January is as always, a chance to both look backward and assess where you have been but also a chance to look forward and decide what you will do.

Even if you are not a birth activist, per se, you are helping to change other mother's lives on a daily basis. I challenge all of you to look at last year and decide what your coming year will bring. Ask yourself these questions:

1. What is one thing I can do differently this year?

2. How will I know I've accomplished it?

3. What's my timeline? How will I hold myself accountable?

We all have things we can improve on in our personal lives but this is a much larger question. If you want other women to see what you see about the birth system, you will have to learn to broach the broader questions one step at a time. Do you plan on attending a conference? Are you thinking you wish you could be at the NIH VBAC session? How will you get there? How will you be ready the next time? Planning is specific and the first avenue to completion.

My personal goal this year is to meet every OB and midwife in my local area and introduce myself. EVERY OB. Before December 31st. I have a list. :) I also have goals that cannot be met unless they know I am here. I cannot hope to change things if I am not working with the women in my own area. Grassroots.

My other personal goal is gladly, already in the works! I'll be volunteering childbirth ed and doing doula outreach locally. Grassroots again.

My last personal goal for now is to blog every day from now until January 25, 2011. You'll hold me accountable, won't you? :)