I find it strange to think about goals. I’m on many writers email loops and it’s really exciting to see all the writers setting their goals and their plans for the New Year.

I do have my own goals but they are pretty simple really. Write every day, first finish Ancient Secrets’ draft, then write the first draft of the Steampunk story, prepare proposals, submit and cross my fingers. Hopefully, start on Ancient Shadows, the third book in the series. These are great plans of course but I find that none of my goals/plans ever go the way I think.

I did not expect to win the American Title in 2009 and publish so quickly, for example.

I guess those surprises are called life and we can plan as much as we want but really we don’t know what life has in store for us.

It’s all a process really.

In the last ten years or so I’ve looked at each year as steps in my growth. Here I became independant, here I survived grief, and here I lived through illnesses and learned.

I like to look back and pause. 2009 was the year of … (no need to expose all of me here) and 2010 may be the year of another step in life, maybe a little wisdom.

I do not fear aging except for the increased chances of illnesses. I do welcome the learning, the toughening that comes with each year, each new experience and challenge.

I don’t think I can suddenly change my nature and become perfectly organized overnight as the calendar turn. I’ll always be driven, trying hard, failing a little, messing things up a bit, having a little success and find profound joy in most of what I do and who I’m with because that’s just how I am.

No, not perfect in the new year, no great new plans except for continuing the process, making small changes to do thing better.

Just living, hoping you’ll do the same.

Blessed Be

beyond belief by =WCS-Wildcat on deviantART