I set out at the beginning of the year to write more. Late
in 2017, I read about the idea of having just one goal and focusing on that
rather than several goals that might all get mixed up. I decided to try it with
writing. For the first time in my adult life my goal list had just one item.
That was to write an average of 500 words per week and to have 26,000 words
written by the end of 2018. These would be journal entries, blog posts, and
speech notes. Every week the top item on my planner was “500 words”.
I started strong. When I really sit down to write, I can
often go far past 500 words on a blog post. The Spring was solid and I was
actually ahead. Then Summer came and I had 4 small people to keep busy. I
started to slip. I wasn’t hitting 500 words every week. But it was my one goal
so I wasn’t going to let a few weeks slip stop me for the year. I had ONE GOAL.
I couldn’t fail at just one. I could fail at many, but to fail at one? That
would just be sad.
I rallied in September and found a new writing time. I
wasn’t too far behind. I could still do this thing. It would just take
determination. And then the Fall holidays began and it was hard to find the
time again. But still, I wanted to do this thing and I wasn’t that far behind.
That brought me to early December. I had to write 3000 words
by the end of the year. I started to wonder if I could really do it. That would
be more than 500 words a week at a busy time of year. I told my dad I didn’t
know if I could make it and he asked where I was on my goal. I said “3000 words
away, I might just fail”.
His reply changed my game.
He said “You already are at 85% or so of your goal. You may
miss the word count, but that is hardly a fail.”
He was right. Since when would 85% be failing? And more
importantly, I have written more this year than ever before because of this
goal. My husband has encouraged my writing more this year than ever before
because he knew my goal. I am closer to be a “real writer” than ever before.
My goal has moved me forward as a person and a writer and that is what goals
are supposed to do. So even if I missed the 26,000 words, I would not be
failing my goal.
And that, as it turned out, made my want to write even more.
I wrote during naptime. I took my kids to the Y playrooms and never made it to
the exercise rooms, I would just write in the lobby. I might miss my goal. But
I was not failing and I was a better person for trying. I was at peace with
myself regarding my goal, which can be just as important as meeting the goal
itself.
That brings me to today. I am super excited to report that I
have done it! I have written 26,118 words in 2018. I am crying as I write this.
It was a stretch goal. I could have quit with 4 little human excuses. But I
didn’t. I kept going and I did it!!
And here’s to 30,000 words in 2019!