept, uh, none of them. Actually, since I never specifically set any, I didn’t actually fail. Or, at least, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 
The fact of the matter is if you had told me last January where I’d be today, I never would have believed you. For me, 2007 was the year of much change in my life. After being laid off my FT job in March, I went looking for a class at the local college just for fun. I was thinking something along the lines of making your own jewellery. Instead, on a whim, I ended up doing a certificate program as a webmaster.
Turns out, it was a really smart decision. I found a new passion. I graduated with high honours (yay, me! 
) And, right after graduation, I joined the teaching staff of that very same program as a TA. And, if that wasn’t enough, I opened a web design company.
Editing-wise, I also accomplished a lot. I edited and released 20 books. I read 120 submissions and bought 10 books. And I created over 1000 news packages for the RY! site. I also judged three contests and was asked to be the final judge for a fourth.
But I think the biggest thing I realized this past year is that I’ve been working myself way too hard.
So, 2008 is the year I take care of me.
It means instead of getting on the laptop as soon as I get up and staying on it until bedtime, I work in some exercise… I’m thinking yoga and tai chi, which will help me relax as well as get in better shape.
It means eating better. I love to cook, but rarely do it when it’s just me, which has seen entirely too many of my meals come out of a drive-thru window. I’m worth spending the time to cook for.
It means making time for friends, family, and the bf… I “found” so many former classmates on Facebook this year, instead of keeping them virtual, I’d like to do a real-life get together or two. And that goes the same for the friends I seem to only email even though we live less than a half-hour apart.
It means going farther away than a cross-border trip to Buffalo. Not that I don’t love a good shopping trip, but I want to get out and see more of the world. I already have plans for San Fran in late July for RWA Nationals, but I’d like to do some kind of non-working trip too.
It means finally making a go of the writing thing that I’ve only been talking about doing for too long. This year, not only am I going to actually finish something, I’m going to have it ready to send out. (And, you know, actually send it out. )
And, sure there’s the whole lose weight, get my house organized, blah, blah, blah, and those’d be nice, but I don’t need a date on the calendar to get started. I just need a few days off.
So, what does 2008 mean for you?
Greetings and Salutations. I am Laurie M. Rauch, Owner and Chief Code Nerd of 
