Running With Quills: ELIZABETH SAYS SHEESH, STELLA

Welcome to Running With Quills, your online newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what your favorite authors (that would be us) are doing throughout the year. Here you will find the release dates of our new books and get information about our backlists. We'll preview our cover art here long before the books hit the stores and we'll keep you informed about works-in-progress and special projects. You'll also receive advance notice of signings and appearances. From time to time we'll give you a peek at our worlds, tell you what we're reading, and introduce you to some new authors.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

ELIZABETH SAYS SHEESH, STELLA

Stella, you didn’t leave me anything to say except SHEESH, because a lot of your resolutions were mine:

1. Be more available to family and friends.

Looking forward to seeing you and Jerry on our boat. *big evil grin*

2. Exercise more. (bet nobody else will have that one)

Reading is an exercise, right? The brain eats a lot of energy. RIGHT?

3. Lose a few pounds. (another original resolution)

Could you lose some for me, too? *fans eyelashes madly*

4. Stop stressing over what I cannot change.

YES! There’s nothing an author can do to make up for what a publisher can’t/won’t do. (hugs, darlin’, cuz we’re all in that particular crazy boat).

5. Take a day off each week. (I can already feel that one slipping)

Don’t you dare slip! I’m going for TWO days off each week, and only one of those days to be used up running errands. *visions of bliss*

6. Give regular thanks for all the wonderful people in my life.

Amen. Even when those wonderful people put me behind schedule, I ask myself, “Am I going to go to my grave wishing I hadn’t gone to dinner with friends, seen the grandkids, talked with the kids, and in general taken time to enjoy life?”

No.

Am I going to berate myself if I don’t keep each and every resolution each and every time?

Nope.

I’m human. I screw up regularly. I only kick myself when I screw up the same BIG thing more than once. Little things? I give myself twice, three times if it’s fun.

So how do you deal with resolutions and breaking/maiming of same?

21 Comments:

Karibear said...: Screw up all the resolutions you want as often as you want, just as long as you keep writing. I NEED my escapism!

[Besides, if others screw up their resolutions, I won't feel so bad about screwing up my non-existant ones.]; 9:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Simple. I don´t make resolutions. If don´t make promises (even to yourself) then you can´t break them. Ha, ha.
That being said I´m still going to try for two things this year.

1) Go to bed at a reasonable hour and get more sleep than has been my habit these last weeks.

2) Try to eat healthier.

Sirry; 11:48 PM
DFender said...: Betty,

I just keep tryin'. I attempt to make my resolutions daily goals instead so they seem more manageable... HA!

Happy New Year!
Deb; 3:25 AM
Jayne Ann Krentz said...: Hmm. I'm no expert but I'm thinking maybe the trick is to make plans, not resolutions. Resolutions are objectives/goals. On their own they just hang there like shiny ornaments, a little beyond arm's reach. But a plan provides a roadmap that might actually get you to that objective/goal.

Or not.

--Jayne (who woke up feeling ever so slightly philosophical this morning. Don't worry, it will wear off fast, I'm sure).; 7:14 AM
Anonymous said...: I cheat. I make a resolution I know I can keep. Every year I resolve not to start smoking. Since I have no desire to smoke, it's my most successful resolution yet. I think I'll also resolve to eat more chocolate; isn't it supposed to be good for you?

Carolyn; 7:35 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: I don't really make resolutions, but I do start fresh in the new year with PLANS. Actually, I got a jump-start on mine and made my PLANS in November. (Still, I really enjoyed reading Stella's list and your take on SC's list, Elizabeth. :-)

I'm also enchanted with Jayne's take on "baby steps." A challenge with my size 9 1/2-10 1/2 feet. (Yep, my left foot takes a 9 1/2 shoe and my right foot takes a 10 1/2 shoe.)

Caroyln, I like your thinking! Especially about the chocolate.

WOW, hard to believe it's already 2007!
Suzanne
aka Elizabeth Guest; 9:12 AM
Pia said...: Since I started making resolutions (I think I was 10 then), I realized that by March the same year all the resolutions I have meticulously planned and hoped to accomplished were always done by then.

