Resolutions or Guidelines?

“When a thing beckons you to explore it without telling you why or how,
this is not a red herring; it’s a map.”
― Gina Greenlee, Postcards and Pearls: Life Lessons from Solo Moments on the Road

And for that, I must deem 2016, the year of the map. I gathered with friends this weekend and given that it's January, the topic of resolutions made it's regular recurrence. The comments ranged from, "I don't make them so that I can't break them" to "I'm going to the gym three times a week this year." Truthfully, there is plenty that I'd like to accomplish this year and yes, that I plan to achieve.

“Uncharted territory,” I said. “The parts on the maps of our lives that we don’t understand. In cartographer’s language they call these places sleeping beauties.”
― Christopher Barzak, The Love We Share Without Knowing

I am also willing to allow for flexibility - the presentation of that which is not yet known and therefore that which we can't plan on in advance.

“Plenty of blanks in the world's charts. There will have to be a lot surveying before all of them are filled in.”
― John Blaine, The Phantom Shark

Instead of resolutions, I've moved to the world of guiding principles; that compass in the center that helps me make decisions about how to spend my time and what is more valuable than our time?

“Whether an island such as Easter Island can be considered remote is simply a matter of perspective. Those who live there, the Rapa Nui, call their homeland Te Pito Te Henua, 'the navel of the world'. Any point on the infinite globe of the Earth can become a centre.”
― Judith Schalansky, Atlas of Remote Islands

My guiding principles are simple; health, family, a learning agenda, friends, community service, travel and yes, writing. The nature of my writing will change a bit as I work to introduce topics that are grounded in placemaking and to share some of the work that I'm doing in my PhD. With a first semester under my belt, I've been introduced to a wide range of great writing and had the opportunity for research. I've missed writing and I've missed connecting with the writing community.

I'm looking forward to reconnecting and I want to hear about your guiding principles for the year to come. I want to reflect in December on where our maps have been filled in. What are you planning for 2016?