When I was younger I was very conscientious about making new year resolutions. It’s now almost February and I’ve been mulling over what I want for myself this year. I have reduced it to just one word.

‘Persistence’.

‘You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”- Aristotle

In 2019 I want to dream a new dream, bigger and better than the last.

For the whole of 2018 I laboured to make my dream of becoming a full time artist a reality.  I showed up everyday to do a drawing, a sketch or a painting, whether I felt like doing it or not. I did it as if my life depended on it. I did it rain or shine, while the usual stresses of life struck at the most opportune moments. An illness, a family crisis…,Before I would have backed down and given up. But now I choose to hang on and defend what is precious to me .

I amaze myself when I recount what I managed to accomplish as a result. I created no less than 600 sketches and paintings last year alone. I moved into my own studio and managed to earn enough to pay my rent and art materials! I also taught classes, held art workshops, had two artist’s studio opens, participated in an art fair and two group exhibitions. I sketched and painted outdoors regularly. I did more  art in a year than the rest of my whole life combined!

I did not produce any masterpieces. A few pieces came close to being satisfying accomplishments. But I worked really hard at honing my skills.

I have never had the luxury of spending so much time making art. In the past it had been sporadic. Even when for a short while I decided to go to art school part time more than 20 years ago, I did not paint every single day. Now I paint daily with a vengeance, with  feverish fervour because I wanted to make up for lost time.

I do get exhausted sometimes, but exhaustion comes more from struggling to take up the paintbrush and giving myself all sorts of excuses why I had more “important” things to do. Once I actually got started, I am energised instead. Strange, but true.

So , what will be my word for 2019? It will be “Persistence”.

Persistence in living out my dream

Persistence in showing up every single day.

Persistence in making art regularly.

With persistence, small goals will become big ones, and  daily efforts will move mountains.

I wonder if this word can help you too. Do you need to be persistent in whatever it is that will take you towards your goal? I would love to know.