Goals, 2012, And What Happens When You Have Too Much Coffee

I blame it on the extra coffee.

No, if anything it should be blamed on my trip to Alaska last summer, the to-do lists I've made since then, and probably on Pinterest. But I'm sure the coffee contributed to this mood I'm in this morning. It's a goal setting mood.

When 2011 ended and 2012 began I had a few goals in mind for this year. I'm still articulating them (yes, its the end of January but setting goals constantly is good, right?) but this morning I've been even more challenged to write them down. That's going on my to-do list for the day. And since I'm on my forth (fifth?) mug of coffee and it's not even 10:30, I'm hoping I'll have the energy and brain power to think of some.

What's really on my mind this morning is that silly 'word of the year' thing everyone has become so obsessed with. 'Resolutions' are SO 1999 (or any other year besides this one--pick) and they have become something we joke about keeping until, oh, January 2nd or so and then convieniently forgetting. So instead when we look for a new start in the new year we call them 'goals' or a 'word of the year' and feel all trendy and cool.

Rant over.

Anyway, I'm not planning on giving my year a word. I think there's nothing wrong with that, but I'm more of a 'seat of the pants-er' at writing and at life and the idea of labeling 11 more months with a word that WILL/SHOULD describe them is foreign to me.

BUT when I was reading my Bible this morning (yep, that's a goal too) I was really struck by how all the goals I've been setting/praying about/thinking about can really be summed up by being intentional. I know I'm not the first one to notice that intentional living is important. Countless books have been written, sermons preached, and blogs posted on this topic, I'm sure. So don't worry, I know it's nothing new (but really, what is?)

But I really want to be more intentional. I've been intentionally being more active. I want to intentionally find things to do with my son that are fun and good learning opportunities. I want to be intentional about building an even better relationship with my hubby. I want to intentionally be a good friend/sister/daughter.

The thing I'm finally getting is that I LOVE to be vague. I'll set a goal (ahem, or make a resolution, let's be honest) to be more healthy, but never articulate what that means. It's like that saying that if you're aiming at nothing, you'll hit it. Well, in the same way, if you know what you're aiming at but only kindasorta, you'll only kindasorta hit it.

This may only be making sense to me, but I had to post it. Writing works things out in my brain, you know? How about you? Does writing untwist your tangled thoughts the way it does mine?

SO. Today I'm going to intentionally set some goals for myself. Not vague ones. But not super unrealistic ones like Im-going-to-be-a-size-two-by-next-week ones either. Intentional goals.

Wish me luck! How about you? Any goals/words/resolutions for 2012? How are you doing so far?

Content.

I was talking to a friend today about where we are in life (not like, literally. Although we have been known to get lost, especially when we try to talk on the phone while driving...but figuratively). She said that for once in her life, she's happy where she is and not in a hurry to rush onto the next thing.

I thought about it and realized I know exactly how she feels. I love my family. I love my job. I love my friends. I love where I live. I, like my friend, am really content with life. I don't even know what to put on my Christmas list for people to buy me, because really, what do I need? Okay, that's not entirely true. I'll still take a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, Starbucks gift cards, CD's, books, and anything else they'll get me, but for the most part, I have everything I could possibly want.

This is such a nice realization for me because I've been writing seriously and really pursuing publication for...Eight-ish years now. And I know that time plays a HUGE role in this business and the people who get published are often the ones who were too stubborn to quit. And I'm not thinking about quitting, so that's not what this is about. But at the same time, it's nice to know that it's okay if I never do get published. (Haha, if you're an agent or editor reading this I'll still totally take a contract...) I would like to, but my life is wonderful as it is.

I think it's kind of like that line in Cool Runnings, which I haven't seen in years, but remember from my high school Chemistry class (wait--why DID we watch that in Chemistry? Ahhh, private school education...). If you're not enough with a gold medal, you'll never be enough without it. I remember at the time thinking that was a strange quote and that it made no sense whatsoever. I think it actually made me a little irritated.

But you know what? I get it now. And it's so true.

How about you? How are you finding yourself more contented than you have been in the past? Anything you need to work on being content with?

Hurray!

It's been a good Sunday here. Church was good this morning--the baby slept so I even got to hear most of the message. AND the whole "baby sleeping" part meant that he was much happier for the rest of today than he typically is on Sundays. He really is the most good-natured baby I've ever met (no, really. I'm not being biased.) but if he doesn't get his nap...it's just not good. So those were two good things this morning.

PLUS my husband fixed me breakfast. It was amazingly good and totally sweet of him.

This afternoon we hung out with family and I finished the first draft of the synopsis for the story I'm entering in that contest I told you about the other day.

And now we're leaving for church again. Wow. What a productive, good day so far. Hope you've all had semi-relaxing Sundays! If not, go take a nap. Or have some coffee. =)

Oooo, coffee. Wonder if I can convince hubby to stop for some on the way to or from church? Hm...

Genesis Contest!

All right all of you not-published-yet writers out there--have you looked into the Genesis Contest? Check it out on the American Christian Fiction Writer's website. You enter the first 15 pages of your wip (work in progress) and a one page synopsis and then get amazing feedback from judges and the chance to win!

Seriously. It's an awesome contest, so you can check it out.

On that note, I'll be MIA here for another couple days, I think, while I wrestle with this synopsis. You'd think a summary of a story would be easy, right? Yeah...not so much.

Wish me luck!

Is it Spring Yet?

Don't get me wrong. I love winter. I do. I'm pretty sure it's my favorite season, but then again, I think that about most seasons. My sister and I finally came to the conclusion that maybe it's just the changing of the seasons that we like, and I think she's right. This is a little strange for me, since I'm not always the hugest fan of change, but there you go.

But the thing is, to get back to my point, I love winter because I love snow. And I live in a part of the country at the moment that doesn't get a whole lot of snow, if any. Which mans that at this point in the year winter is just a gray haze keeping me from spring and it's accompanying beach and hiking trips. So I'm pretty much ready. Is it here yet?

I heard that according to our famous groundhog, it won't be long. We'll see how that goes.

In other news, I read the most AMAZING book last weekend. Well, one of the most amazing anyway. Ronie Kendig is a new addition to my top list of favorite writers. Her book Digitalis, which is the one I read last weekend, definitely will hook you and refuse to let you go. Incredible story, character, and writing. I'm planning to tell you even more about why you for sure need to buy this book probably next week sometime. Monday or Tuesday-ish.

So even though it's not spring, I need to do some cleaning. We'll call it late winter cleaning, which is fine since spring cleaning is so cliche anyway, and as I writer, I'm supposed to be learning to avoid cliches, right? We're moving here in a couple weeks (not far, just to another nearby town) and right now I've packed...Uh...Well...I did buy some storage boxes? So that's on my list of goals for the weekend. Pack something. Or throw away some junk that I have no intention of packing/moving. Wish me luck.

How about you? Goals for this weekend? Thoughts on why February is not definitively winter or spring but just an in-between month?