A Kick in the A**
I decided to give myself a kick in the a** and see where I am with those New Year's Resolutions. REMEMBER THOSE????
Well, time to see how the hell I am doing. Might as well. It's a Monday. Ass-kickings are best served the first of the week.
1. The biggie. Go back to my modified macrobiotic eating--with a determined resolution. Well . . . actually, I've done this. I'm back to morning smoothies, alfalfa sprout sandwhiches on organic bread (yup!), and lots of water. I haven't give up coffee again, but I've cut down. Lost five pounds. Generally feel better. NO MEAT. It now simply grosses me out.
2. Either do yoga or walk 4 to 8 miles a day. Or both. I haven't been able to give up a full hour of morning silence at 5:30 a.m. to do this consistently. I was GREAT about this for a month, but deadlines beckoned and I NEED that Demon-Free hour to write. I HAVE gone back to yoga at night (when Demon can go into childcare at the yoga studio). So . . . I hope when I am over the hurdle of the next months (three deadlines), I can get back to the morning walk.
3. Learn something new. Well, I took a watercolor class. That was great. And I am signing up for an online college course in physics. AND . . . I decided to take Oldest Son's electric Fender and teach myself guitar. If I find that I am not the next Eddie Van Halen, I plan on taking up drums with Baby Girl. IDEALLY, I want to enroll in film school and make a documentary. But I "think" I might have to wait Demon has entered kindergarten two years from now. That sound you hear? The collective scream of kindergarten teachers dreading his arrival.
.4. Financial goals. I have three . . . they have to do with what's in my savings account, debt, and what I want to make this year. Well, savings account sucks. Debt sucks. MAKING really good dough this year. So . . . with the third item, I should be able to tackle the other two.
5. Finish four proposals and one full book (separate from what I'm contracted to do). Write the screenplay lurking in my brain. Enter it in the screenwriting contest I want to enter. Well, this is a discombulated mess, because I just got an offer on a proposal, and I have another proposal out there, plus I signed a three-book deal already for a middle-grade fantasy series. So I need to ponder what I want to do with this resolution. I think . . . I will probably aspire to do two more proposals and finish an uncontracted book that I workshopping with my writers' group and then shop that.
6. Be more organized. Progress. I'm keeping up with laundry, my office shelves are neater. My desk? Not so much. But I am making progress.
7. Stop sighing. MAJOR ass-kicking here. Not there yet. Working on it. But not there yet.
8. No mindless anything. This means no rising and going right to work mindlessly without stopping to pray. No mindless TV ever. No mindless Internet surfing. I don't count visiting my friends' blogs as mindless, but a lot of my Internet surfing is fairly aimless. I am doing really well with this one. I don't count Scrabulous on Facebook as mindless. I am increasing my vocabulary. LOL! I am a lot more "present" and mindful with Demon Baby, and am finding when I am, the kid cracks me up. A lot.
9. Going with number 8, I want to see the world more as Demon Baby sees it. As miraculous, not mundane. I am going to expect miracles. All the time. Every day. And see what the universe deposits on my doorstep. (Hopefully not dog poop.) Not there with this one. Working on it. I am trying to actually drop to my knees in prayer in the mornings. I find it humbles me . . . and I seem to then expect more beauty from the day. But not there yet.
10. And finally . . . I have two or three volunteering ideas. I have a major volunteer project now, which I'll keep private. I am also organizing a drive to raise money for Oxfam to buy farm animals at one of my kids' schools. So . . . still want to do more. I am happy to say Oldest Son volunteered at a nursing home for four hours today. He is 12. I am trying to be the change I want to see in the world . . . and I hope that means it's rubbing off on my kids.
So, where are you with your year goals??? Have you looked at 'em? Did you set them in the first place? Do you think about where you want to be at the end of this year? Do you do a "big picture" view? Feel free to share where you are at.
Well, time to see how the hell I am doing. Might as well. It's a Monday. Ass-kickings are best served the first of the week.
