Creating a Win-Win for 2009

Hello all,

We've sent out our holiday cards wishing our friends, family, coworkers, peers, and even the occasional stranger a "Happy New Year," but 2009 begins with many world, national, and local problems unresolved. We are in the midst of a world-wide economic crisis, most if not all states face budget deficits, and in spite of these economic challenges, we have to be optimistic and willing to think "outside of the box" to tackle these tough issues. Can a year make a difference? That is the question I find myself asking quite frequently these days.

It is easy for me to look back at 2008 with a win-lose lens over my achievements and setbacks. I constantly remind myself of the areas in which I've grown, but I also spend a great deal of time analyzing the missteps I made. I know I shouldn't have this self-defeating view, but old habits die hard. I think one of the reasons for this is because I'm not where I envisioned I would be. Sometimes I can be my own worse enemy. I'm not sure what famous person said that, but it's spot on for me.

It's so easy to start off a new year thinking about the possibilities we see for ourselves. It can be losing weight, making more money, getting a new job, traveling, or fulfilling lifelong goals. Whatever it is, we start out with enthusiasm and then by June, somehow we've forgotten our New Year's resolutions. I no longer make New Year's resolutions because in years past I found myself not fulfilling many of my goals and then getting depressed. About 3 years ago, I decided I wanted to make life style changes that overtime will continue to impact my personal, professional, and financial well-being in a positive way. So far it seems to be working.

Even with my karmic view, like all of you, I encounter circumstances I can't always control. These episodes in my life may cause setbacks and have me wondering why I've taken this path. Then I doubt myself and begin to limit my own possibilities. My work on After the Headlines made me feel this way a lot. I focused on the problems and forgot about the potential (the reason I began the endeavor). I set myself up for a win-lose situation.

In 2009 I have to work toward setting myself up for a win-win situation, regardless of the setbacks that may happen to me. I need to remember that life is a cycle of good and bad situations and if I'm lucky I'll experience more good then bad. And since I don't know God's game plan for me I have to do the best with what resources I'm given. All I need to do is look at the news or listen to National Public Radio (NPR) to know I'm blessed.

I have a lot on my plate for 2009. I have 3 spec scripts to write for my thesis, work on a personal essay I plan to submit for publication, get clips to build my portfolio, re-shoot and edit After the Headlines, plus plenty of rewrites on scripts I've already written, write new screenplays, hopefully squeeze in some travel and maybe even get engaged by year end (hint, hint). Will they all happen? I'm not sure, but I will do my best to get each of these goals accomplished and if not by the end of 2009, then by 2010 and so on (whatever it takes). I have to be focused, put in the time, sweat, and maybe even blood in some cases (although I hope not the latter). I've got to become the change I want to see and it begins with me seeing 2009 as a win-win and not just for me, hopefully for all of us.