Tag: goals

Blog

January 2025 — Ready or Not

ellenparkerwrites

The new year has started. Do you feel as if you blinked and 2024 was gone? Did the holidays and end-of-the-year tasks leave you exhausted?

The concept is “time”. No matter how you track the slippery matter, it moves relentlessly. Time does not discriminate. Whether you are enjoying the moment or suffering through…a second remains a second, a minute a minute, and a day a day.

Since we are incapable of either halting or skipping time. Most experts suggest we do our best to both enjoy and be productive with the days and years we are granted.

So perhaps this is the year to do that “fun thing” you’ve been thinking about for the past few years. Make the phone call. Write the letter. Travel to the place. Attend the class. Reach out to an old friend (or make a new one).

May next January, when you look back on 2025, my wish is to bring a smile to your face or a new memory to your heart.

In the sweet romance, Morning Tryst, photographer Serena Carter needs to make good use of time. With both planning and a few spontaneous decisions, she visits each of the Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites in each season. Plus…she finds more than beautiful scenery. Click on the link for more information. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

Blog

How full is your Bucket?

ellenparkerwrites

Dreams. Goals. Plans.

Almost everyone has a few. Try completing this sentence. I really want to visit, see, or experience __________.

In recent years, the list of things which an American wants to do before they die has become known as a “bucket list”.

Perhaps it’s the history lover in me — or the farmgirl. But when I hear the word “bucket”, one of these pops into my mind.

Do I have a “bucket” list? Absolutely. But you won’t find it written among my household bookkeeping. You will find hints on lists of yearly goals. But most of it remains in my brain, let out in stray comments in conversation with friends. I imagine starting with one “bucket” full of slips of paper with destinations or experiences listed. Then, as I manage to make a trip or attend an event, the slip of imaginary paper moves into the other “done” bucket.

Years have passed. My “done” bucket contains lots of slips. My “to do” bucket, while not empty, is less full — for I have gone places and done things during my life.

How are your buckets doing? Did you move any slips from “to do” to “done” during the first portion of this year?

Do you have reading on your list? Sweet historical romance, such as Stitching a Dream, makes a great escape when you cannot physically travel. Consider a visit to 1851 Elm Ridge, Illinois, the next time you’re browsing books. Here’s the link where you can read the blurb: https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh

Blog

Whoooo’s set a S.M.A.R.T. Goal?

ellenparkerwrites

Happy New Year! Did you state a resolution for 2024? Have you broken it yet?

Here’s some advice from a friend: Make your goals S.M.A.R.T. — like me.

Let’s use a common resolution/goal for an example.

I’m going to lose weight.

Make it: Specific — I’m going to lose 10 pounds.

    Measurable — I’m going to lose 10 pounds according to my home scale.

    Achievable — Ten pounds is still more than my ultimate target weight.

    Relevant — My clothes (or one particular item) will fit better.

    Time bound — Deadline is March 31, 2024.

So to re-phrase: I’m going to lose 10 pounds according to my home scale by March 31, 2024.

This is an example — this author should, but did not, set this goal.

Starr Tree Farm, a sweet romance, is set in small town Wisconsin. Join Laura, and her goals, with a low calorie drink and a warm winter wrap.

Here’s the link to the Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

  

Blog

January Promise

ellenparkerwrites

The new year, started fresh and clean — a blank tablet to record the next twelve months.

How are you doing at the end of Month #1? Did you write down any goals or resolutions? Making progress?

In 2022 I photographed a local butterfly garden on the first (sometimes later) day of the month. From the looks of it — 2022 should have been a vigorous year.

Shall we try those goals and resolutions again in February? A new beginning is not limited to the first of the year. How about the first of a month? Or a week? Or a day?

I’ve found goals go better in small bites. My big goal may be to write the next book — but I see better progress when I list it as steps — create characters, sketch out a plot, write first ugly draft (you get the idea).

Now to try it with my body weight. Stop gaining before I set a goal of losing.

