I've never cared much about New Years resolutions, for two reasons:

1. Because by February (at the latest), I've most likely forgotten what they are.
2. I've never felt that there was anything "wrong" enough in my life that required waking up tomorrow committed to a different lifestyle.

But 2015 was hard, and this year—today—I'm finding myself excited about the prospect of flipping the calendar to newness and better days.

But it's more than some new dos and don'ts. It's about deciding who I want to be and then living accordingly. In the last week, three ideas have jumped out at me that outline what this means in 2016 (and hopefully beyond).

I posted this on social media on January 1, 2016 as the caption of three quote-pictures:

1. "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." — Colossians 3:2

2. "...live more from intention and less from habit." — Amy Rubin Flett

3. "Have courage and be kind." — Ella's mother (Cinderella, 2015)

I've always been a sucker for a good inspirational quote, but I came across each of these the last week of 2015 (two of the three I had heard previously), and as my brain was in New Year/resolution/what's-going-to-be-different-!? mode, they struck me immediately and stuck with me for days afterward.

"Christina, why are you telling me this?"

Because, Odyssey is my first real writing endeavor — we're ignoring journals (obviously) and my only-funny-to-me tweets that take a week to fully develop — and my goal is to really make something of it, for myself as a communicator and for you as my audience. I've heard it said that "a goal without a plan is just a dream." It's about deciding who I want to be and then living accordingly. So, there's my goal, and here's my plan:

1. "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Of the many adjectives could be used to describe me, "focused" would not be at the top (or middle...or rock bottom) of the list. The probability of me starting and finishing the same task in one sitting, with no sidetracks, is slim to none. For me to "set [my] mind" on anything is a discipline and a miracle. Through Odyssey, I am giving myself an opportunity—and a responsibility—to think and speak (write) seriously about my life, my community, and society at large.

I tend toward depression and anxiety and discouragement and negativity—and the more I allow myself to display these traits, the more I see them all around me. As I take this new opportunity/responsibility to process and communicate seriously, it is vital for me to focus on a proper perspective of eternity, and to not be bogged down by the pain and strife and general disaster that is this world. (Stay tuned for something more in depth about things above and things on earth...)
It's about deciding who I want to be and then living accordingly.

2. "...live more from intention and less from habit."
I thrive on routine. If I have time to prepare, I can handle just about anything, but throw me a curve ball, and all bets are off. While this can be life-saving for me in certain respects—keeping my mind in order, ensuring productivity—it can also be quite limiting and has the great ability to keep me comfortable rather than striving to be more. And practically speaking, if I continue living in my "now" habit, that will not include writing. But besides writing, I am finding plenty of things that I want to do that do not fall into a habitual day. I have to be intentional. While habit might not be bad, intention can make it better.
It's about deciding who I want to be and then living accordingly.

3. "Have courage and be kind."
My comfort zone is on the couch (in bed) with a book (Netflix—ehem, Grey's Anatomy). Any combination of the above does not lend itself to adventure... and therefore, courage. Now, being a homebody has its perks; don't get me wrong. But learning how to face fears head on, or make your voice heard in a crowd—having courage is not on that list.

Growing up in private school, I was flooded by the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." But it wasn't until college that someone pointed out to me, it isn't "do NOT do unto others what you DON'T want them to do to you." I am not just to avoid being rude to someone because I don't like it when someone is rude to me; I am to go out of my way to make someone's life better the way that I would like for mine to be so. This is kindness.

I want to have courage in the issues that I face in my writing and how I face them, and I want to be kind to those involved—protagonists, antagonists, "extras." May I treat others as I want to be treated, always.
It's about deciding who I want to be and then living accordingly.

This is my goal: using writing as a tool to process my thoughts and engage with the world.
This is my plan: focus; don't be stuck in your life as it is; go above and beyond the call of duty.

So now you know way more than you ever cared to about me. Welcome to my life, literally. Here we go!