Rearview Mirrors, Speed Limits and Pot Roasts…

Originally posted at the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog Jan 10, 2012.

By Tami Brothers

Looking Back 

2012 rushed in like a lion.  I’m hopeful that means it will fade out like a lamb.  Wait. Isn’t that the phrase used for the month of March?  In like a lion, out like a lamb?

Whatever.  It’s my story and I’ll give it the best ending I think will fit.

Wouldn’t that be a kick?  We’re able to change anything that doesn’t work in our fictional stories.  Why not in our own lives?  Looking back through mine, one thing I’d change is to have started my Master’s degree immediately after graduating with my Bachelor’s.  I’d be finished by now.  Instead, I’m stuck trying to figure out how to incorporate all those classes into the life I’m currently living.

I’m sure I’m not the only one with thoughts of re-writing my life story. But that’s virtually impossible. Unless someone has invented a time machine they haven’t told us about.  So we can’t dwell on the past.

Twists and turns

As life goes forward, we travel an uncertain path.  We could be driving along thinking we’ve got it all figured out. Then a roadblock pops up just around the corner and we find ourselves coming to a screeching halt.

No matter how much I try to plan, I find myself barreling out of control at times.  I’m speeding along, blasting through those small towns.  I’m passing gas stations, convenience stores, and rest stops.  Not until a police cruiser pulls me over do I realize I’ve been going over the speed limit for miles.

A nasty cold and the stomach flu beat me down the first part of this year and made me get off life’s interstate and stop at a rest area for a few weeks.  Regardless of all the unpacking I still have left to do, the classes I have to take, the writing goals I set for myself; I really don’t have control over my future.

Salt and pepper

Instead of getting frustrated because plans I make have not turned out the way I wanted them to, I try to look at life like making dinner.  Cooking can be quite complicated. Lots of ingredients. Many parts of the recipe need to be in work all at the same time.  A good chef knows how to juggle these.

But even if you get your cooking flowing in a smooth direction, your meal could still turn out bland.  Without a few spices thrown in here and there, you find yourself just coasting through life.  Is that really how you want to live?  Taking no risks, everything going so smooth that you aren’t really alive?

That’s the kind of person I am.  I need a challenge.  Ok, a few challenges.

Yeah sure, I do need to adhere to life’s speed limits.  Take on only those things that I think will benefit me, my goals, and my obligations.  I’m working on that. With that in mind, I sat down and started writing out my yearly goals. 
  
I can see the eyes rolling now.  Another year and another post with goals  and resolutions that will never be achieved (you know me too well).

Yes and no.  This is another goals and resolution post, but it’s not like the ones I’ve done in the past.  Instead, I’ve decided to follow in both Beth Revis and Nova Ren Suma’s footsteps and list my goals like this.

One will be easy to accomplish.

One requires a lot of my free time.

Two challenge me to do something I haven’t done for years.

One hinges upon another.

And one is something I’ve wanted to do since I started writing.

Did I grab your interest?

Good.  Check them out below.

What do you think?  Not very nice of me, huh?

This is what makes this goal post a bit more interesting than my others. 

These are my six big writing goals for only the first half of the year.  Like Pam Asberry has done in the past, I decided to break them up into manageable pieces.

By only showing you the pictures, I’ll leave you to guess what they might be.  If you are interested in seeing exactly what they are, follow my blog at https://tamibrothers.blogspot.com/ and each time I accomplish one of these goals, I’ll post the update there.

Just in case you miss the big reveals, I’ll also post a consolidated update on my blog in July.

Until then, what are your thoughts on goals and resolutions?  Do you make them?  Hate them? Have a system on how to accomplish them?

Photo credit
Goals – Tami Brothers
All other pictures – https://www.sxc.hu/home