I've never been very good at sticking to resolutions. I try, I really do. Every year I try to set achievable, quantifiable resolutions whose progress I can easily measure; and every year, at least for the past few years, I find myself on December 31 feeling like I've accomplished nothing, learned nothing in the previous year. This is probably unfair - I have ridiculously high standards for myself and also only let significant accomplishments onto my radar. Little victories, small sea changes - they don't register with me. I'm always aiming higher, looking for the next hill to climb.

So, that's my resolution for this year: for this to be the year of insignificant wonders. I have set no ambitious goals for myself: this is not the year to lose 8,000 pounds, sign a 3 book deal, host a TV show, get married to my soul mate, pay off all my student loans. This is the year to spend time being quiet, to be healthier, to take things slower, and make every day count. How? By realizing that each day counts, no matter what I think. That spending an evening singing with friends, or cooking at home, or playing with a friend's kid, or sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee doing nothing, even taking the time to work late and finish some work for a client (regardless of whether that work is fulfilling or not), heck, just putting in a good Monday to Friday at work, which will take all of my focus and drive to accomplish - these are all victories. These are all measures of success. And perhaps recognizing these successes will mean I will look back on 2011 with appreciation rather than disappointment, a new kinder, gentler way of perceiving myself and my life - which will actually be the greatest gift I can give myself, if I can stick to it.

Happy 2011, everyone. Make every day count.