First Monday Check in of 2025

Last week..

Writing Related:  I met with my nephew who is a firefighter for our city as I mentioned in my last post. Now that I have enough (I hope) information regarding firefighting and life in the firehouse in hand, I'll start plotting the first book in my new series. I don't have a title in mind yet, so for now I'll refer to it as Garrett's book as he is the main male character in the book. I have some minor formatting issues to work out on Coming Home, the last book in the Echo Company series. That should be available for purchase by the end of January at the latest. 

Motivational Quote:  "Begin with the most terrifying thing of all: a clean slate. Then look, every day, at the choices you are making and when you ask yourself why you are making them...find this answer within you: for me, for me." ~ Anna Quindlen.  I've used this quote before but thought it was very appropriate given the newness of the year.

What I'm Reading: I'll be starting Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune. A friend recommended it to me with the caveat that it's written in the present tense. I have a hard time enjoying books written in this tense, but am going to give it a try. 

Random Thoughts:  Wednesday of this week is National Bagel Day. I didn't find this out until after I'd written up our meal menu for the week and ironically had put bagels and yogurt down for breakfast on Wednesday. We usually have bagels at least once a week as they're a quick and easy breakfast especially if you're running late. 

Random Photo:

                                          Happy National Bagel Day

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Good writing week last week. I was worried it would be hard to get back into the flow because I hadn't written since the Thanksgiving holiday. It wasn't an issue. I hit the 15,000 (15k) word mark on Saturday. My goal is to be at the 30k mark at a minimum by the end of the month.

Motivational Quote:  "Begin with that most terrifying thing of all: a clean slate. Then look, every day, at the choices you're making, and when you ask yourself why you're making them...find this answer within you: for me, for me." ~ Anna Quindlen

What I'm Reading: I still reading You're the Duke That I Want by Lenora Bell. I didn't have a lot of free time to read last week.

Random Thoughts:  I'm reading up on manifestation and how to manifest things you want to bring into your life. One of the things mentioned is doing a vision board. I've done vision boards the last few years, but never really thought about them as a form of manifestation. I use them as a visual reminder of what I want to accomplish that year. Do you practice manifestation or use vision boards? If you do, I'd love to hear what works for you. 

Random Photo:

                    Mrs. Green looking less than thrilled with her New Year's Day gift.

 

New Beginnings - 2023

I thought I'd share three motivational quotes that seem really appropriate for the start of 2023. I hope they inspire and/or motivate you as much as they did me.

"Begin with that most terrifying thing of all: a clean slate. Then look, every day, at the choices you are making, and when you ask yourself why you are making them...find this answer within you: for me, for me." ~ Anna Quindlen

"If we want to transform reality, we must begin with ourselves." ~ Alejandro Jodorowsky

"So often we need a whole lifetime in order to change our life, we think a great deal, weigh things up and vacillate, then we go back to the beginning, we think and think, we displace ourselves on the tracks of time with a circular movement..." ~ Jose Saramago

(I hate to admit it, but I definitely identify with the last quote.)