The end of the year is just off to the left, there, in the shadows. Are you ready for it? Have you accomplished what you set out to do in 2023?
It's not too late to throw in a few last-minute hail-Mary goals to aspire to. By my count, you've got more than seven weeks—that's a lot of time. Plenty of time to establish a new habit, break an old one, wrap up a project, or at least make real progress.
This close to the finish line of 2023, I'm feeling pretty good. I've moved forward on all my writing projects, even if none of them have seen the publishing light of day. I've reestablished the discipline of writing every day, and put practices into place to protect that time. And I'm connecting with myself and the earth, every morning before anyone else (well, except the dogs) gets any of me.
There's one goal I'm falling way behind on, but to be honest, it was a reach goal to begin with. That said, I haven't thrown in the towel yet. I've got seven weeks to reach it. Seven!
Some of you might be in the same predicament. In fact, I snooped around online and discovered that while many of my friends are on target to reach their goals, plenty of others are as far behind as me or worse!
What common goal are we all striving for?
Our Goodreads goal! (Here's where the lot of you who roll their eyes at the idea of Goodreads can take their leave—or not.)
In 2022, for the first time, I read 100 books. Actually, I'm sure I read that many books or more as a child/teen but back then there was no Goodreads or Internet or Computers…but we did have libraries, by God, with card catalogs (which were a love of mine—I'm still in search of my own card catalog. Where did they all go? What did all the libraries do with them?).
Feeling overly puffed up about reaching 100 books last January, I decided to up the ante and made my goal for 2023 112 books. That's only one more a month. Surely, I could do that! And I had an Audible subscription, that had to count for something.
But here we are in the second week of November, and I am 14 books behind my pace, or 31 books to go to reach my goal.
That's crazy numbers. Unless…I find a few workarounds.
How about children's books?
Short stories?
Goodreads doesn't define what 'book' means, so last night I listened to Sorry for Your Loss on Audible, which is technically a comedy show, but performed by a writer (and stand-up). It was wonderful (highly recommend it). I typed it into the search bar on Goodreads and there it was – so I marked it read. 30 to go now.
Will I make it to my goal? I'm not laying any odds on this, but it sure won't be for lack of trying.
Because that's what it really comes down to for me…forward progress. I am moving myself, my mind, my writing, my life forward. And that's what matters the most.
How about you? Are you moving forward? What can you do to make that happen in seven weeks? I bet a lot.
If you're a writer who wants help with that, consider working with me one on one. You can find more information about my 4-week coaching program here.
Hey, thanks for reading. I know you've got lots of options, so thanks for sharing a few of your minutes with me.
Honored,
Cara
My latest novel, Blind Turn is a mother-daughter story of forgiveness in the aftermath of a fatal texting and driving accident. Learn more about it and find out how to get your copy here.
If you're curious about what else I'm up to, check out my website, CaraWrites.com.
If you'd like to subscribe to my occasional e-newsletter, click here.
And If you're a dog lover, check out my other blog, Another Good Dog. And if you want to know what is really happening in the animal shelters in this country, visit, Who Will Let the Dogs Out.
I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, twitter, or Instagram, and I'm thrilled to get email from readers (and writers), you can reach me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.
My book, 100 Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues is available anywhere books are sold, but if you'd like some help finding it (or want to read some lovely reviews), click here.
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