I asked my husband what he would want me to include in my list of resolutions for 2018. He said, “Listen more.”

I can get defensive about this, but it wouldn’t change anything. Perceptions always have a grain of truth in them. It’s easy to think you are listening, to convince yourself that you are a good listener, and yet still be forming a response while the other is talking, or be off in your mind coming up with a plan to do whatever it is you are half-hearing.

Resolution one: stay in the moment when someone is speaking to me and maybe just repeat back what I think I heard.

Resolution two: pick up these ideas from the last two years, to give thanks every day, use my mom’s china for cryin’ out loud.

I will continue to move every day and continue having once-a-month hike/snow shoe days all winter in preparation for next summer’s hiking season. I will write more; I know, a writer who has to make a resolution to write! I’m super excited for the next two courses that start today for masters in professional creative writing: Writing and Healing, and The Writing Life.

And last, I have got to learn how to let things go that are hurtful to me when I need not let them be. I’m good at finding blessing as I run or pray or write or ride, but then it all floats off on the slightest breeze that comes along when I’m not doing any of those things.