So, over at Kayla Olson’s blog, Owl and Sparrow, she asked, “Where have you been? Where are you going?” and since I was able to really look at my life and acknowledge that I have come a long way since last year, I decided to repost my comment to her, so that I can be reminded of my progress (in terms of mindset and motivation…word counts, mmm, not so much, but I am moving in the right direction!).
My comment was:
It’s so much fun to list all the things that have happened over a significant amount of time…it always makes me thankful for all the things that I have been blessed with and encourages me to chase after more! (Stay hungry, stay foolish, as ole Steve Jobs said…)
Over this last year, I really had one “A-HA” moment, and that one moment allowed for a cascade of events that has led me to now. (This is why I believe that mindset is so terribly important: thoughts lead to changing behaviors, which leads to results.)
1. I’ve been recognized as a top-performing manager in my company. The recognition only made me realize that I was tops in a field that at the end of the day, I have no passion for. The passion that I put in my work to make me one of the best is just my unending drive to “do my best” no matter where I am. This led me to re-evaluate and prioritize my life around my true life goals. Plus, I turned 30 in January, which really lit a match for me to “do something.”
2. Part of my “do something” involved regaining my fitness level that I neglected in my 29th year, again for a job that paid the bills but did nothing to nourish my true passions (imagine realizing that I could have “sacrificed my health” for basically nothing. That was truly eye-opening). From Dec-Feb, I achieved my body composition goals, and have since maintained (even improved upon) it.
3. And, of course, as part of my prioritization, I knew, KNEW, that this was the year to stop “dreaming” about writing, and truly live it. Funny knowing that “waking up” meant that I got to live my dreams.
I know I’m still in the beginning stages, but I am truly motivated to get this done and start living the life that I want to live.
And this is why the blog world is cool: not only do I get to meet a lot of different people, but I also meet people who are doing this crazy writing thing like me, and am encouraged to keep going whether by encouraging others or even just reading through how they have overcome obstacles. And, I get to write out my thoughts without much of an internal editor and write long sentences that start with “and,” and be OK with it.
Liza Kane 
Thank you so much for your words! I really appreciate it! Stop by anytime; I like chit chatting, though I tend to ramble on and on 😉
Wow, I haven’t found a blog this great in a long time. Liza, I totally can relate to you. Wow..thank you for this post. Very motivating. Keep writing, and I’ll keep returning.
“When I’m not writing, I’m dying.”
Let’s live our dream, people. Let’s write!
Liza! This is great! It’s so cool to see how much you’ve accomplished in a year. Way to go on all those goals! I identify with you on these goals, particularly the body composition goals (which I’m definitely still working toward…) and the stop dreaming, start doing aspects of things. I remember when I had that same realization.
You said this:
“The recognition only made me realize that I was tops in a field that at the end of the day, I have no passion for. The passion that I put in my work to make me one of the best is just my unending drive to “do my best” no matter where I am. This led me to re-evaluate and prioritize my life around my true life goals. “
That really resonates with me. I try to do my best no matter where I am, too. I spent many years pouring my best into jobs that ultimately were not a good fit for me. One day, it occurred to me: there are many parts of me lying dormant right now, and I want to USE them. I can do so much more than make coffee, make change, smile. I’d always wanted to write, so I started doing it purposefully, with a goal in mind. Writing uses so, so much of my personality and brain and heart. Giving my best to it is much more satisfying than doing my best to make coffee, or doing my best to make sure my cash drawer at the bank balances at the end of the day. Those things were good, yes, but only used one or two little parts of me.
Thanks so much for leaving your comment on my blog! 🙂 Happy writing to you!
You’re very welcome: and thank you for asking meaningful questions that make me evaluate my life decisions and say, yes, I am moving in the right direction 😉