2006 was a breakthrough for me, I started planning (as I always did) but this time, I wrote them down putting the most urgent resolution as first on the list. By just that simple step of putting everything into writing, for the first time in a lot of years I have fulfilled most of my resolutions and it even inspired me to achieve more this year. I also try to dream big dreams but keep my resolutions as realistic as possible.; 12:10 PM
Estella said...: I don't make resolutions, because I know I gonna break them.; 1:12 PM
Ranurgis said...: As I mentioned in Stella's blog on the subject, and probably anybody else's that mentioned *resolutions*, I know myself too well to make any anymore. I'm not sure if I ever wrote down any to begin with.

But of course there are these promises you make to yourself to be kinder; do more exercises; get out more; keep
everything neat, clean and organized; try cooking some things on your own; write to friends who don't have e-mail, that you know of; etc.

Sometimes I agonize about them especially when I meet people who *are* super-efficient. But I've realized that the majority of humanity procrastinates, fails to keep diets, doesn't do what is healthy.

I have an opportunity to start with a cleaner slate this year because I'm moving into a larger apartment and can take the rest of this month to do it. So it means that this month I will be very busy but I hope to reap the benefits of that over the next few years when I don't have to spend hours searching for one thing or another all the time. I hope to find some of the things I've spent the last 14 months looking for: extension cords, power cords, eyeglasses for the computer, my digital camera, and a host of other little things too numerous to mention.

And of course, last but not the least bit least, my favorite authors' books.; 1:17 PM
Louis said...: The only resolution I've made for several years.....

"Do the best that I can."

This seems to get me through the year rather successfully.

Looking forward to the Quills next books.; 8:30 PM
Ranurgis said...: Louis, that's been my aim all my life: To do the best I can.

However, some of those people near and dear to me, think I no longer am doing that: I have to suck it up when I'm too exhausted to move. I guess I'm just too old to learn new tricks except to still do the best I can with what I have. I must admit that in the last few years, I haven't been getting through life in any very successful manner. The spirit is willing but...; 10:25 PM
Stella said...: I'm whispering this. So far I've actually stayed with my resolutions for two whole days.

Stella:); 3:10 AM
Carrie from Wisconsin said...: Resolutions suck because they can just depress you when you break them or when you realize that you've never been able to do something "right". Therefore, I avoid them.

Ranurgis - I know what you mean about the spirit is willing. I suffer from pain all of the time. Some of it my body has adjusted to, but not all of it. Taking pain killers is out of the question because they make me sick, are addictive, don't work and/or are damaging to the body. So I take them only when the pain makes me really, really crazy. Winter is the worst time, but thankfully the weather has been the mildest it's been in a long, long time. It has only snowed once back in late November or early December.

What I do do is try to procrastinate less and try not to let the pain stop me as much. That only works in summer when the pain is less (still there, just less)....

Good Luck to all with their goals, plans, resolutions, whatever!!!

Carrie; 3:31 AM
Lou said...: I'm with the "I don't make resolutions because I end up breaking them" group. However, I do make plans - small ones that are manageable. That keeps me going.; 11:34 AM
elizabeth said...: Seems like I have a lot of soul mates on the subject of bending/bruising/ignoring/not making resolutions.

HOORAY FOR US!; 11:49 AM
nellsquirrel said...: I've adopted my DH's resolution at all these years together... to live long enough to see the next new year. :-)

I'm happy to say so far we've succeeded spectacularly!!!; 3:12 PM
elizabeth said...: Smart husband you have. Handsome, too!; 3:28 PM
susanna in alabama said...: Lowes (or Home Depot!) has a commercial out right now where the family is frantically looking for something, which turns out to be the New Year's resolution list from the previous year. I was startled to see that it was nearly identical to (but shorter than) my list! Talk about not being original. Sheesh.

I don't get particularly depressed when I don't complete resolutions, I just get cynical about my ability to follow through. This year, I'm joining the "plans, not resolutions" camp. I also have to decide what "success" is for each. For example, "write dissertation" is an absolute. "Lose weight" just means, it's a success if I weigh less on Dec 31 than I did on Jan 1. My tendency is to severely overbook, get discouraged, and crash. The good news is, the really important things usually wind up done.

