The start of the new year means it is time to do something new with our lives, right?  Usually we’re awash in New Year’s resolutions of getting fit, conquering goals, and moving forward.  Every year we make these goals, even though we know a good portion of them may never be fulfilled, but that does not necessarily mean it is all an exercise in futility.  Instead, it is a chance to really reflect on our motivation, to prioritize our regrets, and understand, if even for a moment, that we can do more. It doesn’t hurt to create, to discover, to try to put some of that feel-good positive energy back into our surroundings. After all, we are all part of this great big world-wide community called humanity and we might as well treat each other like one big extended family, and that means sharing…which brings me to my goal for this year.

Last winter I made ONE resolution, to get back to my literary roots.  As a book nerd, English major, and day dreamer, reading is one of my favorite past times. As with everything though, it inevitably waxes and wanes, and I desperately wanted to bring reading back to the forefront in my life.  After the failed PhD attempt and horrendous experience with the literature review, reading was just work and stress.  Last year, I took it back.

For 2014, I made it my goal to read an average of 3 books per month, or 36 books for the year.  This could include graphic novels, poetry books, plays, young adult, audio, e-books, physical “adult” books, etc…I allowed myself no more than 1 reread per month–difficult for someone who treats my core books like comfort food.  I tracked all of these through short journal entries in a diary.  What may seem to some as me “forcing” myself into these pages, it really just gave me a tangible goal, one in which I could sit down and reflect on the books and all my thoughts.  What started as an attempt to get myself reading, turned into an exercise in analysis, critical thinking, and inner dialogue.

In the end, I made it through 37 books throughout the year, an encouraging success I now wish to continue and expand upon with the help of this blog and a few very encouraging friends!  For 2015, my new goal is to make it through an average of 4 books per month, or 48 books throughout the year.  Instead of documenting it in short snippets for myself, I want to expand my analysis and encourage dialogue with friends, strangers, whomever really.  You see, besides reading and analysis, I’ve missed writing, and engaging in literary discussions on a regular basis. This blog can serve as the discussion and writing baseline.  I’ll also be doing a small book club with some friends, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of those discussions made it into this space as well.  Plus with my million-and-one hobbies of making yarn, baking, cooking, and making soap, this blog will probably step outside the literary on occasion, which really isn’t so bad.

And so, HERE WE ARE!  Welcome to 2015! Let’s do this!