Last year around this time, I was feeling like an epic failure in the area of New Year's resolutions. I'm a huge fan of setting goals - LOVE setting goals. When New Year's rolls around, I'm always like, "WOO! Let's list some goals and meet them, and this year will be the best year EVER!"
But I'm also a huge goal-meeting failure (not a quality I love about myself) and usually around January 18th I realize I have completely left my goals by the wayside and drowning myself in the last of the New Year's champagne sounds like a mighty fine idea.
But remember last January? When I decided 2011 will be the year I pick a resolution (write EVERYDAY) and then stick with it? And for every day that I don't write, I donate $1 to the charity First Book?
YEAH, I TOTALLY ROCKED 2011.
Okay, so I didn't write every day. Out of 365 days, I wrote for only 323 days. Which means that, in addition to my base donation of $20, First Book will be getting $42 from me.
As it only takes $2 to provide a book for someone in need, my lack of resolution-meeting will provide 21 people with books that otherwise would not have had one.
Which makes me feel pretty awesome for all the days I failed at meeting my New Year's resolution.
WIN.
How about you guys? Did you set goals for 2011? Did you meet them? At least a little? I haven't thought about resolutions for this year. I've been up to my eyeballs in getting ready to query agents - like, next week - which is SOON.
But I might just try this write everyday resolution again. It certainly helped me on the days when all I wanted to do was sit on the couch, eat ice cream, and watch Awkward. marathons on MTV. Because I can't afford to buy ice cream or pay the cable bill when I'm donating all my moolah because I'm too lazy to work on my book!
9 comments:
Hey, Marisa! Congrats to you -- and also to First Book!
I also did the Write Every Day or Pay thing last January. It wasn't all that great of an idea for me, since I tend to be too obsessive. I don't need motivation to write -- I need motivation to take a break now and then! I don't have the sense to know when I'm tapped out!
I stopped counting days by March of last year and decided to just make a general donation at the end of the year.
I wonder how everybody else did?
Congrats Marisa, I'm so glad your days off had some sort of feel good payoff too! :)
Well done! The amount of days you ended up writing is pretty awesome! And you finished your novel! Yay! Happy new year to you and your gorgeous family xxx
What a great feeling that must be! even when you didn't meet your goal you were still doing an amazing thing!
I rarely, if ever give myself resolutions because I don't like to feel like a big wanker when follow through is a no show. Instead I like to set intentions with the caveat if they are meant to be they'll be done. This year I'm doing a sketchbook challenge. I'm excited to set pencil, pastel, pen and ink to paper.
Congratulations on getting to the point where you can start shopping your book around!
Marisa--WHAT SUCCESS!!
I ended up donating over $100 to my charity--which I view as a success as well. Will you keep it up in 2012?
Congrats, Marisa. You did awesome!
Awesome resolution! I love the idea of the penalty being something so positive. A great way to keep motivated but not feel too bad about days you just need to take off.
Good for you...I would have never thought of something like that as a motivator, but great idea!!
Just popping in to wish you a very Happy New Year!!
(I've been mia due to a major computer issue - boo hoo to broken macs!!)
That 2011 goal is seriously made of WIN!! I love it. And so cool that you were writing nearly every day. HUGE accomplishment and such a positive motivator. I'm totally tweeting this! :)
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