I stood at the top of Tioga Pass in 2011 and looked out at Yosemite's Half Dome. -- Photo by Pat Bean
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” —Mary Oliver
Travels With Maggie
Been thinking about my New Year’s Resolutions. I always make them and I always break them’
This past year, however, I did almost keep one. And that was the goal to blog daily. I came up about a dozen blogs short. Just one slip a month.
Too bad I thought, when I counted them up.
Sand and snow at Great Sand Dune National Park in Colorado was an April view for me. -- Photo by Pat Bean
There was a lesson in the tallying, however. I realized how a mere slip here and there adds up. Next year I’m going to meet the goal of blogging daily, which has been a great way to keep track of my life, make new friends, share my travels, as well as my defeats and achievements. It’s also helped me gain a voice in my writing.
What I did last year, meanwhile, was to compete (after five years of failing) the NANO challenge of writing a first draft of a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. That’s the 2011 achievement I’m most proud of accomplishing. It wasn’t a New Year’s resolution, however.
I also knocked off a few places on my travel list this past year, including first visits to Yosemite and great Sand Dune national parks and to Mono Lake.
I volunteered for the summer as a campground host at Lake Walcott State Park, and plan to return there this coming summer. I was elected to the Board of Directors for Story Circle Network, the national writing group to which I belong. I had a photo of mine published in the Fodor’s African Safari Guide and my world bird list hit the 700 mark, of which about 500 are North American species.
And Maggie and I made sure to take time to smell the flowers that grew in 2011. -- Photo by Pat Bean
All in all, I think it was a pretty good year.
It’s finally time, I’ve decided, to stop beating myself up for all the things I didn’t do and give myself credit for what I did do. I truly hope you will do the same.
Pat Bean's blog 
Well done for almost blogging every day. Great achievement and Nano too.
Love the picture at Yosemite. I was there in 1990 and it took me right back there.
Pat, I like your comment on focusing on what we did accomplish, we all should do that more often. You certainly did quite a bit. I’m impressed with how you not only did NANO, but you took time to blog about it.
Thanks Martina. Accepting my own accomplishments is something I’ve only recently done. It feels good to do so, and I would certainly encourage others to get in the habit. My own started because a writing conversation group that I belong to starts each Monday with “brazen brags.” On weeks when I didn’t have anything I thought worthy of reporting, I started just looking at my week and was usually amazed.
Congratulations on those accomplishments, Pat! I want to join you in the blog everyday challenge! Happy New Year.
We can be cheerleaders for each other in our blogging goals Len. I like that.
Stunning pictures! The charm of the US for us are the many wonderful national parks. We’ve camped in the Rocky Mountains and really had a great time there saved for the fact that our tent and camping blankets were not suitable for the cold nights. I’d love to see the Yosemite someday, camping preferably.
Thank you Malou. Hope you make it to Yosemite. But if you have to choose between it and the national parks of Southern Utah, (Zion, Bryce, Canyonland and Arches), I’d choose the latter. Zion is my favorite national park, especially when I’m sitting on top of Angel’s Landing, which i hope to be in May of 2012. Thanks for commenting.
You’ve also made my every day a little brighter, and I’m probably not the only one. I don’t comment often enough and tell you what your pictures and your generosity with your life have meant to me. Thank you!
Thank you Marian. Your kind words certainly made my day brighter.
It is very important to focus on what we did accomplish and how we grew … your blog was filled with so many interesting things this year … it is obvious to me that you are making the most of “your one wild and precious life”.
Thanks for sharing your travels.
I try. Thanks for following my journey and for your kind words.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
Hi Pat,
Who’d of thought when postaday/week started that we would get to the end knowing so much more, and so mny more people out in Netland. Its been a fascinating trip, and we’ll drive out into 2012 with lots to look out for.
Thanks for sharing everything with us.
Jim
I certainly agree Jim. It has been an amazing experience. I’m looking forward to the continued journey in 2012 with great appreation for the things I’ve learned, the friends I’ve made while traveling both behind the wheel of my RV and my computer. Have a great new year.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
Pat, what a wonderful year you’ve had! The accomplishments are such worthy
ones…I am happy that you are able to write daily. Once again, this year, it is on my resolutions list. What I need to do is have Word set to my home page and not GOOGLE. GOOGLE takes me on many a Dr. Seus adventure…the one you mentioned in this blog. Thank you for mentioning the little wren…and her song.
I never tire of reading Emily…ever.
My hope for you is that you accomplish all your wishes in 2012, my friend. Roll on!!
I look forward to seeing you at the conference this year.
Thanks Nancilynn. I, too, look forward to seeing you again. And good luck on both our writing goals this year.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
Sounds like a great year, Pat. I have enjoyed following you and Maggie in your travels. I am so glad you’re sharing it all with us. Thank you. 🙂