As we begin day three of our adventure into 2010, I am all too aware of how quickly 2009 flew by, making my vow to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way a bit more urgent in my eyes. A couple of years ago, I signed up for a writing course and did not complete it. I had long since forgotten about the class, but they apparently had not forgotten me. I received an e-mail from them this morning stating that I can resume my class provided I pay a $39 activation fee. I hear the chuckles and the scoffs, but in all fairness, I would have to pay a new admission fee were I to enroll back at any other college I left and pay for the course all over again. Since the activation fee is nominal when compared to the current cost of the class, I am sending in my money and will resume where I left off. Knowing I will receive college credits for this class, it is a no brainer to me, just money and time well spent.
It seems strange that I am receiving some interesting and welcome choices to pursue my writing now that I have made the commitment to make it happen this year. I like to think it is a synchronization of the universe and that my time for writing has arrived. In reality, I may have simply overlooked the opportunities that came my way thinking there was no way to utilize the opportunity to segue it into a meaningful pursuit. Confidence comes from being comfortable in your own skin and that confidence means taking a professional risk that is more than just a calculated risk; it is an opportunity that needs to be taken, no matter the outcome. It was once said that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Maybe luck is really just a matter of preparation meets a well timed opportunity. As I said, I could have finished this course a long time ago and because life happens, the opportunity has presented itself at a more fitting juncture in my life.
As you endeavor to achieve your own personal goal, keep in mind that change is uncomfortable, which is why so many people stay where they are. They are in their comfort zone and know the parameters and the expectations that come along with doing what they know. I am farther outside my comfort zone than you might think. I enjoy writing and using my imagination for stories and contests, but being a faceless entry in a writing competition is less intimidating than opening up in a blog. In order to expand my horizons and therefore my options and opportunities, I find it necessary to take my skills to another level and put myself out there, literally. Big risks can bring big failure, but they can also bring much success and take your life on a path you might otherwise not have taken.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Fortune Cookie With Attitude
After our Chinese dinner, my son Matthew handed me my fortune cookie. Alas, this fortune cookie wasn't chocolate covered like the ones they used to sell at the “The Square” as our local mall used to be called, but enough about fond memories. My fortune is a timely one considering my “goal” to write more and to earn my degree this year; it read: “It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes a difference.” Simple, but it says it.
As any coach will tell you, it's all in the preparation. If you don't train hard, work hard, and play hard then you aren't putting 110% into your efforts. For me, I was only putting in marginal effort on my writing when I chose to sit down and grace the computer and my story with my presence. I was hardly exhibiting the will to prepare myself to win; I was floating along hoping the story would write itself. A couple of years ago, I came across a scriptwriting competition that I wanted to enter but even my imagination was stymied because I didn't have a clue how to write one. Since I'm not one of those prolifically talented people who can sit down and whip out a script without knowing the basics, I enrolled in a scriptwriting class at my local community college. By the end of the semester, I had a solid outline on my script and turned it into a 120 page Civil War drama. I entered the contest a year after I originally saw it, confident that I had done my best. Though I didn't place in that competition, it was a valuable learning experience that continues to motivate me on my road to success.
While my son was driving us to a graduation party this past summer, I was bouncing story ideas off him. We came up with some great ideas along I-84 so I searched for a paper and pen, lest I forget them. Imagine my horror when I realized I had no pen to write with and the only paper I could find was a church bulletin in my pocketbook. I did, however, have eyeliner. As they say, where there's a will, there's a way, but you can bet I don't leave home without checking to make sure I have a pen and notepad with me. The biggest difference in my life now from this time last year is my willingness to prepare to win. Without laying the foundations of success by taking it one step, or one blog at a time, my will to win means nothing. Have you taken one step today?
