New Year’s Resolutions: Still Inspired?

New Year’s Resolutions–Still Inspired?

New Year’s Resolutions pass away in two weeks as people lose their inspiration. Or so I’m told. If you’re like me, you realized this long ago and so have trimmed the yearly list. You may still have several categories of resolutions–health (weight lose, exercise, eating right), career (new job, advancement, stand out work), family (quality time, adventure), and, of course, writing goals. Within those categories, you try to be more realistic. What sort of exercise will you really do? How much time can you devote to your career without cutting into your family goals?

Reframing Writing Goals

I like the recent move toward reframing writing goals. Shooting for one hundred rejections in a year is currently popular. The idea is a sound one: any conscientious writer (writes, workshops, edits) who puts their work out there that often is going to land some of their pieces. At the beginning of December, I decided I would start my rejection resolution early and take a moon shot with some work. As a superstitious person, a believer in the evil eye/ear–that nebulous presence that sees and hears when we speak our desires aloud and then works to destroy all possibilities of their fruition–I’ll keep to myself what that moon shot is. However, it did require me to do some original writing, as well as extra rewriting and workshopping in a month when I just wanted to bake and eat cookies in my spare time. 

Still Inspired?

The thing is: rejections are still very difficult, and when they pile on, you might enjoy some unlooked for inspiration to carry you forward–to the next rejection, and hopefully, the acceptance. This thought has me noticing all the products that now offer inspiration in their packaging. I find a lot of it very silly. It doesn’t inspire me in the way it’s intended to, but it makes me chuckle, and that’s a good thing. I sometimes find inspiration that works, mostly on tea bags. (If you’re not a tea drinker, maybe you should be. At your computer, butt in the chair, stopping for sips between gorgeous sentences.)

Blowing it Out Your –Nose?

I like to walk many miles during the week or undeveloped spaces while listening to audiobooks. It’s a great way to keep depressing thoughts at bay, to meet that exercise goal and to keep up with and support authors. (So, yeah, I’m going to claim literary citizenship among the other benefits.) I always carry pocket tissues on these walks. I’ve noticed lately that they have a variety of inspirational phrases. Sometimes, in a pack of eight, three or four have the same message. If you are superstitious, you can take that as a sign for direction. I take it as a sign that there isn’t enough variety in the packaging. Inspiring? No. But misread, they can be. Because the plastic packaging plays tricks with the light, I thought that “Summon your Strength” was “Summer your Strength.” So I’m imagining how I can turn all my best qualities into a big ball of sunshine and heat. 😉

Coughing Up Creativity?

For God’s sake, Hall’s, just stop. If someone is sucking on these drops, they are sick. (It sure isn’t for the delicious taste.) Other than “Get better soon” there isn’t anything you can print on this little wrappers that is helpful. People don’t need to impress themselves. And how can they conquer and seize the day when what they really need is a nap and some vapor rub?

My Cup a‘ Tea

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” Of course, Einstein was passionately curious. But if he had no special talents, the rest of us are in big trouble. Genius is more than curiosity. Thumbs down, Albert. I don’t believe you.

I found Catwoman more inspiring. “To live a life untamed and unafraid is the gift that I’ve been given, and so my journey begins.” Untamed and unafraid is the only way forward to those one hundred rejections. This one belongs in the plus category.

I was very sad to see this cup fall from the cupboard and crack up. It could be a sign that I shouldn’t start the morning with insults. But I don’t think so–because how can starting the day with Shakespeare not be inspiring?

Then, there’s starting the day with Socrates. Which beats the hell out of “Fire up those engines!” (Still looking at you, Hall’s.) “The secret of change is to focus your energy not on fighting the old, but building the new.” I’m going to put that one in the plus category.

Jimi Hendrix lands in the plus category as well: “You have to go on and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven.” True. Sometimes.

As is probably evident here, I was sick off and on during the months of November and December. Being curious about why so many products I was using had inspiring messages, I started taking photos to see which, if any actually helped. I’ll rate more tea bag inspiration in the next post. Meanwhile, I have lots of truly inspiring quotes from authors here and here.

If you are seeking serious help with writing, I noted some books I found quite useful. Short version here, longer explanation here.

Happy New Year. Happy writing goals.