Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Let This Be YOUR Year

Happy [Screw It!] Year!

So, here’s what I’m thinking. I’m not making a crappy resolutions list.

You’re not?

No, I’m not.

But why not? They’re so fun to not complete!

Exactly, my friends! Exactly! Why stress myself out? Why set myself up for failure? Oh wait, did I not JUST post that to fail is to become successful?

Well, instead of an unrealistic list of resolutions, I am going to reflect on ALL of my major accomplishments of 2007. There were so many! I cannot believe all of the incredible things I achieved in ’07! I amaze myself, and I’m sure my list of successes will shell-shock you as well. You’ll think, “Wow, how on earth does she manage all of this?” and “She is an incredible woman/mother/person!” Try not to be jealous. Work as hard as I do, and you too may accomplish these successes and accomplishments. In fact, I’m guessing that many of you unwittingly have already done so!

Without further delay, I bring to you, my accomplishments of 2007, in no particular order:

My children still love me.

My husband still loves me.

We are still healthy.

We are still happy.

We still have shelter.

We still have food.

We still have friends.

Dude. Not too shabby of a list of accomplishments, huh?

Now, to focus on 2008:

No resolutions.

And not because I don’t want to make any, but because I am going to be WAY too busy in the New Year because I have acquired another part-time job!

I think you may know I work part-time for www.babyzone.com and love, love, love it! Well, I have a new part-time job too, and this one is just as exciting!

Drumroll please…

I am going to be a WRITER!

Yes folks! Beginning January 7, 2008, every day, Monday through Thursday, from noon to 1:30, (or thereabouts) my new job will take my butt into a chair where I will be writing my second novel. This part-time gig pays very little (OK, it pays absolutely NADA) and offers me NO benefits at all. In fact, I don’t think I am getting anything out of it, except for the fact that I know it’s something I NEED to do, deep down in my heart, and the only way I’m going to get it done is to make it a job for myself, and to create time in my life to get it done.

So, there is no time for resolutions, no time for me to search into my soul for things I want to achieve or to get better at, or to learn to do. Nope. I will be too busy with my two part-time jobs, raising my family, appreciating my marriage, loving my children and my husband, doing some yoga, reading some books, writing my second novel… you get the idea…there’s no time anymore to HOPE to do these things; there’s only the time in front of me to finally DO the things I NEED to do.

Tell me something interesting and new about 2008 for you!

42 comments:

AutoSysGene said...

Congrats, making time for the important stuff is, well, important ;)

Can't wait to hear how the writing is going. And you were right, I unwittingly did a lot of the things mentioned on your accomplishments lists. Of course it was my family I was doing it with ;)

Cecily R said...

Manis, your list is fabulous. Truly.

Yay for you and your writing gig! I'm so excited for you and hope your few hours (or so) a day are wonderfully fruitful.

xo

Cecily R said...

I SO meant ManiC...

Kim Rossi Stagliano said...

Fabulous, Manic! Don't forget your beta readers! Drafts included!

2008? I plan to rabble rouse with my writing as much as I can. Yes. I. Do.

Happy healthy for all and for all good fight! :)

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

I am so changing my online name to Manis! hee hee.

Stephanie J. Blake said...

Writing your novel is a full-time job! The paycheck is just delayed.

I hate resolutions, but here they are.

1. Write 100 words a day.
2. Finish my WIP
3. Sell at least one book.
4. Attend a writing workshop.
5. Attend the SCBWI Conference in LA.

Here are my accomplishments.
Still married. Still have my home. Still have my lovely minivan. My children are still on the nice list.

onthegomom said...

Great List and I love your new part time job... what a great idea!

My accomplishments for 2007 are: I got married to a great guy and we are still married and he still loves me, whew! My kids are all still happy and intact, with my oldest completing high school at the end of 2007... again, whew! Gee 2008 just started to look kind of bland... but what they hay! My goals are to lose weight (I have a class reunion to attend!!!!), quit my job (YIPEE!!!) and to remain sane... that's the hard one. :)

Happy New Year!!!!

M said...

I hope someday I can find time to do this, too. What you are doing is the best way, I think, to get most anything accomplished. Finding the time to schedule in things like this, that's where it gets really difficult for so many of us. Good luck, I'm sure you will feel really good about how you used your time by the time this time next year rolls around.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful list! Such a great way to start the new year. You are a writer, and I have a feeling this will be your year!
XOXO

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Colorado--I like your list! 100 words a day sounds easy. I remember Swish and I tried to focus on one sentence a day. That worked, for like three days. We weren't that motivated!

