Real Life of an MSW

After surviving a horrific year in 1993, I started a tradition of making a list of my accomplishments for the year just past instead of setting New Year’s resolutions. I limit it to 10 items. Rather than setting goals, which we all fail to truly follow through with, leading to self-recrimination and despair, I see what wonderful things I accomplished. My end-of-year self-evaluation was and is a positive experience, not a recriminatory exercise.

In 1993, making that list allowed me to feel joy, hopefulness and gratitude that — in spite of a nervous breakdown that led to my dropping out of college, losing all income and nearly becoming homeless — I had, in fact, experienced the most prolifically creative year of my life and had come out of it far stronger than before.

The following year, I went on tour, gave public speeches, wrote a book that I self-published in 1995, and, overcoming the horrors of my 1993 little hell, emerged respecting myself and useful to others.

It is 2025, and though the events of 1993 also led me to being classified as totally and permanently disabled, I’ve not only survived but thrived, too, and brought beautiful original music and ideas to many. These yearly “accomplishments lists” keep me motivated and hopeful.

Clarisse Dodge,