Try Something New - December Update 2011

I have come to the end of my December 'Try Something New for 30 days' Challenge which was to write a minimum of 100 words a day.  I have written a combination of 14 stories and poems and a total of 17,177 words approx.  I have far exceeded what I thought I would do and feel very blessed to have completed this challenge, its amazing to think of what you can do when you put your mind to it.  I think that I will still continue to finish the rest of the stories on the list over the next few months, and  I would like to also start working on some illustrations for the stories and will be sharing my efforts over time.

As this year closes I have been not only amazed at how fast the year has gone, but the lessons learnt, the doors that closed as well as the ones that opened.  I have learnt this year more so that you get what you put into life, it is meant to be lived to the full - I have always known it but for some reason didn't really 'apply it'.  I don't always make the most of my time, and do have my moments of inactivity, but I know that all the things I ever wanted to do can be achieved by just making an effort, however small!  It is better that you make an effort than nothing at all...  This afternoon I spoke to a cousin who I haven seen for over 10 years, you would think we live on different sides of the world, she lives around 18 miles from me.  Our children have grown and don't know each other, I made a promise to myself to make the effort to renew relationships and friendships and especially for Sekani's sake get him to meet up with all the cousins he hasn't seen for a while or even met.  So I am saying goodbye to inactivity and hello to making the most of everything and with another challenge under my belt, hello 2012!

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 209 - 215

Day 209

Reflection

Don’t settle for less than you deserve

Quote

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. ...Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Scripture

For He will give his angels charge concerning you to guard you in all your ways...Psalm 91:11

Day 210

Reflection

What does God say about you?

Quote

Listen. Make a way for yourself inside yourself. Stop looking in the other way of looking.....Rumi

Scripture

I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness..John 12:46

Day 211

Reflection

Focus on what you can do right now

Quote

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground...Theodore Roosevelt

Scripture

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you...let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid...John 14:27

Day 212

Reflection

You deserve the best for your life

Quote

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up....Pablo Picasso

Scripture

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations..Psalm 100:5

Day 213

Reflection

When you think you don’t know or are not sure, listen harder to the messages coming through

Quote

I wouldn't dream of working on something that didn't make my gut rumble and my heart want to explode....Kate Winslet

Scripture

The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.  Isaiah 32:17

Day 214

Reflection

Don’t let the energy drainers into your life, focus on what matters most

Quote

 Let go and trust; allow inspiration and imagination to lead the way… beyond the limitations of what the mind knows. ...Linda Saccoccio

Scripture

...He Himself has said, ‘I will never  desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’ Hebrews 13:5

Day 215

Reflection

Don’t settle, make a decision

Quote

Got no check books, got no banks. Still I’d like to express my thanks - I got the sun in the morning’ And the moon at night....Irving Berlin

Scripture

Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened...Matthew 7:7

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 202 - 208

Day 202

Reflection

You are a creative person, don’t forget it

Quote

Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It’s our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit...Mary Lou Retton

Scripture

....the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love...Psalm 147:11

Day 203

Reflection

Trials will come, but then so will triumphs

Quote

 A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind....Albert Szent-Gyorgyi 

Scripture

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear with Him in glory...Colossians 3:3-4

Day 204

Reflection

Face your fear, name it, and then move on

Quote

We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other people’s models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open....Shakti Gawain

Scripture

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice....Psalm 97:1

Day 205

Reflection

Let go..... 

Quote

Sometimes the most urgent and vital thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest.... Ashleigh Brilliant

Scripture

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory...Philippians 3:20-21

Day 206

Reflection

Your spirit shines

Quote

Trust in yourself. Your perceptions are often far more accurate than you are willing to believe...Claudia Black

Scripture

And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased...Hebrews 13:16

Day 207

Reflection

You are an amazing soul

Quote

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes...Marcel Proust

Scripture

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world..John 16:33

Day 208

Reflection

Allow the blank spaces and the silence time to settle

Quote

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our darkness, That most frightens us. ...Marianne Williamson

Scripture

Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God...

Matthew 5:9

Try Something New - December Challenge Update

The first two weeks of my Try Something new challenge has passed.......

Week 1
In the first week of the challenge I began to feel slightly despondent wasn't sure why.  It was something I wanted to do, I still got up and wrote a minimum of 100 words, more often than not doing 500+ words, but there was still a feeling of a dark cloud hanging over me and I was dissatisfied.  I realised there were a few reasons for these feelings:

• I didn't take stock of the previous challenge in November.   I had been doing my walking one and the Art every day month challenge and dove right into another one, and perhaps I needed a break. It's important to really acknowledge for yourself what you are doing and how far you have come.
• I had got a cold the last week of the November so was feeling under the weather and didn't offer myself any tender loving care! Being kind to yourself is the only way you can get through, you have to be flexible!
• I didn't celebrate the achievement of completing the November challenge, it's those little things that keep us going.....Celebrations are key for the end of a challenge, you have to recognise the achievement that you have  made, you have to acknowledge it.

• I had assumed that there would be bells and fireworks and massive revelation and deep insight into my life, and whilst I learnt many things, again its the small changes that we make that will give us the long term achievements.  Revelation can come in small packages and many of the aha moments can be attributed to outstanding discoveries.  Write down what you learn and look back over time.

I had also felt quite insecure and wasn't sure I could write under the spotlight and the public commitment that I had made, so I got myself all worked up as I approached the December challenge.  Reminding yourself why you are doing the challenge is key, for me there were a series of short stories that I wanted to write and this seemed a great way to find that time that eluded me and see the results.  As long as you remember why you are doing it you won't get phased out comparing yourself to others, and keep showing up for you....  I've got a few other challenges and things that I'd like to try over the coming year.....

I recognised where the insecure feelings were coming from and was able to face the feeling and see what really lay behind the tiredness, anxiety or disinterest.  I may never write a short story again after this, but at least I know I tried and I can cross another thing off that very long list of things I'd like to try. I went out to write in a different location on Monday and had a pick me up!

Week 2
At the end of the 2nd week I am feeling more confident and enjoying sitting down and putting pen to paper and come up with a story.  In the first week I was writing a story a day and managed to do 8000 words!  this week some of the stories and becoming longer than I anticipated and I have done in total 12,110 words and I am on my 8th story.  Seeing it in print like that really does feel like an achievement as I have far exceeded the 1500 words that it could have been had I stuck to the minimum words, I will stop being so hard on myself and enjoy the process more!  I am not going to worry about doing any images yet or editing until I have finish.

I am still walking, I'm not up at 6am but and have fallen into a 'when it suits' routine which provides a good place to break from work and get a fresh perspective.

I am really looking forward to hearing what you have found challenging this month and ways in which you have planned to work it out. With Christmas coming up there are challenges to be had, dealing with the relationships we have and those ones that can be challenging.  Brave Girls Club did a few humorous videos on dealing with these difficult situations, you can check it out.

Most importantly, what is on your art supply Christmas wish list?, do you have one?, what is at the top of yours?