I'm always so gun-ho at the beginning of the year. I make big plans and set lofty goals and inevitably, I miss a day or two and then give up. This time, it was a little different. I've already far exceeded my reading goal (141/100 books read in 2020 as of today); however, writing reviews of them didn't work out like I had planned. I was so focused (and still am in a way) about reading as much as I can as fast as I can that I haven't been leaving time to write (almost none).
I did a 30 day challenge in September do the following four things everyday:
1) Read for 1 hour (uninterrupted, and physical read, no audiobooks for this hour).
2) Write for 30 minutes a day.
3) Listen to 1 podcast episode each day.
4) Walk for 30 minutes a day.
The walking and the reading were the easiest. I take my dog on 2 walks a day, so all I needed to do there was wake up a little earlier and walk a little longer. Taking an hour a day to read a physical book was so refreshing. I was reading faster than ever too!
The podcasts were great; however, I did notice that I didn't listen well on the weekends. I'm working through How Story Works by Chipperish Media, Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell, and David Tennant does a podcast with... because: David Tennant. There are others I want to listen to; however, I need to pace myself.
The writing was both good and bad. I wrote a fantastic poem at the very beginning and then I found myself not being able to live up to those expectations I set for myself. I did begin brain storming an idea for a book that I'm still very excited about. Have I pulled the trigger on that and kept writing past September? No, not really. But I haven't given up and that is something.
My friend Janice has been inspiring me a lot lately. She is writing her own book and just this past week went past the 50,000 word mark. She's working at it all of the time and is making huge progress. I hope to be a little more like her soon. I think part of that is that I need to get out of my head. I find myself giving up before I get started and that is not super helpful.
Besides the September goals, I'm still working full time leading a team of medical coders. My 6th work anniversary is coming up in less than a month. I work with a great group of people and I'm thankful I have that in my life.
A little over a week ago, the husband and I started house hunting for our first home and found one! The market is HOT in the middle Tennessee area and we lucked out and was able to go under contract with the house we wanted. We're in the middle of that for the next couple of months and then moving onto actually moving and the holidays and the new year... it's going to be busy.
I will finally have an office (instead of a corner of the living room). I plan on making the time to write more. 2021 is my year. 2020 was just the preparation. Even if it's just thoughts I hope to write more here.
I'm currently reading Cursed by Thomas Wheeler (I am NOT impressed) and Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (I am SO impressed).
How's life? What are you reading? What is one goal you made this year that you're not going to accomplish but will complete it in 2021?
-KM
