Wednesday, January 2, 2013

To Plan or Not To Plan...

Here we are once more, the first post--and IWSG meeting--of 2013. I guess the joke's on those who spent their life savings on underground bunkers and enough Campbell's soup to last a nuclear winter. But, if you ask me, anyone who didn't pay attention to the surviving Mayas saying they knew nothing about this End of the World nonsense had it coming. Still, I feel bad for them. 12/13/12 must've been a very awkward day at the office.

My mother always tells me everyone talks about the fair depending on how it went for them and she is right. And though I know it's frowned upon to talk ill of the recently deceased, I must say last year was not my best year. Not by a long shot, but it wasn't a total wash either. It was more like some idle time where I didn't accomplish many goals but I set the ground work that will enable me to see them come to fruition. Half of 2012 was gone by the time I got my sh*t together. But it ended on a high note, and for that I'm grateful. Now, I'm back at my computer like a year ago, feeling like it was yesterday when 2012 knocked on my door with the promise of so many possibilities. As did the year before. And the one before that.

Differently to those past years, this January 2nd I don't have fail resolutions. I don't feel the burden of failure and the excitement of turning the page anew. For me, this wednesday feels exactly the same as last wednesday. My goals haven't changed and the foundations that took me all that 'idle time' to build are still there, giving fruits. I didn't even bother to think of my new year's resolutions. I have my old year resolutions that haven't changed. And I'll be damned if I don't finish with those first before I set new ones.

Most people talk about their expectations for the new year, their dreams and hopes. They are determined to change that which derailed last year's hopes and dreams. This time it will be different, they say. And then they go on and put 8 out of the 10 failed items on the list once more. What's the point, I say. Did your mom write a new To Do list when you hadn't finished the last one? Had she re-written it on a different color paper or with a different pen, would you have felt more inclined to finish it faster?

Nonsense. I still want to loose those 10 lbs I have been carrying around my mid-section since my youngest one was born, six years ago. I still want to get on the treadmill at least three days a week. I still know that unless I set a schedule and actually stop eating and start exercising, those two items will remain in my To Do list for quite some years. What I'm trying to say is that we all start the year with our best intentions and daydreaming with the possibilities, but it is about October that we realize those dreams were unrealistic or that we haven't been serious about them. It is then that we start to scramble to make it happen, knowing it is impossible. Then we get depressed at our failure and want to strike it off our record with the new year. What if instead of stopping the effort you started in October you kept going until you actually made it?

This is what I'm planning to do. I'll keep posting every monday and friday--plus every first wednesday of the month--on this blog. I'll keep working on my new novel, carrying the momentum that took me so long to build. I'll keep trying to be a better writer, mother, wife, and daughter everyday. And I'll keep refusing to call myself a failure until success is the only word left in my vocabulary.

I wish the same for you. Happy new year!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful-- sounds like you have a solid plan, and more importantly, your motivation firmly in place. I love the new start-- the freshness of it. I find it invigorating. Now to keep the momentum, as you said, into October--that, indeed, is the trick!

Yolanda Renée said...

I'm a goal setter, a planner, a list maker and I fail most of the time to check it all off the list at the end of the day, but yes I do create new lists with those things I didn't get completed the day before. I love crossing the things off, and I swear the first 30 years of my life were filled with success because I set realistic and accomplish-able goals. Now however, I seem to struggle -- maybe I set them too high -- I doubt that but still I'll keep doing it till I get it right!
Thanks for sharing - IWSG is all about the truth, the struggle and the success!

Unknown said...

Many of our plans and goals do carry over from year to year. I've never been one for New Year's resolutions, but I've tried to get myself to goal-set (to an extent) so I know what it is I'm trying to accomplish...and go for it. The biggest things I'm working on are momentum, focus, and follow-through. Then I check my progress to see if I'm really moving in the right direction or needing to reassess. Sounds like you've got a great plan! :)

Georgina Morales said...