1. The biggie. Go back to my modified macrobiotic eating--with a determined resolution. Well . . . actually, I've done this. I'm back to morning smoothies, alfalfa sprout sandwhiches on organic bread (yup!), and lots of water. I haven't give up coffee again, but I've cut down. Lost five pounds. Generally feel better. NO MEAT. It now simply grosses me out.
2. Either do yoga or walk 4 to 8 miles a day. Or both. I haven't been able to give up a full hour of morning silence at 5:30 a.m. to do this consistently. I was GREAT about this for a month, but deadlines beckoned and I NEED that Demon-Free hour to write. I HAVE gone back to yoga at night (when Demon can go into childcare at the yoga studio). So . . . I hope when I am over the hurdle of the next months (three deadlines), I can get back to the morning walk.
3. Learn something new. Well, I took a watercolor class. That was great. And I am signing up for an online college course in physics. AND . . . I decided to take Oldest Son's electric Fender and teach myself guitar. If I find that I am not the next Eddie Van Halen, I plan on taking up drums with Baby Girl. IDEALLY, I want to enroll in film school and make a documentary. But I "think" I might have to wait Demon has entered kindergarten two years from now. That sound you hear? The collective scream of kindergarten teachers dreading his arrival.
.4. Financial goals. I have three . . . they have to do with what's in my savings account, debt, and what I want to make this year. Well, savings account sucks. Debt sucks. MAKING really good dough this year. So . . . with the third item, I should be able to tackle the other two.
5. Finish four proposals and one full book (separate from what I'm contracted to do). Write the screenplay lurking in my brain. Enter it in the screenwriting contest I want to enter. Well, this is a discombulated mess, because I just got an offer on a proposal, and I have another proposal out there, plus I signed a three-book deal already for a middle-grade fantasy series. So I need to ponder what I want to do with this resolution. I think . . . I will probably aspire to do two more proposals and finish an uncontracted book that I workshopping with my writers' group and then shop that.
6. Be more organized. Progress. I'm keeping up with laundry, my office shelves are neater. My desk? Not so much. But I am making progress.
7. Stop sighing. MAJOR ass-kicking here. Not there yet. Working on it. But not there yet.
8. No mindless anything. This means no rising and going right to work mindlessly without stopping to pray. No mindless TV ever. No mindless Internet surfing. I don't count visiting my friends' blogs as mindless, but a lot of my Internet surfing is fairly aimless. I am doing really well with this one. I don't count Scrabulous on Facebook as mindless. I am increasing my vocabulary. LOL! I am a lot more "present" and mindful with Demon Baby, and am finding when I am, the kid cracks me up. A lot.
9. Going with number 8, I want to see the world more as Demon Baby sees it. As miraculous, not mundane. I am going to expect miracles. All the time. Every day. And see what the universe deposits on my doorstep. (Hopefully not dog poop.) Not there with this one. Working on it. I am trying to actually drop to my knees in prayer in the mornings. I find it humbles me . . . and I seem to then expect more beauty from the day. But not there yet.
10. And finally . . . I have two or three volunteering ideas. I have a major volunteer project now, which I'll keep private. I am also organizing a drive to raise money for Oxfam to buy farm animals at one of my kids' schools. So . . . still want to do more. I am happy to say Oldest Son volunteered at a nursing home for four hours today. He is 12. I am trying to be the change I want to see in the world . . . and I hope that means it's rubbing off on my kids.
So, where are you with your year goals??? Have you looked at 'em? Did you set them in the first place? Do you think about where you want to be at the end of this year? Do you do a "big picture" view? Feel free to share where you are at.
Labels: New Year's Resolutions, writing goals
posted by Erica Orloff at 9:46 PM
32 Comments:
You're doing awesome! I totally know you've rubbed off on your kids; it's obvious.
Since DH left, I forgot every goal I made, really. All I remember now is I never, ever, want him to have to leave again. So number four is my number one goal. I'm making progress, but not enough yet.
