Let’s Talk with Terry Odell
Make Things Happen
By Terry Odell
Congratulations to karaleigh2, the winner of a copy of Seeing Red.
At our last yoga practice before the holiday hiatus, our instructor said she’d see us in the new year. She also said to be prepared for crowded classes for the first few weeks, as people resolved to get more exercise, etc. But she added that it wouldn’t be long before most of them disappeared, and we’d be back to our core group. Resolutions are short-lived.
We’re now into the second week of January. How many of your “resolutions” have you already broken? (I never make them, except occasionally for my husband. I set goals instead, because they’re measurable. Resolutions tend to be vague, lofty dreams.)
We have so many arbitrary markers in our lives. They can be good, as they give us incentives for fresh starts. But why should January 1st be the definitive line? Shouldn’t we be striving to make things better on a daily basis? It’s easy to say, “I will start my diet after the holidays” which seems to give us an excuse to indulge without guilt until then. But are we doing our bodies favors? And it’s not just personal health. It can be promises to be more organized, or make more time for a hobby (like reading!?) or spending more time with family. Or not letting the housework get so far behind. Or balancing the checkbook. We all have things we dread doing, and all too often, promises to “do better” seem to fall by the wayside.
I think, instead of these lines in the distance, we should listen to that saying, Today is the first day of the rest of your life and move forward every day. Didn’t get done what you’d planned to do yesterday? There’s today. It’s all about making things happen. Today. Now.
What about you? Do you set “starting points” in the future? Once you get there, what happens? Do you need to keep adjusting those markers? How do you track your success?
Wishing everyone a productive, healthy, and happy 2019. Make Things Happen!
Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a copy of my Silver Falchion Award-Winning short story collection, “Seeing Red.” Print or digital – winner’s choice.
While you’re here, check out our Booklover’s Bench contest, open from January 1-18, 2019. We’re giving away a $25 gift card through a Rafflecopter drawing. To visit the contest page, CLICK HERE.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Terry Odell, zed: Former Authors • Tags: BLB Discussion, Let's Talk, Make Things Happen, Move Forward, Terry Odell | 16 Comments
I would like to have a copy of Seeing Red.
Thanks for commenting, Barry. Good luck.
I used to have one of those “first day of your life” posters on my wall back in the day. In those late teen-aged days, I took the adage to mean each day was a clean slate ready for me to fill it. Now I hear the same words and I think “time is short; not many new first days left; don’t leave things for later.” I think anything that wakens us from the lethargy that increases with passing years is a blessing. A few years ago I decided I wasn’t too busy for the extras I wanted to do and set out to accomplish them. I’m truly glad I did. I thought my giving of my time and energy would help others but it really helped me. I’m also a goal-maker, so I totally get what you are saying. Happy Goal Making! (and I’ve already read and enjoyed Seeing Red so don’t include me in the drawing)
Thanks, Maggie. I overheard a conversation at the salon, and they were saying how a client’s husband had passed unexpectedly. We really can’t know what tomorrow will bring. And glad you enjoyed Seeing Red!
I am ridiculously goal oriented and try to make little adjustments in order to keep on track. I don’t make resolutions, but I choose a word to help me improve. This year’s word is FOCUS. So far, I love it.
My word this year is PATIENCE (and not just for writing.) Focus is a very good one — keeps you focused! 🙂
I need to become more goal oriented.
You can start any time. I recommend starting with small, attainable goals.
Good reminder that we need to make every day count. And that means spending less time on the computer and more accomplishing the things on our personal to-do lists.
Guess I’d better stop playing those games! But true, we do get locked into the ‘screen’ and need to broaden our daily horizons.
I agree resolutions don’t go far, and I agree we need to do better every day rather than on one day a year. With that being said, I do tend to evaluate what I want to accomplish during the year. Not necessarily a resolution so much as this year’s business model. Achievable goals.
I’m a slacker. I don’t set annual goals, just “what’s up next” projects. Until I get a deadline!
The only New Year’s resolution I have ever kept was a resolution to NEVER make another New Year’s resolution again! That one, I kept. As for day-to-day goals? Mine are usually word-count oriented and my success rate is…variable. Still working on it.
We all have to accept that we’re not going to meet every goal every day when they’re short-term like daily word counts. But as long as we accept those “failures” and move to catch up, such as by setting weekly or monthly goals as well, we can move forward.
I don’t do that great w resolutions. Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
Nobody does, is my thought. Thanks for stopping by!