Thanks Julie, there's nothing more tantalizing like the promise of a new start. I wish you all the best. I think this group is a great help to keep the momentum all the way till the end. =)

I totally get the thrill of crossing at list one item of your list. I think lists and specific goals are incredibly helpful in achieving certain goals and I love making them. The only reason I'm not doing one myself is because I can't say I crossed a single item from last year's, so I'm staying with it. I'm sure you'll find your groove and start crossing items like crazy soon. Best wishes!

I think you have a very clear path that you want to follow, Michael and I admire you for that. I wish I could say I have it so clear in my mind. Instead I have a general direction that I want to follow and that's probably why new resolutions just wouldn't cut it. I wish you the best of luck this 2013!

Ink in the Book said...

Moving forward is the key to success. So as long as you are moving in the right direction, failure loses.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I wish you the highest success in 2013!! It's going to fe s fabulous year:)

Kimberly Gabriel said...

I love your voice and your attitude. It's inspiring and addictive. Best of luck to you in 2013 Georgina!

Tamara said...

Excellent post! I could relate to this on every single level. It sounds like we are in really similar positions, and you basically just outlined my plan. Just keep on trying pretty much sums it up.

Good luck with it all and I hope 2013 is the year great things happen for you!

Georgina Morales said...

It's my pleasure Ink. I truly enjoyed your post. =)

Thanks, Kimberly! I do hope we all will share a bit of the same great luck. =)

Thanks, Tamara. I'm happy I'm not the only one going through this screw-new-beginnings phase! LOL Best of luck with your To Do list.

Anonymous said...

Your post makes such good sense to me. Finish what you start. So simple, yet amazingly difficult when there are so many distractions pulling us every which way.

You've given me something to ponder. Thank you.

Georgina Morales said...

Ekcarmel, I'm so glad I make sense for some one else besides me. Yay! You are right about the distractions, sometimes I feel like a puppy distracted by the next shiny object dangled in front of me. Still, we will succeed as long as we keep trying. Best of luck!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Georgina, I think you've made sensible resolutions for 2013. I think I live moment to moment, most moments, but even I'm a bit excited about the upcoming year. I'm just trying not to focus on it too much in case I'm disappointed. 2012 was mixed, some blessings and some disappointments. For one, it went by far too quickly.

So, here's to new beginnings and calm attitudes. Happy New Year, Georgina!

Shelly said...

Practice makes better. Right?

Good post!

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly

Nicole said...

You've got some great goals in that last paragraph. Good luck for 2013!

Ciara said...

I feel the same way. New Years isn't a big deal for me. I use goals all year long. Actually, I use lists that I cross off as I accomplish things.

Jolie du Pre said...

The New Year *is* a big deal for me because it is a prime time for me to renew my goals and plans. I never think of myself as a loser. I'll be a loser if I quit - and I never quit.

Happy New Year!

"Winners never quit and quitters never win."

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Georgina Morales said...

Thanks Joylene. This year went like a flash for me, too! I just try to hold on to each day (specially with my kids). Best wishes!

Shelly, I keep trying. Dunno if I'll hit perfect one day, but I can try. =)

Thanks Nicole. As long as I improve in at least a few of them, I'll feel I'm successful.

Ciara, I really think that is a great way to move forward. Write small lists, cross stuff off, then move to the next list. New year or mid-year. Good luck with your list!

Good for you, Jolie! It is so easy to get yourself down when you don't accomplish a specific goal you had set, it is in itself an accomplishment not to do so. Keep going strong!

Deniz Bevan said...

Exactly! It's not so much a to do list but an ongoing series of plans and ideas. No failure!

Misha Gerrick said...

Hmm... I think you'll like my post on New Year's Resolutions on my other blog (Taking Charge of my Life).

No pressure for you to go read it, though. :-)

Anyway, the way I see it, I tend to pick goals that are important to me and work towards them from the start.

Sometimes I don't manage, but I do get a lot more done than without my yearly goals.

Vanessa said...

This is cool!