May I suggest you set a reading goal? Pick your favorite genre and dive in. Don’t have a favorite genre? I’ll suggest a sweet romance to start. If you favor small towns and second chances — check out STARR TREE FARM. You’ll even find a touch of suspense. More information here: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

Blog

Clean and Ready

ellenparkerwrites

Like a piece of paper with three hundred sixty-five invisible lines, the year 2023 has only two little squiggles in the corner. The possibilities for the year stretch out beyond our imagination.

Do you have anything grand planned? Graduation? Wedding? Vacation?

Smaller goals and plans? A change in diet or exercise? New clothing? Garden or flowers?

Clean and delicate, these metal and glass flowers are really sturdy. Strong enough to withstand the breezes, precipitation, and temperature changes of a typical year.

Have you prepared yourself for change? While keeping supplies of food, water, and clothing on hand is a wise thing — you also need to prepare your mind. Are you open to new ideas? Will you accept something unexpected?

In the sweet romance, COMFORT ZONE, the heroine lives out a year with several unexpected events and opportunities. Is she ready?

More information here: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

Blog

Bouquet of Milestones

ellenparkerwrites

In my current career, I’ve met a number of authors. Some successful. Others struggling with various steps on the writing path. What I have not met, or even heard referred to by these author friends and acquaintances, is an author who wrote an entire book without encountering obstacles and then continued unobstructed to be published and make thousands of sales.

A more common experience is a mixture of days of progress and hours, or days, of mired down in writing or publishing problems. If you think in graphs, do NOT draw a smooth, ascending line from start to goal. If an author is lucky, the graph would be jerky steps in a generally upward direction. Other time, the trend goes down, perhaps as far as needing to start over.

How does an author cope? Well, it varies by the person — but a common way is to set small goals and celebrate when each is achieved. Did you meet your word count for the week? Treat yourself to…a manicure? Ice cream? Visit to a museum?

One of the writing groups I belong to celebrates specific milestones once a year. Each color representing a different achievement in the writing and publishing process. When I’ve had a “down” day, perhaps where chapters had to be discarded or a publisher sent a rejection — this bouquet offers a little comfort. “You’ve done this before. You can do it again.”

Blog

Learning Limits

ellenparkerwrites

Have you made and kept a New Years resolution for 2022?

Have you set one or more goals?

The experts (I have no idea how you get to be an expert in these sorts of things.) counsel a person to set goals that are attainable. That’s right — if it’s impossible and you know it — don’t bother to claim it as a goal. You’re only setting yourself up to fail.

Not sure about you — but I don’t need to go looking for more failure.

Sometimes, a person doesn’t realize the goal is unattainable — you know, you think you can, you give it your best effort, and …ooops. Flat on your face.

Like thousands of other people — I reconnected with assembling jigsaw puzzles during the pandemic.

Most of them have worked out fine. More pieces usually means more days to complete. My table is 19″ wide so I’ve learned to check dimensions before starting. However, this one was a puzzle too far — or too dark. After just over two weeks of working during TV news, football games, and drama re-runs, I decided to let the puzzle win. It came from the library and they always include a slip of paper asking if pieces are missing. I’m sure I don’t know — perhaps the next patron will be more patient, or have better eyesight.

Have I learned a lesson? Well, the next puzzle I assembled had bright colors.

When setting goals — ask — Can I actually do this? I’d hate to see all your plans turn into a “puzzle too far.”

Blog

Top Picks

ellenparkerwrites

As the year gets ready to turn to a fresh page — I thought I’d take a minute to give you (my readers) a short list of my favorite reads this year.

One of my reading goals this year was to increase the amount of non-fiction. I managed to find some good ones. My three top picks:

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

Followed by: Heirs of the Founders by H.W. Brands

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

On the fiction side of the reading spectrum. My intention was to read a more diverse group of authors. My first choice is a re-read: The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne.

Other top picks include: Betrayed by Sharon C. Cooper

Heart of the Matter by LaQuette

First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn

Did you have reading goals? Did you reach them?

I’ll be setting goals for the new year in several facets of life — but reading is among them.