A friend gave me a piece of advice last week that stopped me in my tracks. I was sharing some good news, but was already three steps ahead of myself, worried about the impact of my good news (a great professional opportunity) on my crazy, busy life.
“Julie,” she said. “You’ll figure it all out. But please, don’t forget to just be happy.”
Simple, smart, obvious advice. So why did it stop me short?
We’ve talked about goals on this blog, and how reaching one moves the next goal down the field. But here’s the thing–once we’ve reached a goal, do we stop and acknowledge that? Are we mindfully happy that WE REACHED THE GOAL?
Writing is a wonderful, challenging, frustrating ride. We set goals (finish a draft, finish a manuscript, query agents, consider e-publishing, etc. etc.) And we reach goals. But too often we move on to the next goal instead of stopping, and celebrating.
So today, I want to pass on my new mantra.
Don’t forget to be happy.
Live to Write - Write to Live 
I appreciate this post. Definitely on time for me!
I’m glad!
Timely … I needed to hear this too. Before my oldest had officially made the team I was worried how we would juggle it all. Made the celebration a little flat. Plan to make it up to her tonight when she gets home.
Your comment made my day. Brava to your daughter.
Oh wow, this one is definitely for me. I am always looking ahead and often forget to appreciate the now. Thanks for this reminder!
You’re welcome, thanks for the comment!
Good advice, yet somehow impossible to remember to follow, sometimes. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
I have been thinking about making a sampler.
Reblogged this on Icanbeatit.
Thank you for the reblog!
You are welcome 😀 😀
Thank you. I just received some amazing good news yesterday and lost a few hours of sleep last night thinking about the holes in it or if I can really accomplish this, thanks again!
You sound like me! Thank you for the comment, and congratulations!
Great advice. Yes, very simple but hard to remember. Thanks
SO hard to follow. Thank you for the comment!
Very good advice. Thanks for sharing. This hits home for me too!
Thank you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You are welcome!
Squeezing the juice out of each moment is something we all forget to do. Yet, strangely, writers do it professionally all the time. Remember to be happy – good advice! 🙂
Thank you!
I love you for this. I often think of the old saying that success is like a false summit in hiking – as soon as you think you’re at the top you realize the summit is actually still farther on. So far along, in fact, that you may never get there. A storm could hit, or your food could give out. Just in case, it is best to stop and enjoy the views along the way, and to enjoy hiking for the sake of hiking, regardless of the summit. Your advice today reminds me of that metaphor somehow, but in much simpler terms: Don’t forget to be happy. Enjoy the writing. Enjoy the path, whether you’re in the woods or at a summit you’ve earned. Thank you for the reminder.
And congratulations on your good news 🙂
Thank you for this great metaphor. So true!
Helpful! I sometimes do forget.
It is easy to do. Thanks for the comment!
Great advice! I’ve just finished writing a book that’s taken me 2.5 years to write. Now I’m deep within the editing process and having a fun time with it!
Congratulations on finishing! And I am glad you are enjoying the editing. Sounds like you live this advice already!
Hey Julie,
What a great reminder! Thank you!
Warmly,
Diane
Thank you Diane!
I do this most of the time , i move form worried to success or failure to worried again
thanx for this post
Thank you for the comment!
I agree. We need to stop and celebrate when we reach a goal or receive a blessing. Too often we are so busy running from one thing to the next that we forget to stop and self appreciate, to replenish and refresh ourselves. Most often when I become stuck on a writing project, it’s because I didn’t take a moment to stop and just breathe after I finished the thing before this.
A friend once told me that panic is excitement without breathing. Thanks for the comment.
Perfect, Julie. When we finally come close to living our dream, why complain about it? Rejoice, sip some bubbly, and smile. Sure, there’s work ahead, but it’s still part of the dream.
Absolutely! We ARE living the dream!
Simple ,but effective advice . Definitely something we tend to forget too easily once a goal is reached and the race for the next dream begins !!
Can’t be reminded of this often enough 🙂 Thank you!
Great post! A very important reminder to us all! Cheers to happiness!
Great post! A very important reminder to us all! Cheers to happiness!
You really have to remember to celebrate the things that make you feel great because I think it can rub off onto others. My latest post was written in a similar vein in regard to “holding onto holidays”- the relaxed feelings that can so quickly dissipate with a return to normality! I say share your celebration (guiltlessly!) x
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