At the beginning of 2023, I made five writing wishes for the new year. These weren’t fantastical wishes, like getting a big publishing advance or having a best seller, but guiding principles for the kind of writer I wished to be and the kind of community I wanted to create.

I didn’t put out the same intentions at the beginning of 2024, because they hadn’t changed. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t set any major expectations for the year, because life went sideways about twenty-eleven different ways over the last twelve months. Could have been worse, but I’m entering January with optimism for a less trying New Year.

The five wishes I made 2 years ago were based on an exercise in Gay Hendricks’ Five Wishes. In short, the exercise asks that you imagine your last day in this life, and the accomplishments that would make you feel like your years had been worth living. These accomplishments might be material – owning a dream home or leaving a financial legacy – or internal, such as living with integrity and having fulfilling relationships.

My 2022 exercise focused on writing, because that’s why we’re all here. My wishes were:

  • I work on projects that are personally meaningful and allow me to explore my big questions about life. I write fearlessly, dig deep for emotional truth, and share my observations, without worrying about anyone’s judgment.
  • I’m committed to continuous learning and development, I’m unafraid to challenge myself, and I’m excited about trying new forms, genre, strategies, and other elements of writing.
  • I finish the projects I start and share my work with others.
  • I’m not competitive with other writers. I share my knowledge, offer encouragement, and celebrate their successes.
  • I engage with other writers, foster community, and seek out creative collaborations.

I won’t say I have had complete success achieving these states of being, but I have made progress developing the habits and mindset that I need to feel successful, and that’s what it’s all about: incremental progress towards being the best version of my writing self.

That’s my wish for 2025.

 

Who am I?