Seven years ago, I read a book with a title that reflected my heart’s desire:Writing a Book That Makes a Difference
This week, I’m overwhelmed and humbled by reader feedback. Through all the effort of creation and writing and revision and revision and more revision, all the waiting and working, in the end, it seems this novel I’ve written is touching hearts. My heart is full.
It’s January. I’m trying not to make New Year’s resolutions, which are not easily kept, but instead focus on goals. I am ready to put giant goals behind me and aim for small changes in my life this month that will make a big difference.
The biggest hurdle to conquer: getting to bed on time. I know from experience that when I get to bed on time, it’s easier to get up on time, which means it’s then easier to begin my morning routine.
It’s very important for me to be up and starting my routine before everyone else is awake. I need that time to feel like I have a jump on the day. But I’m sunk if I go to bed late.
The challenge: I find it hard to leave a jo
b half-done. I’ll press on until it’s finished–often even if that means I’m up half the night. Bad idea.
On top of the normal challenges to get a jump on my routine, we are preparing to leave for China. My to-do list seems to be growing instead of shrinking.
With all this in mind, here are my January goals:
What are your challenges this month? What’s your plan to conquer them?
I have a string of excuses, and some legitimate reasons: I wasn’t feeling well, and was probably a little low in spirits after the miscarriage, then things were busy as I revised my novel in preparation for publication. Finally, in January, I fell and injured my rotator cuff, and exercise was impossible.
I have been extremely fortunate, because recovery was quick–quicker than it’s “supposed” to be, and I now have the return of almost 100% range of motion, almost completely pain free.
So it was time to get back at it.
I resisted the urge to jump in hard core, as is my usual modus operandi, and instead decided a gentle approach was best. I started back with Leslie Sansone’s Walk Away the Pounds. Halfway through the week, I couldn’t resist ramping it up a bit and did interval training on the mini trampoline, but went back to playing it safe the rest of the week–although my shoulder felt great.
Sunday – Walk Away the Pounds – 2 mile walk
Monday – Walk Away the Pounds – 2 mile walk
Tuesday – mini trampoline, interval training
Wednesday – didn’t go to bed on time the night before
Thursday – didn’t go to bed on time the night before
Friday – Walk Away the Pounds – 2 mile walk
Saturday – mini trampoline, interval training
This month in Friday Fiction Fix, I’ll be interviewing an author and reviewing Saving Grace by Annie Jones.
In the meantime, we are packing up for China, and I’m coming across a lot of books that were on my I’ll-read-that-one-day-when-I-have-the-time list. You know the list, right?
Only problem is, I refuse to pack up a lot of books and move them to China. A lot of these books are non-fiction, but there are some good fiction titles in there too, mostly ones I picked up at thrift stores or had passed on to me after someone else read them.
So here’s my hopeful list of books I want to read before we seal the lid on the final box:
Okay, okay, you see just as well as I do what’s going to happen here, don’t you? There are simply not enough hours in the day. Sigh.
Looks like a giveaway may be in order. Stay tuned.
Also, if you haven’t heard yet, the Grace Awards have been announced. I’d be honored if you’d vote for After the Snow Falls.
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