As any coach will tell you, it's all in the preparation. If you don't train hard, work hard, and play hard then you aren't putting 110% into your efforts. For me, I was only putting in marginal effort on my writing when I chose to sit down and grace the computer and my story with my presence. I was hardly exhibiting the will to prepare myself to win; I was floating along hoping the story would write itself. A couple of years ago, I came across a scriptwriting competition that I wanted to enter but even my imagination was stymied because I didn't have a clue how to write one. Since I'm not one of those prolifically talented people who can sit down and whip out a script without knowing the basics, I enrolled in a scriptwriting class at my local community college. By the end of the semester, I had a solid outline on my script and turned it into a 120 page Civil War drama. I entered the contest a year after I originally saw it, confident that I had done my best. Though I didn't place in that competition, it was a valuable learning experience that continues to motivate me on my road to success.
While my son was driving us to a graduation party this past summer, I was bouncing story ideas off him. We came up with some great ideas along I-84 so I searched for a paper and pen, lest I forget them. Imagine my horror when I realized I had no pen to write with and the only paper I could find was a church bulletin in my pocketbook. I did, however, have eyeliner. As they say, where there's a will, there's a way, but you can bet I don't leave home without checking to make sure I have a pen and notepad with me. The biggest difference in my life now from this time last year is my willingness to prepare to win. Without laying the foundations of success by taking it one step, or one blog at a time, my will to win means nothing. Have you taken one step today?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Resolutions...why bother?
As the new year approaches, we all begin our quest to find the perfect resolution: to lose weight, to exercise more, to spend more time with the kids....um, I can't think of anyone who wants to spend more time at work, but maybe it's me. I've decided, as my Facebook friends all know, that I wouldn't use the word resolution, which in and of itself seems destined for failure, but to use the word “goal” to make it more palatable and less likely to fail. To that end, I've begun this blog. As an aspiring writer, I am always dreaming of “becoming” a writer, and even though I've sat down at the computer and worked diligently (okay...sometimes) on my scripts, I feel like a child with attention deficit trying to accomplish so much, that nothing gets finished, submitted and ultimately purchased. I did receive an Honorable Mention from Writers Digest in October, yeah me! Not exactly a by-line or published article, but in my little world and for my little ego, I'll take it. The biggest goal I have for this year is to be awarded my Bachelors Degree in English from Charter Oak State College. I wanted to optimize my time with my family and the unwanted commute to school is the perfect place to start. I enjoyed my classes on-campus, but at this point, I want my degree and I'll take the road less traveled in order to achieve it.
Resolutions are a great way to begin a new year, but unless we are willing to take actions to achieve the end result, it can be a lesson in futility. Perhaps the real aim is to make a personal, clean start in the new year and renew our commitment to something important to us, and not just our family, friends or co-workers. Resolutions are typically “me” oriented and maybe our yearning for self-importance is more important than we'd care to admit. Day to day life tends to usurp our attention, not to mention our energy, and our ability to define “me” time as anything but selfish, though it truly is a vital part of our ability to cope. Most resolutions are motivated for positive, self-affirming choices: quitting the nicotine habit, caffeine, soda...whatever it is we see as a challenge to be conquered. Resolutions are difficult to maintain because they require sacrifice on our part and continued sacrifice during an extended period of time. We are always amazed and proud of those who are able to commit to a dream and make it work, at least I am. And if I'm being honest, I'm sometimes a bit envious of that dedication. Few people are able to sustain the dedication to the task of changing something they have clung to for whatever reason. For myself, it was the realization that once the bachelors degree is in hand, I actually have to decide what I want to be now that I'm grown up...teacher, lawyer, writer? It is a big choice and I understand the “kid in a candy store” cliché because when you have the world at your fingertips, it is an overwhelming, awe inspiring place to be. I encourage anyone out there to commit to a change, any positive change for even as little as a day, knowing that each time we try, we are one step closer to making it work. If I had thought that my bachelors degree would have taken me this long, I might not have started, but now that I'm this close, it was well worth it!
I don't know what 2010 is going to bring, but I know that I will try to finish what I've started for a change, both academically and professionally. I expect to bring home my bachelors degree this summer and to finish at least one more script by year end. Are these goals achievable? Absolutely! Will I manage to complete them? That's my goal and I hope you come along for the ride and share my ups and downs. We can offer each other encouragement and the knowledge that when you're in it together, anything is possible. So, why bother with resolutions? That's easy, because we all have the chance at making it right, so why not take that leap of faith and reach for the stars. Til tomorrow....
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