The Next 100 Days

 

I posted on Friday for the first time in almost a month. I sort of "declared" that I was going to get serious about my writing, about being "a writer."

The roadblock for me has never been a lack of a material. It has been a combination of fear and lack of consistency. 

Maybe it is because I'm quickly approaching my 50th birthday? Maybe it is because I was recently reminded - again - that life is short and that there are absolutely no guarantees? Maybe it is because I have finally (pretty much) accepted that not everyone is going to like me? That what I say will not resonate with some people? Maybe I figured out that this is important to ME and if others are touched, too, that is icing on the cake. 

The second stumbling block is the consistency, building the habit of writing regularly. Last summer, I was introduced to Lindsay Teague Moreno. She did 2 keynotes at a virtual business conference that I attended. I was instantly drawn to her down to earth, tell it like it is personality. I read, well she read, her book Boss Up to me on Audible. Then she published Wake Up, honestly, I haven't finished it yet. 

In tandem with the book, Lindsay champions the #Wakeup100 challenge. The Reader's Digest version is that you pick 1 area of your life, and 1 thing you are going to focus on for 100 days -- IN A ROW. Walk for 10 min everyday, stop drinking, journal, or stop eating takeout. You don't pick a bunch of things -- you pick ONE. 

"Next, choose one activity that if done daily could help you reach your version of a good life. Then I want you to mentally go inside and commit to 100 days in a row. Decide you won't give up until you reach 100, at which point you can decide it had a positive or negative impact on your life, but this time you'll have actual, factual data behind your choices."

So little known fact about me -- I am a list maker and a box checker. I also follow directions very well. I also believe that stuff happens for a reason. Late last week, I'm challenged by a coach to "make writing a priority" and "start building that muscle" and then like the NEXT day, I listen to Lindsay's story about this 100 day practice. Hmmm...

The next #WakeUp100 challenge starts on March 1, tomorrow. I'm committing to writing and sharing that work for 100 days straight. That's the plan -- to write EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.  

I'm not focusing on word count, I'm not going to edit for hours, I'm not limiting topics, I am just going to write - for 100 freaking days. EEK!

Interested? Join the #WakeUp100 challenge  

I hope you'll pop in and read my posts. 

I hope you'll hold me accountable if I drop the ball. 

I hope that something I write over the next 100 days will speak to you, but if it doesn't that's ok too. 

See you tomorrow -- on Day 1

She Writes

In early January, I wrote a really personal piece, a tribute to someone I loved very much. When I was finished, I sent an email to a handful of people that I wanted to share it with. 

It read like this .... 

Hi Everyone, 

I'm not a writer, but I pretend to be sometimes. I wrote this earlier tonight and wanted to share it with all of you.

 

I included my essay and hit send. 

I kept thinking about what I had written because his loss was still so raw.  

The next morning, I saw the printed copy on my desk. 

I immediately thought to myself "Why did you start that email saying you aren't a writer?" 

In a way it made the piece of writing that was really important to me and that I was really proud of seem insignificant. 

"You are a writer. You like to write and some of your stuff is really good."

People tell me they love to read my blog. 

People tell me that I have a way with words. 

People tell me that I should write a book. 

People notice when long periods of time elapse between posts.

People think of me as a writer. 

Maybe it is time for me to rewrite the story where I tell myself I'm not. Maybe it's time to rewrite the story where I say that my work isn't good enough, that writing is a hobby and isn't important or valuable. 

Maybe it's time to own the title "Writer" 

Here we go ......