My plans for this year:
1) Write dissertation and graduate
2) Get my financial house in order
3) Exercise/eat right/lose weight
4) Finish writing the novel I started in December
5) Spend some time in Bible study daily

(See what I mean by overbooking? That doesn't include things I will also work on, like my needlework. eek.); 7:49 PM
Carrie from Wisconsin said...: Hi All,

The great things about hobbies, mine happens to be crocheting, is that you can do them when you want or need to relax. I find crocheting is a great form of relaxation. The problem is, I don't devote enough time to it[relaxation]. I did a little tonight and it felt great, and then I felt great.

Things like finances and weightloss can involve major life changes and/or sacrifices (maybe not for everybody) such as giving up certain foods or luxuries. I know that if I am stressed, I find it very difficult to make those sacrifices. Sometimes the very things that we must give up for the greater good of our bodies and/or our future can be the very things that make us feel better. Best to be done cautiously and over time to ensure the changes last.

I took a long time, but I finally managed to give up chocolate and most candies. It took me the better part of three years to do it, but I'm almost at my goal of no junk food - almost is the key word here. I still like sugary foods like cookies and an occasional cupcake, but I am finding those needs changing day by day. The fact that many foods irritate my stomach helps, but not with everything. So, for those of you with weight loss in mind: Remember that in order to keep weight off the diet needs to be a life change and it can't be done overnight so give yourself enough time to do the life change correctly and never be discouraged if you fall off "the diet wagon" from time to time. Just forgive your self that day, get back on the wagon as soon as you can and make a concerted effort to last longer before falling off. Be realistic, if you have a favorite dessert that you only get once or twice a year, indulge yourself. As long as your habits are mostly adhered to, that indulgance can be guilt free.

If all goes well for me, I should have my degree by this upcoming summer, finally! I kept plugging along and never gave up - changed my focus, yeah - gave up, never!

Again, good luck and best wishes to everyone in whatever they do this year!!

Carrie; 10:59 PM
Karibear said...: I have to agree with the changing focus but not the ultimate goal thing. I got my BA in 2000, but I started working on it in the fall of '65.

I also do crocheting. It's something I don't have to look at to do, my fingers know the drill. I've gotten really good at doing giant granny square afghans, to the point where I give them away, and I'm running out of victims [excuse me, recipients!].

One thing I learned from my grandmother was that when one sits down, one must still be productive - and crocheting allows me to listen to audio books without feeling guilty. I've always been a multi-tasking type, and back in the days when I read print books, I also had a TV, radio, or CD on - usually 2 of the 3 - and at the same time carried on a variety of conversations and always had a free hand to pet whichever dog, cat, or bird [sometimes all 3] wanted attention.

Slowing down is difficult.; 11:20 PM
Carrie from Wisconsin said...: Karibear,

I started going for a degree in 1993 but won't finish until May of 2007 (hopefully)! I've been crocheting since I was 6. I believe the real reason my grandmother taught me to crochet is because I was a very figety child. The only time I sat and focused for very long was learning how to do stuff. I still have the first square I ever made. It was all lopsided and everything. When she saw it she soon realized that I didn't have the crucial point about the single crochet at the end of the row. It was a moment I'll always remember, especially because of that square!

I usually do one other thing while crocheting either music, audiobook or films. I can chew gum and converse, but I can't tolerate music and film at the same time because I usually watch films where the musical score can be very telling as to what will happen in the script.

As for reading print books, which I still do, I tend to focus so hard on the words in front of me that everything else drops away. Forget having a conversation during one. Sometimes I can't even hear the phone ringing.

Lately, though, I haven't been able to be as multi-tasking as I would like, especially when typing at the computer or writing stories. When I do that, the rest of the world could be falling down around me and I might not notice!

Carrie; 1:30 AM

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Tuesday, January 02, 2007

ELIZABETH SAYS SHEESH, STELLA

21 Comments: