First week of the year down. Let’s see how I’m doing on my goals because there’s nothing like sharing your failures with the world to hold yourself accountable.
1) Writing: I didn’t write as much as I planned, *however* I am writing every day. Still plotting a bit as well. Something is better than nothing. Or so I’ve heard. I started to revise “Deacon” and stopped because I couldn’t see the pages through my tears. It’s pretty bad.
Just kidding. It’s horrendous.
2) Health: I’ve been adjusting my eating habits over the past few weeks, so this past week was cake. And by cake, I mean easy. I didn’t eat cake. I did eat some chocolate. But that shit’s good for you, right? My workouts weren’t spot on, but I did walk 4x (plus being on my feet constantly at work) and nailed 1 strength session. Baby steps, because baby steps still burn calories. Meditation: good.
3) I don’t really have a third right now, aside from don’t lose my marbles at my new job. And I didn’t, so I suppose I succeeded there. Yay, me!
I did realize that I might have set my expectations for myself too high this past week. This is going to be an adjustment and I need to cut myself a wee bit of slack for another week or two until my mind/body is used to this sort of nonstop clinic action again. I altered my goals for the next two weeks, which doesn’t mess up my quarterly or yearly goals, so I’m good.
It’s all good, people.
Except Henry died yesterday.
Peace out, our happy, friendly, weird little fish. We’ll miss you.
Did you already fail at some of your goals/resolutions for the New Year as well? (Please say yes so I don’t feel alone. So, so alone…)
Michelle Stodden 
I’m sorry about Henry. How are you liking the new job?
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Henry was an interesting fish. He would swim to you if you called his name and he got excited when he saw people. Just like a dog. He even let me pet him many times. Weird, right?
I enjoy my new position, but there’s much to absorb in the next four months before the current office manager retires. Feeling overwhelmed right now, but I know I’ll get it.
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I have faith in you as well. Henry sounds intriguing. 🙂
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He was no ordinary fish.
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Obviously. 🙂
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The biggest thing I’ve wanted to work on this year is not taking every little effing thing personally, like when my dog tracks shit onto the welcome mat, or I do, because hello, I’m blind, and if anyone thinks I’m purposely tracking shit onto the welcome mat, that’s their problem, not mine so it really doesn’t matter.
I had made a rule for myself that my new ukulele would be my reward for writing, so I couldn’t play it until I got some work done on the memoir, then I started work on a short story and straight up fizzled out. I too, have decided that I need to be gentle on myself. I’ve also accepted that I am a slow writer. I’m not like some of these people who tweet, “sigh, only two thousand words today…way below my pace but I’ll take it.” Sure, I do that during NaNoWriMo, and it kills me. That is not my normal pace, and that’s ok.
So no, you are not alone. I think we’re good at listening to our bodies. Have you ever practiced mindfullness? I started about two months ago and OMG, love it. I recommend a book called “Fully Present” by I think Susan Smalley, if you’re interested in mindfullness. It’s good shit.
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Ha. Two thousand words per day isn’t my normal pace either, but it is a goal. I don’t know if I’ll make it there, but I’ll try. If not, so be it. I’ll do the best I can.
I have/do practice mindfulness. I haven’t read the book you mentioned, but I have books by Thich Nhat Hanh and Pema Chodron (among others) that emphasize mindfulness. Not always an easy practice but definitely worth the effort. I’ll have to check out the book you mentioned. Thanks!
How long have you been playing the ukulele? Or is this a new endeavor?
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Except for my focus on the writing and to get my next book into the Kindle world, I have failed. Since the first two are the most important to me, though, I guess It’s a late reply. I am way past New Year’s Day and all my resolutions are shot to hell. Except my focus for writing (way more days than not) and to get another book I can’t say its a fail.
Tim
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It’s a late reply. I am way past New Year’s Day and all my resolutions that do not pertain to writing are shot to hell. Except for my vow to write every day (more days than not, anyway) and to get my second book into the Kindle world, I have failed. Of course, since those were the two more important ones, I guess it is not a fail after all.
Please disregard the earlier reply. I had some technical difficulty.
Tim
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Well, my response is waaay overdue between moving and not having internet access for a month or so.
I’m still off on my goals, but I keep trying. I guess as long as I’m taking baby steps instead of wallowing in self-pity, I’ll accomplish a thing or two. Someday.
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