Kim--say Rabble Rouse fast three times. Drunk.

Onthego--great accomplishments in '07; here's to your goals for '08!

Eileen--we'll see what happens when Monday rolls around! Maybe I won't take that part-time position I've been offered! LOL.

Mary said...

nice list of accomplishments! Way to reflect!

Can you believe its 2008? Wowza. Time flies! Happy Writing!

Melisa Wells said...

LOVED the list, especially the part about still having food and shelter.

Noticed you didn't say that you still have internet service...hmmm.

My accomplishments?
INSERT SHAMELESS PLUG WARNING HERE...

My book, of course! :)

Plus all that family stuff, yada yada yada.

I'm committing to more writing as well! Maybe, since you are apparently tied up during the lunch hour, we can breakfast on a Friday sometime? Have your people contact my people.

Melisa
Suburban Scrawl
and
Remembering Ruby

Michelle Kemper Brownlow said...

JUST LOVE YOUR ENERGY!
WIll be joining you in the no-pay writing gig! Just found out that the paying column I write for our local paper (The Gift of Gab)will NOT be a paid column as of this week...ever...again.
:(
But I have fans...haha, that is so bizarre to type, but true...I have to keep writing!

Ugh! The life of a starving writer!

Johanna said...

Great, great post!!! Thanks for commenting on my blog. Of course I remember you. Thank you again for the article. I actually have it framed in my office (and by "office," I mean "corner of my bedroom where the computer is.")

I'm about to go check out 40 Weeks!

Rick said...

Hey there!

I've been visiting the blog of those that have posted on mine because I'm having a little give-way over at my blog to celebrate one year of blogging - no gimicks - just some fun.

http://organizeddoodles.blogspot.com/

Barrie said...

Manic Mom--I think you unwittingly made a resolution! To sit in a chair and write from noon-1:30, Monday through Friday. Sure sounds like a resolution to me!! Here's to a great 2008--including a book contract for you!! I posted my resolutions on my blog (I'm a huge resolution maker), but can't be bothered retyping them. Sorry, it's late. :) Happy New Year!

kay said...

yipee!!! a new novel!!! i can't wait!! i loved the first one soo much! keep us posted on how it's going.

i am going to try to eat an apple every day in 2008. and stop having such a potty mouth. i think maybe i can accomplish those things!

Karen said...

I think you've already made a grand resolution to set time aside to do what needs to be done. Good for you!

And what a list of accomplishments! To retain what you had is, indeed, great.

Monnik said...

I love your 2007 accomplishment list. Very, very good. Cool!

And congrats on the new job! Keep the words a-comin'!

blog author said...

i like your 'no resolutions' idea. but, too late, i already wrote mine down, so i have to do them.

1. take my multivitamin every day (i hate taking pills). so far, i'm 3-0.
2. be more patient. i guess this means less horn honking
3. less tv, more reading and exercising
4. get something published, whether it be a story, book or illustration

so we'll see. feel free to comment and remind me to take my vitamins :)

can't wait to read the new book!

Anonymous said...

This is a great outlook on the past year and the year to come! As for sitting down and getting that book written, congratulations, and good luck on turning it into a paying gig after all!

Anonymous said...

If I absolutely promise promise promise to email you my every thought on 40 Weeks asap can I still be on your international beta reader list? Pretty pleae?

Stephanie J. Blake said...

PS. Here is the secret to writing 100 words a day.

YOU CANNOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING UNTIL YOU DO IT.

And 100 words is nothing.

Go Manic or is it manis?

HappyBlogChick said...

Hooray for a 2007 full of love and life. Know what? It'll be the best 2008 EVER. That's something to look forward to.

My 2007 accomplishments were surviving never-before-seen levels of family stress, becoming closer to my family during the stress, picking myself and dusting myself off once I had the chance, and being able to look back at the year with few regrets. I sure as heck wasn't perfect, but no one is!

On a completely unrelated note, I'm looking forward to reading your blog - I love your writing.

Unknown said...

WooHoo! I look forward to reading your second when you finish! :)

I'm not making any new years resolutions, either. Then again, I never do. I just work on making it the best

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Johanna—thanks for stopping by! Everybody, Johanna is the BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF The Next Big Thing, Your Big Break, and How To Be Cool! If you haven’t read her books, go check ‘em out!

