Resolutions never work, and this new year doesn’t feel like it will start until January 7th, anyway. That’s when the girls go back to school, and working as a freelance writer/editor means I juggle projects with trips to the park or the bike trail on school holidays.

Instead of resolutions I have The Big List–concrete daily, weekly, or monthly goals that I actually have some hope of accomplishing, some more easily than others.

Let’s start with this blog. Actually, I have a small confession to make here. I first thought of starting in asthma blog 2 years ago, but never went through with it because I wasn’t sure that A) anyone would be interested and B) that I’d be able to sustain daily writing about asthma. My original idea, though, was more or less what I’m doing now. I wanted an online space that contained all the resources I was interested in and where I could discuss all kinds of asthma topics I think about.

Moving with an asthmatic child, for instance. Anticipating the stress and excitement of the holiday season with that same child. The relationship of asthma and food. And a whole host of other subjects I haven’t touched on yet.

Before I give you The Big List I want to thank all you readers, who proved me wrong on A). I’m so SO grateful for all your comments and feedback. As far as B) goes, I have yet to find my threshold in writing about asthma.

That surprises me.

Not the writing–I’ve always done that in some form or another. But this particular subject inspires me, and that’s something I didn’t expect. While I worked my way through an English literature program in college, I had great visions of myself with a glamorous novel-writing career that involved big paychecks and plenty of travel. You know, your typical liberal arts undergraduate’s dream.

Never once did I picture myself becoming a mother less than a year after graduation and then writing about that baby’s chronic lung condition almost 9 years later and actually enjoying what I do. Who could imagine that?

Those years spent dealing with my Asthma Girl’s poor health I turned into a book, and then I started this blog and I still haven’t run out of things to say. The even better part? Your comments inspire me, too. They have, in fact, prompted many posts all on their own, often forcing me to push back whatever subject I planned for that day. It’s a pretty wonderful thing, the give-and-take of this blog, and that’s why I’m sharing this list with you.

The Big List of Things to Accomplish in 2008

1. Edit and organize some static pages on asthma.
I don’t feel particularly driven to make this an all-inclusive asthma site since there are plenty of other stellar ones already. I am, however, going to add some permanent pages about the nature of asthma and information about some of the hotter topics for the newly diagnosed. The difference between corticosteroids and anabolic ones, for example. Want to help out with this project? Email me or comment here with your suggestions for page topics.

2. Figure out how to personalize this blog more.
That means A) changing the header to something other than the generic black and white photo, B) possibly hosting this myself rather than through Wordpress, and C) maybe even attaching a messageboard.

Here again, ideas? Suggestions?

3. Set a high Asthma Walk goal.
I’ve been a team leader for Asthma Walk twice now, and both times my small-but-effective team raised a decent amount of money. Now that I have this blog, though, I’m attempting to raise a whole lot more. I’m leaning towards 5 grand or so. I think I can do it. I’d certainly like to try.

Don’t know what Asthma Walk is? Read all about the American Lung Association’s annual asthma fundraiser and consider setting up your own team.

4. Move
If you’re new here, you don’t yet know how often I move. This time, though, my family is looking for the job/city/situation that means we can stop moving for awhile, 10 years at least. My husband and I were both military brats and both come from multicultural families. We’re nothing like those people born and raised in one area with their entire extended family nearby. No place feels like *home* to us yet, although we have some pretty clear ideas about where want to go.

5. Finish editing my book.
That book I mentioned above? Friends ask me all the time if I’ve started looking for an agent or publisher, and I have to answer No, because I haven’t even finished editing it yet. I took several creative workshops in college. One of them focused on creative nonfiction, and something my professor never mentioned is how sick of yourself you can get when you write a memoir. There’s absolutely no good reason the damn thing isn’t in submission-ready form, and this is the year I finish the editing.

6. Then find an agent or publisher.
I suspect I also haven’t finished the number 5 goal yet because I don’t even want to get to this one. See, right now I can say Yeah, I wrote a book. When I finish editing, if I can’t get it published I have to say Yeah, I wrote a book, but I can’t get anyone to publish it. Sounds much worse, doesn’t it?

Self-defeatism will get you every time. In 2008, I’ve decided it won’t get me.

That’s it. That’s my Big List for 2008 for this blog and beyond. How about you guys? Any big or little goals this year?

Filed under: Holidays, My Asthma Girl & Me