This week I’ve seen about a hundred different stories about resolutions: how to set them, why they never work, how not to set them, why you’re wasting your time. You know, a lot of these stories have been anti-resolution, and I get why a story like that might seem more interesting than a pro-resolution story.

I have a pro-resolution story. Each year I list a few goals, email them to my best friend, receive her list, and tuck both lists away. At the end of the year, we check in.

No, we never do all the things we say we want to. We are not technically superheroes. But you know what? We do get a few of them done.

Like last year, I said I wanted to read 50 books. I didn’t. I read 46. Who among you is going to fault me for not reaching that goal, when I also wrote a book last year? Put your pointing fingers away. Checkmark for Lori.

Last year I said I would finish the draft of Little Pretty Things. I did! I didn’t do it as quickly as I would have liked, but I did it. Checkmark.

I also said I would start another book. Welllll, YES, I DID THAT. I didn’t start *drafting* a new book, but I started *thinking about* a new book. Checkmark.

I won’t bore you with the whole list. I pulled through on several goals, and I dropped the ball on a few more. That’s pretty much how it works. Does that mean I shouldn’t set goals, because I didn’t reach 100 percent?

One of my goals for 2015 is to get back to posting here more often. I won’t take that checkmark quite yet. Visit once in a while to see how I do?

You want the list?

• Write 50 pages and a synposis for next project

• Draft of next project by September 1 (fast! So fast!)

• Draft a few pages of another idea I have, to see if I know how to do it (no hints, sorry)

• Draft one new crime story

• Read 50 books.

So as you can see: No small plans around here. The likelihood that I can do all these things is very low, but I like trying.

Happy New Year to you all!