Dec 31st Goals or Resolutions I’ll Strive For In 2020

The Resolutions I make are more like goals for the coming year. So…. Lets get started.
When my hubby and I left the fifth wheel all snug in a storage space under its cover until next spring, I said the holidays will be here before you know it. He chuckled and said, “Don’t I know it.”

In the blink of an eye, Christmas is knocking at the door, filled with family, friends and a great time to be had by all. Well, mostly. Some tragic events befell several friends and family this year. I shed many tears for those individuals this year. For those I pray a for a better, kinder 2020.

Another year passed, but what was accomplished? Surprisingly, I met all of my 2019 New Year’s resolutions of 5,000 words written each week, won NaNoWriMo, 50,000 words in 30 days (but it was close),a new book contracted, I managed two, and spend quality time with family and friends. My list was short but attainable. I try to keep it that way each year.

This year in front of the Christmas tree decorated with bright multi-colored lights and ornaments that evoke wonderful memories, I ponder what the New Year will bring. First and foremost I’m going to slow down, take time to notice what is changing around me. I seem to always be focused on what’s coming up several hours from the present or days or weeks ahead. Life is to short to live life in that fashion. You miss so much. I hope, no let me rephrase I will do the following:

Have more quiet, reflective walks with Mystic my dog. We have great conversations as we tour the neighborhood or hike in the mountains. One sided sometimes, but my dog is a great listener and doesn’t judge.

Spend more playtime with our Eclectus parrot, Taco.

Take time to appreciate and enjoy each day.

Keep the those with negative thoughts or words at bay. Life’s to short.

While working towards my professional goals, I’ll up my word count goal to 6,000 words written in a week this year.

I hope to have one or two more books contracted and published.

Take more time for family and friends, you don’t know how long they will be around. The future is not a given so make the most of your present.

Last but not least, spend more time camping in our new fifth wheel for long weekends from Spring to Fall. All the comforts of home on wheels! LOL

I best get back to my WIP, or one of my goals will be slipping away before 2020 even gets started! LOL

What are your New Year’s Resolutions or goals? If you don’t make any, why not? Do you just take life as it comes and hope for the best?

Start your New Year off with a BANG. Take a peek at my New Release, CHARM ME AGAIN.Breaking the curse is only the first step to forever. Spend a few hours in a magical, fantasy adventure. Pick up a copy today! Available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Itunes

A little about Charm Me Again!

For several months a Scottish Highland Ghost has haunted Daylan, in his personal life, his professional life and at his forge. Yet, being a talented warlock, he is no closer to discovering what the ghost wants or why he chose Daylan. A trip to his estranged sister’s home in Colorado may have unforeseen consequences especially when family history leads him to a shocking discovery.

As his attraction blooms for Josie, a yoga instructor in his sister’s studio, he realizes there may be more to Josie than he can imagine. When an ancient rogue Fae Warrior set on revenge kidnaps her in an attempt to claim her as his own, a devastating curse comes to light.

Daylan’s world spirals out of control as he searches for Josie. Can he break the age old curse to save her and their future, or will she be lost to him forever?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged 2020, goals, New Year, Resolutions, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 9 comments.

Jan 2nd New Year’s Resolutions – Make Them or Not?

Happy New Year!! New Year Resolutions?

Now there’s a dilemma. In 2017 I made what I thought was attainable resolutions, as I normally do. However, toward the end of the year due to a family member’s unexpected ongoing illness, making those goals was tough. I barely made my 50,000 words in November for Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo. I did muddle through making my word counts, deadlines and projects as planned, but it was tough.

I guess I’ve been lucky in that I am a planner and the plans I set in stone happen as expected. Toward the end of 2017, for the first time, I learned that setting long term plans and goals can be fraught with problems. Life throws curve balls that you cannot imagine until it happens.

Ever the optimist, I did make reservations for 2018 camping trips, with the knowledge that cancelling them is a possibility. The alternative of no camping reservations is unthinkable.

I have discovered that I don’t work well with the unknown. I like to have it nailed down and know where I’m going and how I’m going to get there. Which is probably why I’ve usually created my new year’s resolutions with an eye to my plans for the entire new year. Yeah, going to back that off a bit.

So here it goes. My 2018 resolutions:

Write 5,000 to 7,000 words each week.

Finish the edits for fourth book in A Demon’s Witch Series in time for a springtime release.

Finish the fifth book in A Demon’s Witch Series and the complete the sequel to Charm Me.

Finish a rough draft of my romantic suspense – book one. There will be three books in this series.

Take more time for myself and my companion animals. I did pretty good on that goal last year, but going to do better this year.

Read and enjoy more books than last year.

Think before I blurt out statements that are better left unsaid, making me a kinder, gentler person.

Clean out the closets and give away the clothes we don’t wear anymore. It’s time. LOL

Spend more time actually talking to people rather than letting my fingers do the talking. (More verbal communication and less electronic) LOL

Exercise more! This is a tough one for me that’s why I’m not setting a specific goal trying for 3 times a week.

How about you? What resolutions will you make for 2018? Did you make your 2017 goals? Or if you don’t make resolutions, why not. Leave your answers in the comments, please. Welcome to 2018, what I wild ride it may be!

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged 2018 goals, Authors, Long Term Goals, New Year, Resolutions, Word Count, writing by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.