This week my schedule was totally out of control. Have you had one of those lately? You know, the day that starts one way and ends up being like something completely different. Normally, my work from home schedule allows me the flexibility to dip into my main interests, but this week everything that could pop up did. From extras for both kid’s schools, work, work, work, and, with the hubs out of town, I was left to deal with the snow filled driveway too. Ugh!
This week definitely pushed my buttons and almost pushed me over. Each day I told myself tomorrow would be better, but, when the next day arrived, something else came up until finally the black cloud of doubt rained down on me. Why am I doing this to myself. Ugh!
Frustration.
Did you watch American Idol this week? The boys went through Hollywood Week. It’s definitely one of those experiences that will push you, test you. Stress can take you to extremes and force you to face facts. Do you have what it takes to persevere?
I often wonder if I will ever get published. I’ll tell you one way to ensure I don’t: simply stop, give in…give up.
No, I can not. The thought starts an ache in my chest that shakes through me and leaves me nauseous. So, this week I’ve assigned myself one word: Perseverance. Google gave me this definition: Continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no indication of success. <–That’s it. That’s where I am, but I’ll keep going. I’ll persevere.
Thinking of my characters and their stories helped too, but so did these quotes from some simply brilliant folks.
When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. -Harriet Beecher Stowe
Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting. -Napoleon Hill
The Goals – week-5 results
- Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters- 1/2 done. WEEK 6 PRIORITY
- Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting- 1/2 done. I almost finished the third Lecture in my Margie Packet. I wrote on only two days, but that is far better than none, and added 1238 words to the WIP. I ended the week on a high, by finishing the first draft of one of my WIPs. Wow, feeling a little better now. I didn’t make any progress in critiquing the latest WIP from my CP, a must do for this week. WEEK 6 PRIORITY
- Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep and my calorie limit- Almost DONE. I got in two workouts this week. WEEK 6 PRIORITY
- Daily Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure)- I did some practice teaching this week, but that’s about it. WEEK 6 PRIORITY
- Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities- done. Parent meeting and a dozens tiny things that interrupted my day, everyday. Ugh.
- Organize something in the house each week- done. I made progress on updating my file storage. Each year I go through the papers collected, shred/recycle duplicates, and put needed items in longer term storage, i.e. banker boxes and ready the desk with room for the year to come. This process is another step in our tax preparation. We are getting closer to handing things over to the accountant. Wahoo.
What you might have missed here this week:
A Blog Takeover by Kharisma Rhayne author of Highlander Mine
Spotlight: Caressed By A Crimson Moon by Amanda J. Greene
Flash Fiction #37 Sounds of the Night
Sources: Google: Persevere search with definition; Proverbia.net: Perseverance Quotes
S.J. Maylee 
Ta-Da and a happy high five to you. YOU DID IT! You made progress. You even managed to share a rockin’ and rollin’ Harriet Beecher Stowe quote. :~)
You are juggling lots of balls in the air. Kudos and a big hug to you.
Thank you, Julie. I really needed that hug. Yeah, I agree, Harriet knocked it out of the park with that one.
You did great to accomplish as much as you did, with all that piled up on you this week! I hate those days/weeks, too. All you can do is do what you can. Hope this week’s better!
Thank you, Jennette. Your positivity is most certainly helpful. I hope this week is better too. I’ll just push through and out, there’s got to be a way out of here, right? lol. 🙂
I’m sorry to hear your week didn’t go as planned… it’s so frustrating when it happens! I hope you’ll have more time to work towards your goals this week. Perseverance is key, as you said. You can do it! We’ll be here to cheer you on all the way to your publishing day 🙂
Thanks, EM (((hugs))) That means a lot to me.
And another quote for you (from my favorite statesman ever): “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill. You definitely don’t want to stop here. Push through. Best wishes for a marvelous week!
That’s a great one. Thanks, Julie and Winston. 🙂
I can relate to the, “out of control” schedules. I’m slowly learning to take the pieces of spare time and use them as productively as possible. It’s a challenge, but from your post it sure sounds like you’re making headway! (I found your blog vis the ROW80 feed on Twitter, in case you’re wondering.) Happy juggling! ~Tui
Yeah, glad you found me 🙂 Small progress is still progress, thank goodness, lol. Hope you’re having a good week.