On Your Mark, Get Set, Goal

It's a good thing I looked at the calendar, because I would have forgotten I needed to be here today.  I know it's January.  I know we've moved into 2014, but other than that, I'm a bit lost.

It would be nice to escape setting goals right now.  I thought I knew where I wanted to take this year.  But recently I've realized my old goals, the ones I've been making and usually meeting, aren't going to work for me the way I'd thought they might  It's time to step back, rethink, and re-goal.  Yes, a sort of New Beginning.

My writing goal in 2013 was to write 200,000 words.  I met that goal.  In fact, my WARA friends may not know, but I wrote 232,653 words, not counting blog posts.  The total for those was 49,666.  I'll let you do the math.  How did I do it?  I wrote three books.  Three and a half, to be more precise.  Half of one of those three was rewritten last month is scheduled to be released in August of this year  The other two?  That's the big question.

I enjoy writing.  I love writing.  Sometimes it's crazy, but in the end, it's satisfying.  There's very little of the process that I don't like.  But then I've written something or other most of my life.  I also enjoy reading, something I haven't had much time to do this year.

Because the majority of my life is writing, I keep an eye on what's happening in the publishing world.  If you haven't noticed--and you'd have to be a complete non-reader to do that--that world is changing.  E-books are everywhere.  Many traditionally published authors, including our own Deb Stover, have decided to explore this new experience for both writers and readers.  Personally, I haven't bought a print book for quite some time, but I've definitely amassed a lot of books for my Kindle--written by both traditionally published authors and indie/self-published authors.  If I only had time to read them!

So here are my goals.  I expect some certain people to keep me on them.  You know who you are.
  • Goal #1:  Read more
  • Goal #2:  Give myself permission to enjoy life more
The first goal is covered by having more books than I could read in a year.  The second will be somewhat taken care of by the first goal.  Reading to me is enjoyment. :)  
  • Goal #3:  Have a more positive attitude about myself and my life
    Goal # 2 should help with #3.  And I've taken other steps to achieve it.  Several months ago, I began practicing meditation.  I hadn't been sleeping well.  I'd toss and turn, unable to go to sleep.  Once I finally did fall into dreamland, I (thankfully) slept well.  I needed to turn off the worry and problems of the day, and I found that meditation before bedtime solved that.  Although doing it in the morning is probably better and helps the day move along more smoothly, bedtime was the only time I could carve out to do it.  Hey, I tried yoga a couple of years ago, but my body rebelled.  And when the body rebels, the mind does, too.  Sleep comes quickly now, no matter what problems and obstacles the day has presented.

    There are more things to work out, more goals to set, but those three must come first.  Like Theresa Jaye, I need to reinvent myself.  I'm grabbing her shirttails and going along for the ride.  After raising four daughters and basically helping raise five grandchildren, it's time for me.  Selfish?  I don't think so.  Now to figure out who me is. :)  Oops!  Who I am. ;)

    It all takes time.  We have to learn to know ourselves, we have to search our hearts for what we truly want.  After that, we have to go for it!  Once we do, those goals are more easily made.  I may not get as far as I hope, but I'll at least be on the road.  If nothing else, I'm stubborn.  Once I make up my mind to do something, I do it.

    Making goals?  Always.  It's something I had to learn to do, but once learned, it's become a habit.  Reaching them--or trying to--also became habit.  I'm eager to see what 2014 will bring.  It's good to see that so many here are, too.

    Happy 2014!  May your wishes and dreams come true!  I'm going to work to see that mine do.

    7 comments:

    Joan Vincent said...

    Rox you've hit the nail on the head with your goals. I think all of us could benefit from those three goals. After first reading your post I went and did my half hour of writing. Then I came back and reread. I'm adopting the "have a more positive attitude about myself" as a goal this year. Hope you and Theresa have strong shirt tails!

    Unknown said...

    Hop on ladies. There's plenty of room. If I get too slow, then you can give me a swift kick to get us all going in the right direction again. xoxo

    Pat Davids said...

    Rox, I have goals for 2014. Number one was not to set my usual resolutions. Get fit, get my finances in order, lose weight, keep a cleaner house.

    No, this year my goals are totally about writing, 240,000 words not including blog posts.

    I wrote something odd on New Year's Eve. I wrote on my new calendar, "I don't expect much from this year."

    It was a little out of character for me. I always expect great things, but I think I'm ready for a simple, quiet year.

    Rox Delaney said...

    Joan, nail on the head? I thought that was my head on my desk.

    Thanks, but I owe you a BIG apology for not mentioning YOUR ebooks, too! My head is not in the game, so congrats to you!! I'll make a note not to forget later in the month. ;)

    Rox Delaney said...

    Theresa, shirttails are my favorite things. But, yeah, I can give a kick, now and then, too. But you'll have to kick back. I have no doubt I'll need one often.

    Rox Delaney said...

    Pat, I'll hold you to that 240,000. I haven't decided on mine. But I know you'll get 'er done!

    Rox Delaney said...

    I just want to say thanks to everyone. You're all the bestest friends!