52 Ways to Joy - Start Today

 "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose!"

~ Dr. Seuss

It's been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The question I have for you this week is, have you taken that step?

Small steps or giant leaps...aren't your dreams and goals worth a little effort, every day?

Whether your goal is to lose 25 pounds, run a marathon or write a 400 page novel, you've got to take a step toward your goal every day!

This past weekend my daughter and her three troop-mates earned their Silver Awards...no small journey. Four 14 year old girls, each one with their own challenges, their own hopes and dreams, came together for a group project to earn this award.

They had to choose a project together and then see it through. They had to start and they had to follow through!

(Yes, I am just a little inspired by these ladies!)

To do anything worthwhile in life, to make a difference or a change in our lives, requires us to take that first step and START.

Sure, we'll all stumble, encounter roadblocks and setbacks...we'll eat that cookie, decide to watch TV instead of exercising or writing...and that's ok!

Your goal this week is to figure out something to work for - anything...save for a vacation, drop a few pounds, do the summer reading program at the library...what ever it is START TODAY to make it happen. No matter how small or large your dream is, visualize how good you will feel when you're at the finish line!

Go...find your joy this week. I wish you safe travels!

 *52 Ways to Joy is a weekly post to celebrate the simple ways to bring joy into your life and those around you. It's about the small moments that makes memories and give us all a sense of contentment in the crazy world we live in. If you're joining me here for the first time, by clicking on the label  "52WTJ" you can read the previous posts!

The Tools of Accountability

Welcome to 2013!

This year my one and only resolution is to move FORWARD. Which means no looking back on 2012 (which wasn't a great year at our house, so this won't be a difficult task!)

Part of moving ahead with any goal is holding yourself accountable, because at the end of the day it's how you used the 24 hours we get everyday to your advantage - isn't it?

First you have to know what works for you. For me, it's my daily planner, my task list, and some kind of progress meter.

It also helps to have a support group of people working toward a challenge together.

So, here's my quick rundown of my "tools of accountability!"

(1) Everything goes on the calendar

(2) Important tasks go on a post-it note on top of my Moleskine agenda that goes EVERYWHERE with me. (Yes, I have a smartphone with plenty of calendar/to-do apps, I do use them - but I am a paper girl and it's just the best way for me.)

(3) Progress Meters and spreadsheets! Oh, I am soooo a visual girl. I love graphs and charts and anything that shows progress. I've always got a progress meter here on the blog with my latest word count for the current WIP and I love my spreadsheets with daily word counts, cumulative word counts, etc.

(4) By far the BEST way to keep me motivated and moving forward is to surround myself with people who can poke, prod and remind me about my goals. Those people nudge me back onto the track when I run off in a new direction, they cheer me on when I'm hitting my goals and they offer shoulders when I hit a wall. I've been blessed to have a great group of supportive writers to call my friends and critique partners! (And the group has two open spots right now! Click the link to read more about us.)

Today I hang the new calendars on the wall, open the new planners and update the spreadsheets to 2013. Do you have a favorite tool of accountability that's going to help you achieve your goals in 2013?

Farewell 2012 - Looking FORWARD to 2013!

Farewell 2012.

A year of ups and downs, joys and sorrows.

A year of discovery, planning and support.

Almost a year ago I took an honest look at what I was doing and where I was headed with my writing career. I realized that what I REALLY wanted to write wasn't a hot trend with the NY publishers. And if I really wanted to be honest myself, I had to admit that time travel romance is plain and simple, a tough sell.

In the summer of 2011 I self-published a short time travel novella that had been previously published by a small press. Sales started out slow, but by mid 2012 my monthly deposits from Amazon and B&N were buying me more than a cup of coffee at Starbucks, in fact, those royalties paid for a professionally designed website (which I'd been wanting for so long!)

My writing support network, and best critique group a girl could ask for, helped me work through my internal struggle with sticking with my niche even though it isn't the most popular genre. (Thanks ladies!)

So, in case you haven't read my post from last week, I am now NOT looking back. I am looking forward - I am moving forward! I've got a time travel series plotted and begun, the first one "Surrender to the Sheriff" is planned for early 2013. The cover will be ready within the next three weeks and my back-cover blurb is ready to be shared exclusively with my newsletter subscribers within the next few days (along with another giveaway for some awesome handmade travel soaps!)

While I'm always sad when the year comes to an end and I struggle with remembering to put the right date on my checks - I'm feeling more optimistic about 2013 than I've felt about a new year in a long time.

Are you ready to put 2012 behind?

What's your mantra for 2013?

This year along with setting some personal and professional goals, I've decided to pick one word that will be my call to action, my mantra.

I've been giving this one word a lot of thought. It can't be a word too elusive or too broad. It has to be a word that can motivate. It has to be a word that sums up my goals for the year - both personal and professional.

To start my journey in choosing the perfect word to use as my "battle-cry" for 2013 I decided to write down a few of my favorite quotes:

"You have the power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." ~ Marcus Aurelius

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." ~ Mark Twain

"Only in the darkness, you are able to see the stars." ~ Martin Luther King

"One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat." ~ Napoleon Hill

I know where I want to be this time next year. I know those small achievable (hopefully!) goals I'll be writing on my daily agenda. The question is what one word can sum up all those aspirations? A word that doesn't let me look back, because what's past is past.

Dream?
Determination?
Success?

All good words, but they just don't seem to fit for me this year.

My mantra for 2013 is going to be FORWARD!

I'm not looking back at what I can't change. I'm looking forward to setting the bar higher, to getting healthier, etc.

What's your word going to be for 2013? What are you going to write at the top of your agenda to keep you moving toward your ultimate goal? I'd love to know!