< by Jill >
I started keeping a journal when I was in 4th grade. I wrote in it nearly every day, recording every mundane moment and every milestone. When I started this blog, I worried that I wouldn’t have enough stories to tell. I prevailed against that fear, however, because I knew that if my memory ran dry, I could always tap into one of those spiral-bound diaries.
On a recent trip home, I grabbed a random diary off the shelf and started reading, straight from the beginning (it happened to be 7th grade). About three pages in, boredom flattened my cheer. I rifled around for something juicy and came up with teenage drivel: archives of who likes who, unflattering portraits of schoolmates who teased me, and other incredibly boring stuff (though I must say, I had a gift for caricature — blacked-out teeth were my signature).
Amidst all the inane blabber, I landed upon a page with New Year’s Resolutions. A few stood out:
- Make better friends
- Read more books
- Get straight As
Adults generally resist New Year’s resolutions. Primarily, it’s because resolutions present an immediate threat to familiar comforts, be they unhealthy foods, cigarettes, toxic friendships, or other drags on character. The older we grow, the more reticent we become to change and risk.
But take it from a 7th grader who once made better friends, read more books, and earned straight As: It’s worth every once of effort.
Make a list of resolutions and train your heart to desire them. Don’t even think about failing. Get out there and make your life better. You can do it!
… and if you need more inspiration, read this week’s posts.
a breakfast serial 
For a 7th grader to make such great New Year’s Resolutions and then do it, that’s impressive. But I’ve noticed through your writings, you are focused gal.