I'm cleaning, more, though. Not as much as I want to, but we're making progress. Exercise, not so much. The foot is not cooperative. I've been going cheap on food, so no number one. And also I've been eating emotionally, definitely. I miss the big guy. :-(
But we're getting somewhere. Change is good.
I have not deleted my blog, so that is progress. Still trying to tame how often I press the delete button on my work. Baby steps...
And you are doing fantastic!
Yay you. :)
I appreciate numbers 8 and 9 the most. Some of the others are difficult because life isn't always chunked very easily--but still it's worth the effort!!
Great post!
:-)
Goals...I fear goals. They have an illusive way they have of slipping past like birthdays and aniversaries.
I think I need some of your determination. You seem to be good at this.
1. Exercise-not going so good since the accident last January and subsequent surgery in Sept. Really need to get moving again.
2. Push this WIP out the door. (but is is ready? I always worry if its truly done or should I keep rewriting?)
3. Do something-anything so I don't need to get a real job in September.
Hi Spy:
See . . . to me, it doesn't feel like I am doing good, but I think that's because progress is always in small increments, and it's not until you move really ahead.
Hope the Big Guy gets home soon.
Heather:
YES! I can still visit your blog. ;-)
E
Hi Christine:
My original goals are back on January 1's post and they were a lot more elaborate--I condensed them so I could write about where I was. . . . and 8 and 9 were really important to me. Nine seems the hardest some days.
E
Aimless:
Regarding #3--fear is a big motivator!!!!
E
You're doing a lot better than I am, that's for sure. The truth be known, I threw mine out the window. We had issues here that began on New Year's Eve and that caused a kink in my plans. Slowly but surely, I'm developing a new strategy.
Hi Muse:
Well, I try to reassess a couple of times a year. With writing/proposals . . . things change and then I always need to adjust to that.
E
*sigh* What ya go and make me revisit this for?
My single resolution was 'be better'. Unless being better at procrastination and self castigation counts, I have not lived up to my resolutions.
BUT on a brighter note, I'm more a spring kinda gal, so I figure the timing is perfect. I shall declare the first day of spring my 'new year'.
You've done terrific. Excellent list. Admirable accomplishments! =)
Lainey:
I see a lot I could be doing "better" at. Hopefully, I am just gaining steam. ;-)
E
The last few years I've really only had one resolution: "Don't get my a** shot off while in Iraq."
Everything else is gravy.
This year it is ammended to: "Don't my a** shot off while in Iraq or Afghanistan." As it seems one or both locations are in my future this year on the current "project".
It is relatively easy to write once over there. There isn't much else to do in my spare time.
JLK:
Do keep that in mind when you go back. I would have no one to argue with over at Stephen's (well, not quite) if you got shot.
E
Jeez, Erica- how many hours are in YOUR day? You're amazing!
While I didn't make any specific resolutions, I did give up coffee- a tremendous hurdle for a major caffeine addict like me! It's been two weeks since my last cup- don't I get some kind of AA type "chip" for that??
alyson:
MAJOR congrats on that. I gave it up over a year ago. Was fine without it for a year, then hit such a rough eprsonal patch this winter, and went back to needing it. Hope to kick it by summer.
E
I'm impressed! It sounds like you're doing great. Well, last year I vowed to stay sane and to become healthier. The former is debatable, but I did fairly well with the latter--lost 20 pounds, upped my exercise endurance big-time, learned how to eat more healthful food, and generally felt much better in the summer than I had that winter. For this year, my goals are writing-related--mainly, get this thing done, revised, and tossed to as many agents as it takes until someone decides to try to sell it for me. I'm still on step one of that.
Go booklady! And it sounds like you're doing great on the health front, too.
E
Wow! I am so impressed. I bow down to you. My resolution was to lose weight. I think I gained 3 pounds since I made that resolution.
Has anybody called you an overachiever. If not they should. Count me impressed.
Erica, I didn't make any resolutions this year. But, I want to focus on the now more. I want to really see things, and jump into moments. THE NEW EARTH has really helped clarify, and since I love learning new things I'm a happy camper.
