Welcome Back! Summer is over at least for school being out, the heat is another story here in the South. H-O-T is all I have to say about that! It is starting to cool off a little bit, but nothing close to fall weather in the works. Soon maybe we’ll get some relief.
I’m sure you will see a new site as you look around. I had to change things around a bit because of some technical difficulties. I’m sure it was all on my part but I couldn’t seem to get them fixed. Therefore, I had to start fresh.
Since we are starting fresh, let me tell you what is going to be happening around here. I will be posting on Monday’s. Ericka will be posting on Wednesday’s and we’ll be doing some fun things on Friday’s! You can look for reviews, guest bloggers, contests, and more. Make sure to stop by on those days to find out what is going on in our lives, writing, and more.
Now, where was I?
Have you ever felt like you were running around in circles and can’t remember where you were going? LOL. Welcome to my world. If you noticed my little picture it is a picture that I not only find funny…it is how I feel lately. I’m running around doing all kinds of things that I forget where I’m going or what I’m doing. Saturday night (maybe I shouldn’t be telling this) I put on a shirt and pair of shorts and crawled into the bed. My hubby and I, along with family had a yard sale this weekend. We worked all day Friday to get it ready, then were up at 4 am Saturday morning putting it all out. After the sale was over and all was put away, we ended up childless. Since it had been a while for that to happen we decided to go out to eat, which was wonderful to have adult conversation and then we did what we always do…went to the bookstore. Yes, we are sad and have no life. But anyway, we came home because our eyes were blurry and crossing as we read the pages of books and magazines. So, when I crawled into bed I was so tired yet couldn’t get still to sleep. We talked a little bit and I rolled over yet again to get comfortable. My hubby said, “Misty why do you have your shorts on inside out?” All I could do was laugh so hard tears ran from my eyes. I said, “well I guess that just shows how tired I am because I’m not fixing it now.”
I think we all get to this point many times in our lives. Were we are running and don’t know which way is up or down. We put our clothes on inside out and don’t care. We are just trying to make it through the day and when it ends we can’t even see where we started or what was done in the process. I have found that I have to write things down so I will remember what I’m to do. I used to not be this way. I have a very good memory. The problem is I have too much to do. I have so much to take care of that it all starts to run together. Which is what happens when you have five kids in school and with homework and then your hubby starts school and you’re helping him with some of his. And this is just part of what I/we do. Somewhere in all this, I have forgotten one very important rule of thumb. ME. I have forgotten to take that time for me. I have forgotten that in order to get anything done that I want to do, I must MAKE the time to do it. I will not find the time in my hectic life to do what I want to do. I have MAKE that time. Did I mention that soccer is starting as well and we are coaching a team? I walked in the door after the meeting last week and said, “What were we thinking? Like we don’t already have enough to do.”
The answer was really simple. “Nope.” We don’t have the time to be doing all we do, but we MAKE the time for it. Why? Because our kids are only young once and we’ll never get these years back.
So, if it is so easy for us to make these decisions for our kids and do these things for our kids then why is it so hard to MAKE the time for what we want to do? Or maybe I should be putting in here what is it so hard for ME to MAKE the time for ME?
The answer…fear, procrastination, focus, and the list really goes on. Fear of failure and I know I’m not along. Fear is the biggest part of many writers journey. It’s not something you really think about or want to hear. Denial of the fact is even worse, but part of it.
Procrastination is a HUGE part for me. I can think of some many more things that I NEED to do before I sit down to write, but the longer I clean the house or cook or put away clothes or whatever it maybe…the longer I go without writing anything. Meaning that if nothing gets done, how in the world can I meet my goals? The answer is very simple…I DON’T. If I don’t sit down and write or work on something everyday then I will not meet my goals and if I ignore my goals then what am I teaching to my kids or to others who want to take this journey? Nothing. I’m teaching them the way NOT to meet their goals and well I just can’t have that. I have to teach them how to make those goals. How to achieve those goals and how to MAKE the time to do the things they want to do.
Focus is another issue for me. I have a lack of it lately and I know its because everything else is going on in my head. I have to be here and there and do this and that. I have to retrain my mind to focus on the here and now. What I’m doing right now is writing and nothing else. The other stuff can wait. Guess what, it will all be there when I get done writing this blog post or with me word count/pages for the day or editing that chapter. It will be there and I can do it when I’m done. But this TIME right now is for ME.
These are things that don’t come easy and it takes lots of TIME, EFFORT, and DISCPLINE. So, tell me something are you struggling with these right now or is it something else you struggle with? Have you been in this spot? If you have share with us what helped and didn’t help. Tell us what you struggle with or have in the past. These are the things that writers deal with everyday and it doesn’t matter where you are in your writing, things always happen and you have to MAKE time for the writing.
I’m reading a book that is helping me and I will be sharing more about it in the weeks to come so stick with me and I will share next Monday about setting the goals that I have to MAKE time for.