Rick—cool contest—I went over to enter, and I hope I win so you can create a caricature of Manic Mom, but you better make me look smokin’ hot if I do win!

Barrie—You’re mistaken—I said my new job was only going to be Monday through THURSDAY… I’m going to need Fridays off! LOL!

Kay—Ah, Eff the apple a day! They don’t really keep the doctor away! (Just kidding!) Good resolutions!

Karen—I hope by putting it down on the blog I have made myself accountable and that all you find people will constantly remind me that I need to be writing Monday through Thursday!

Monnik—Happy New Year! I hope to keep the words coming! And I hope they’re worthwhile words!

Melek—Love your little pink and green guys. I know you told me their names, but I always forget. And btw, TAKE YOUR VITAMIN. I never take mine. I need to start doing that too! And kudos to you for putting “get something published” on your list!

Caryn—Long time no see! Nice to see you back in the blog world!

Amanda—NO NEED TO FEEL GUILTY—I didn’t give you 40 Weeks to read only to have you give me your every thought on it. Believe me, I don’t want your every thought on it! LOL! I just hope after you read it, you enjoyed more of it than not, especially because your first impression was not a positive one! Remember? : )

Colorado—HEY! A diet plan too! A diet and writing plan all rolled into one! I would sit there and be like, “OK, I can’t eat or drink until I write my 100 words.” Then I would be like, “Hmmm, if I eat or drink something, then I have to write something…hmmm… maybe I won’t eat or drink anything quite yet…” That might just work out to be a great weight-loss plan! But then it could ruin my writing plans!

HappyBlogChick—Glad to have found you, and am also looking forward to reading about your weight-loss journey! It is totally so much more ‘fun’ discovering what others are doing to lose weight! Great 2007 accomplishments on your end as well! Glad you got through your family stress!

I am Heather...creator of all things crafty! said...

Special "treat" for YOU on my blog.Check it out.

Irene said...

Sounds like you have a great 2008 planned! I have no resolutions, other than hope the year is uneventful.

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Irene, hoping for uneventfulness is a good resolution!

I am Heather...creator of all things crafty! said...

Dairy section on the yogurt. Oh, and I found the most awesome flavor of body spray/lotion at Victoria's Secret today. Appletini is what it's called, scrumptous.

ThursdayNext said...

What a beautiful post...well said and well done. I look forward to hearing about your writing conquest in 2008. Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

You go girl!

Anonymous said...

Hey Manic. I failed last year at my one resolution, to clean the coffee pot each day. This year either I've gotten smart with no resolutions or given up? I'll go with smart. Since you and I are the same age it looks like it takes 38 years to the truth about resolutions. See wisdom, that's what I've gained along with weight.

Anonymous said...

I meant to "learn the truth." Obviously I haven't "learned to proofread."

Anonymous said...

I think it's awesome that you are set on doing this novel. It's difficult to be so disciplined when the words just aren't flowing... but setting aside that hour and a half to DO it is the first step. Congrats and best of luck to you! :)

Patti said...

i just decided to train for a marathon this year. 2008 may be the year patti dies from lack of breath on a desolate farm road...

and keep your butt in that chair!

Chrissy said...

I'm concentrating on a quote by a first century philosopher as my 2008 'resolution'--it's in the post "Forward, we go"!

I still find your shelf space when I visit Borders and I say a little prayer :-) Can't wait to hold a signed copy of "40 Weeks"! :-)C

contemporary themes said...

YAY! Glad you will be writing daily! Good luck and have fun!

Tracey said...

I've taken your lead and applied for that same job myself. Luckily, they have lots of openings!

Thanks for the tip and many blessings to you this New Year!

Chelsea Talks Smack said...

Congratulations! I think its the greatest resolution :) I'm wishinng another fulfilling year and a few published books. CHEEERRRRSS

Liane Spicer said...

Good luck with your second part-time job! That's a great decision you've made there.

CLH said...

go manic! The only way to truly get serious about it is to know that it is in fact your 'job'. Don't let anyone tell you it's not, and don't let anyone distract you, as much as possible. If I were you, I'd find a place to do your job outside of your house, but also somewhere you aren't likely to run into people that you know- maybe the library or.. as creepy as it may sound- a cemetery. Gotta get lots of quiet there. As for my writing, totally on the back burner. Some weird and awesome things have happened with my business and I now have two real full-time licensed employees AND investors AND new furniture. So I guess I better focus on the biz for a while. But I am hoping to soon turn Fridays into writing all day days. YAY! Glad you are off to a wonderful 2008!