I’ve watched you this year, read your posts and was slapped almost senseless by your gorgeous photography. Yes, you are filled with wonder every day. How lucky you are that you have it now. Mary Poppins once told the Banks children that they can understand the starlings now, but they won’t always. I think we can understand the starlings if we stop and listen.

I meant to say that I’m planning to practice saying “no” (for the same reason you are), and also taking a good hard look at my diet (resolution) and maybe writing something I’ve never tried before (goal). But all the “fixes” will come behind something more important, paying attention.

Only you would give me Shakespeare! Being the “wonder-filled” child was not an attribute in my family. Day-dreaming and reading books on dinosaurs when I was supposed to be doing math cost me grades in elementary school. But it all evened out.

So glad you’ll be in my class this summer. I’m planning some sort of “Pay Attention” class!

Yes, to less computer time! We all strive to make that a goal, but it often gets lost because it’s our main form of communication. Somehow all of my writing dealings got shifted to email and the computer (all mss. are delivered via email, all contracts are sent to me via email files).

Get out with those beautiful girls of yours and take pictures. You’re a wonderful photographer and already know how to use an SLR camera. The weather is gorgeous now where you are (not so much here).

In your heart, you know which creative endeavor you want to pursue. If it’s writing, then write. If it’s art, keep doing art. The photography is a way to spend time outside with your family and . . . pay attention.

I don’t know if I want to call paying attention and writing it down a goal, or a practice, as much as part of daily life, though because it requires moving aside some time, I’ll call it a project even though that sounds too clinical.

I’ll send you an email with the hospital stuff. xo

I’ve given up on resolutions, but I am giving myself daily targets/goals which makes me feel much more accomplished.

I’ve read about saying no to ‘wrong jobs’, now you got me thinking that sometimes I have to say ‘no’ to myself. I have tried so many different things, but now it is time to focus on a creative career that is not taking me on a zig zag.

This year I want to get out of the house more often. Less indoor computer time in general, and more exploring with the girls and the camera. I’m thinking of whipping out my original SLR and taking old school photos.