Here's to the Little Things...

Here's to the little things that bring great joy, like butterflies, comfortable shoes, and lying on a blanket in the sand ~ Jill Badonsky

Here's to the little things that bring us joy. I hope you are moving forward on your goal journey and it is something that brings you joy.

I've been reading a book written by a person from my hometown. As a matter of fact, she was a substitute teacher when I was in high school. How wonderful it's been reading The Buchanans: Storm, by Carlene Keim, having known Carlene from growing up. It's given me a new spark in m own writing as the first draft of A Place to Call Their Own gets closer and closer to completion.

So here's to the little things in life...I hope you're enjoying some of those little things in your goal/dream journey!

Have a great week everybody!

It is Rare and Difficult

It is a rare and difficult attainment to grow old gracefully and happily. Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it ~ Julia Child

I hope you are enjoying your success journey, whatever it may be. I hope that it is an extreme passion of yours that you find tremendously interesting. Keep at it, no matter what, and you'll achieve your goals.

Have a great week!

I'd Rather Regret the Things I've Done Than Regret the Things I Haven't Done



I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done ~ Lucille Ball

I hope everyone is having a relaxing and productive day, whatever that means for you. For me, that has meant getting up and getting the chores done and cleaning up the patio and rearranging the pots. Now that the chores are done, it's time to get productive with my writing and other activities.

Whatever goal or vision journey you are on, things can get tough and sometimes it's hard not to question the journey. I hope you're through that stage and moving forward. I hope you would rather regret some of the things that you did along the journey, than regret not starting the journey at all.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Without an Open Mind...

Without an open mind, you can never be a great success ~ Martha Stewart

As I've been on my journey writing my first novel having an open mind has been the most important assets on that journey. I always have the most success and learn the most when I have been open to receiving the lessons Intended for me to learn.

Just one of those lessons was to join Twitter. For two years, I resisted the "coaching" to join Twitter to build a group a platform. In just five months, I'm at nearly 2000 followers, and that feels great. I've increased my blog followers from 0 to 79 in that time as well.

Just this week I was asked to do a guest spot for a blog on Internet marketing, and that feels good. I don't confess to be an expert at this, nor are very many of my ideas, original, but I'm excited to share what I know and what I've done with others.

Reaching out and helping others is part of my vision of being an accomplished author; it's the sole purpose of my blogging efforts. This guest appearance will be another step in realizing that vision.

Whatever journey you're on, I hope you're reaching small milestones and I'd love to hear them in your comments!

I Can Do This

Think to yourself, "I can do this" ~ Jill Badonsky

Twenty one years ago today, I started working full time. Since then, I've made no less than four major career transitions on this day/week. I also had two follow very close behind in September, which means I was interviewing during this month in preparation to transition in September.

And here it is the beginning of the month and I'll have posted to the blog two days in a row; I'm two for two for August.  And I have a good feeling about the rest of the year, as far as my writing goes. Work on A Place to Call Their Own is moving along very well. I hope to get the first draft done by the end of October so that I can participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). That will leave me the colder winter months to work on editing and finishing touches.

No matter what goal journey you're on, just keep thinking to yourself, "I can do it." Even Oprah just admitted this week that being the CEO of the OWN Network is ten times harder than running her daily show. And she's committed to making OWN successful doing what's worked very well for her in the past: allow it [the network] to serve her purpose and to serve her viewers.

And if I can do it, you can do it.

Have a great week!

Here's to Life's Conveniences

Here's to life's conveniences ~ Jill Badonsky

Today in Kansas City, it was over 100 degrees and it's supposed to be even hotter tomorrow. Thank goodness for air-conditioning.

Another of life's conveniences is the farming equipment that our farmers have today.  I'm knee deep in researching harvesting in the 1860s for A Place to Call Their Own. And even though I was a "town kid," I knew that much of the farm work, even in the 80s, was done in air-conditioned cabs of the tractors and combines.

So here's to life's conveniences, most specifically air conditioning, during this extremely hot and humid summer. And here's to meeting my #writinggoal for the day.