New Year's Intentions

A few years ago, I abandoned the word “goals” when making a list of what I wanted to accomplish in the new year. “Goals” felt absolute – either complete your list or fail. While reviewing my accomplishments each December, I often felt like a failure because some goals weren't attained. I changed the word “goals” to “intentions.” Intentions seemed to be a more forgiving word, akin to a parent telling a child, just do your best and have fun.

My first intention for 2026 was to edit the first draft of my novel and send it to my beta readers for feedback. I was humming away, halfway through editing, when fate had other plans. While at a restaurant having lunch with my friend, I was mid-sentence when words I intended to say came out wrong. It felt like the wires in my brain were crossed. The episode affected only my speech, and it lasted at most three minutes. Later, I called my doctor and they recommended heading to the emergency room. A battery of tests and an overnight in the hospital confirmed the good and bad news. Bad news first: I suffered a mini stroke (TIA – Transient Ischemic Attack). The good news was that neurological tests showed I had no lasting effects from the TIA. I was discharged with prescriptions, an order to take it easy for at least two weeks, and a reminder that my TIA was a “warning shot.” If I hadn't sought out medical intervention, I would have had a high probability of suffering a more devastating stroke in the very near future.

As the end of January looms, I may not finish editing and get draft two to my beta readers as intended, but I don’t feel like a failure. I did my best to stay on schedule but got sidelined by life. It happens.

I leave you with an easy way to recognize the warning signs of a stroke: BE FAST. Memorize this acronym and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the signs of a stroke.

graphic credit: befast.org