Your list made me smile, and I think you're magical. You go!
I am so not finding where I put my resolutions... maybe they got deleted in the last system crash? Who knows... anyway I say that I am right on track :) but knowing myself I am way off. So maybe it is time to make some new resolutions and see what i can come up with.
My running is definitely on track, but I'm sure the writing has fallen off... just don't seem to have time to concentrate when my eyes aren't glued shut. The blog is sporadically updated due to the same excuse as the writing.
And I call myself a writer... sheesh. OK, no matter what time I get home tonight, I will either edit or write at least three pages.
I've been off tobacco (and alcohol, too, since drinking is definitely no fun without smoking) for a little over six weeks. I can't really ever celebrate, though, because I know I'm a junkie and only one weak moment from lighting up again.
Another resolution was to write more; but, with the synapses in my brain not firing quite as well without nicotine, I'm finding that difficult at the moment. I'm hoping it will get better.
Stephen King assures me it will. :)
Ello:
Well, you know, if you sit around playing Scrabulous all day, that could happen. ;-)
LOL!
E
Travis:
No. No one says that. But here's the thing . . . .
I feel like a piker.
Like . .. I would REALLY like to make a film that changes people's mindsets. Or start a volunteer project that changes the world. So no, I don't feel like an overachiever. I'm just waiting to spread my wings a little wider. ;-)
E
ewoh:
But YOU DID run a race this year!!
E
Jude:
Congrats! Proud of you.
Smoking'll kill ya.
E
Count me impressed, Erica. I stayed away from resolutions this year... I figured I was having a hard enough time just finishing off my regular old goals...
I love that you got in time for a watercolor class - I'm already looking into an oil painting course for next year when all the kids are in school full time - that would be awesome.
merry:
I've seen your sketch (on your blog). You have natural talent. I was simply lucky my watercolor resembled SOMETHING.
Read 50 novels in a year. I'm up to book 16, so I'm doing pretty good this year. Last year I just got to 11 for the WHOLE year.
My writing goals this year are mostly about finishing edits on the novella, and two novels. And getting them out into the world in time for Nanowrimo in November. I'm getting close to done with the novella. One of the novels is pretty far along, the other haven't started the edits on yet.
Podcasting a novel. Haven't started on this yet, it's all dependent on finishing edits first.
Keep up with my blog: Doing pretty good on that one, with a few exceptions.
Daily yoga practice: As my fitness goals have shifted so has the yoga. I don't do it EVERY day now, but I do a short session most days after my other workout and usually a longer session on Saturdays.
Emily Brightwell said...
My God, you're amazing! You are doing so much more than most of us. I don't mean to be pushy or forward by writing in your blog - I've written before but it has been awhile as my internet was down, but you do amaze me and I wanted to share that with you.
I'm lucky if I can get a couple of books a year done and in to my publisher - but like you, one of resolutions is to do more and I'm trying to finish my current project so I can work on an idea for another series. I envy you even wanting to drop to your knees to pray, I'm scared that once I get down there, I'll never get up. But you're right, it keeps you humble and as a liberal, progressive Christian, humility is important. As for resolutions, I've actually done pretty good this year, I resolved to laugh more, judge less and stop worrying about what anyone else thinks.
Love and peace,
Emily/Cheryl
Emily Brightwell said...
My God, you're amazing! You are doing so much more than most of us. I don't mean to be pushy or forward by writing in your blog - I've written before but it has been awhile as my internet was down, but you do amaze me and I wanted to share that with you.
I'm lucky if I can get a couple of books a year done and in to my publisher - but like you, one of resolutions is to do more and I'm trying to finish my current project so I can work on an idea for another series. I envy you even wanting to drop to your knees to pray, I'm scared that once I get down there, I'll never get up. But you're right, it keeps you humble and as a liberal, progressive Christian, humility is important. As for resolutions, I've actually done pretty good this year, I resolved to laugh more, judge less and stop worrying about what anyone else thinks.
Love and peace,
Emily/Cheryl
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