Jolyn Young

Happy new year! Gosh, it sounds so cliche to make New Year’s resolutions, but I did it anyway. I saw such huge growth within myself over the course of 2023, I thought, “Why not keep this crazy train rolling?”

So, here are my resolutions:

1. Improve my stand-up comedy performance. I’ve been writing humor for years, but saying jokes out loud is a whole ‘nother skill. I’m pushing myself to take the time to video myself telling a few jokes I wrote, then watch and analyze the footage. It’s awkward. It’s cringey. I don’t wanna do it. But, I want to improve more than I want to hide from the gap between what I want my performance to look like and what it currently looks like, so I make myself film, critique, and repeat.
2. Read the whole Bible. I have a handy-dandy version of the Bible that provides a section of Old and New Testament, plus Psalms and Proverbs to read each day. It’s been a few years since I’ve made it all the way through, and so far I’m only one day behind. Not too bad, really!
3. Go to bed earlier. Self-improvement is rarely glamorous, but I’m trying to get more sleep this year. I need to pack up those bags under my eyes and give ’em the boot.
4. Adjust my workout routine to include more jumping on the trampoline with my kids and less jumping rope on the porch at 9 p.m. I catch more air on the trampoline, especially when my kids power jump me. Plus, I’m tired and want to go to bed in the nine o’clock hour, not lace up my trainers (or whatever people are calling tennis shoes these days) and jump up and down in the dark.
5. Finish my second book manuscript. The writing process is going so much faster the second time around. Funny how a little experience helps with that.

I’m definitely going to need to rest up for 2024, because I have a full schedule planned through March. On January 11, I’ll give an Author Talk at the Joyner-Green Valley Library in Green Valley, AZ. January 20-21 will find me selling books at the Art of the Cowgirl event in Queen Creek, AZ. On February 2, I’ll participate in the Society of Southwestern Authors’ Showcase as a speaker in Green Valley. And on March 9, I’ll sell books at the Tucson Festival of Books, the third-largest book festival in the nation.

Whew! I’m worn out just thinking about all this. I better go read my Bible and get some sleep.

But first, here’s something fun…don’t worry, it’s all the good, clean, PG-rated, show-it-to-your-grandma/grandkid kind of fun.

And if you missed my December blog on Western Horseman’s website, you can check it out here.

Did anyone else make any New Year’s resolutions? If so, share in the comments! I love to hear what positive steps others are making to achieve their goals.

Happy 2024 – make it your best year yet.

*Featured image taken at the Triangle N camp of the O RO Ranch in 2017.