November 2026 Resolutions Part Two

Start putting together a comp list for my eighth grade story and start assembling a book proposal	Go to the gym before I start getting involved in my day	Every day put a slip of paper in the gratitude box/ jar	Read to my American girl dolls on camera	Find leggings/ pants like the kind I had in eighth grade
Pick a title for my eighth grade story	Finish Story of Hope revisions	Work on knitting every day (I’m still on casting on!)	Try not to wear sweats anywhere except the gym	Don’t be afraid of attention
Get —, —--, —--, and —--- their birthday presents	Help Mom with Thanksgiving	Free Space:	Vote	Keep close touch with —---
Finish all nine books I’m in the middle of	NO energy drinks	Do five songs on the piano every day	Do laundry twice a week instead of once	Send a birthday card to Alice
Women’s Conference at the church	Read the Tao of Pooh with Mom	Start reading my poetry again (open mics)	Wear my new lipstick to every poetry event	Color scheme of black, red and dark purple

Resolutions:

• I’m back on board with piano. In December I’m going to try to memorize some pieces that I always do like Jar of Hearts, Superman and White Flag. Oh yeah and every Taylor Swift and Disney song. Soon it will be time for Christmas songs. My parents ban Christmas songs before Thanksgiving except on the piano because you got to start practicing early.

• I used to compete in every slam poetry event. I have won several slams and placed in many more. But recently I never win and it is also rare that I make it through the first round. I’m not sure what changed but my confidence certainly took a hit. I became convinced that by going up with all these other talented poets I was only embarrassing myself. I want to get back in the game. I think reading in an open  mic (which is 5 minutes and not a competition) would be a good first step.

• This is embarrassing but I still really value American Girl. I have three American Girl dolls- Molly, Samantha and Kit. Sometimes I play with them (rarely) but this  year I wanted to read them their Christmas books (each dolls have a holiday book). I feel like it’ll be a nice break from being “productive” and reading children’s books (like Harry Potter) always calmed me down. I decided not to film it though. It’ll be between me, my dolls and the entire internet

• I don’t want to look like a slob anymore. It is not unusual for me to wear sweats to get from A to Z. But I have leggings and I am on the prowl for skinny jeans so I will wear that instead. 

• I’m a little late on this one (this post was supposed to come out yesterday) but I really hoped all of you voted. America thrives on democracy, that is to say it thrives on our voices. You owe it to yourself and your convictions to vote even if you think it doesn’t count. Believe me it does.

•  This one’s pretty self explanatory. I have a lot of clothes and half of them just stay at the bottom of my hamper all the time which does not benefit me at all. In keeping them in proper rotation I get at least twice as many clothes.

• I got some dark naughty lipstick for Halloween and I will use it as my armor at any poetry events. Then people who want to belittle me can’t hurt me. My vampire lips will protect me.

• I had such sexy leggings in eighth grade (they actually got me into some trouble but that’s not the pants fault). They were sparkly silver and hugged my ass which many people think I don’t actually have (I’ve had testimonies from several men I’ve been close to saying I do). I don’t have any shapely leggings now and I wish I did to show I do have an ass contrary to popular belief.

• Once upon a time, I welcomed attention and while it wasn’t always a good thing, I like it better than sitting on the sidelines in baggy clothes. I don’t want to be that girl anymore. I want admirers. I want friends. I want the spotlight on my petite fishnet clad frame.

• One of my best friends has gone to Texas for the National Guard. She’s working at the border. I want to check in with her at least once a week because she just got married; her husband’s here and so are all her friends. Not that she’s not up for the job. Because I’m more than confident she is. I just want her to know we are all thinking of her.

• My dear friend Alice (who is mentioned many times  in my upcoming book The Story of Hope) was my college best friend, confidant and bodyguard. There was one occasion where I had carved up my legs with a razor (I was in a very dark place) and Alice found band aids for me and held my hands while I called my psychiatrist. You don’t often meet friends like that at 21.

• For the next few winter months I will be operating under a color scheme of black, dark red and dark purple. I feel like it’ll make me look sophisticated and then maybe I’ll fade into pastels in the spring. Or maybe I won’t. Who knows?