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Do You Have A New Year’s Resolution?
Writing more has been one of the things on my to-do list for the last couple years, but I have yet to ever develop any sort of goal or structure needed to “write more.”
Everyone knows that most people need to develop SMART goals when deciding to go down any new course of action. Yet, I kept myself behind the barrier to entry that hinders any opportunity for growth.
So, now I write this on January 1, 2018 — HAPPY NEW YEAR — in expectation that I will keep writing as a focus for my life throughout the rest of the year.
Life can have hiccups as I am publishing this a week later than expected = opportunity for self grace. #LifeHappens
I really enjoy writing when I take the time for myself and give myself the opportunity to sit and reflect, to write more for myself, and more for others.
There are countless reasons why I could be writing but when it comes right down to it, there are 5 prevalent themes that stick out for my motivation and inspiration for why I write — and want to write more.
I want to chain myself into a designed structure.
Words Matter
Writing helps me think.
Writing helps me create.
Writing helps me see myself.
I want to chain myself into a designed structure.
- I honestly hate structure…
You might be sitting there, questioning why in the world this would be a reason I want to write. Those who know me know that I am pretty extroverted and enjoy freedom of thought and freedom in my walk. Freedom is one of those words that not many people have a highly attuned association with, but for me freedom simply presents the opportunity to think and act without worry.
I worry about a lot.
I am not a worrywart, but I do overthink many of my words and actions…
- Can you relate?
I care a lot about the implications of my words and actions, and the effects they have on people and places, which speaks to reason №2.
Words Matter
- Words can make a difference. Words mean something.
#WordsMatter — Tweet it out! -
Words without worth are truly worthless.
I want my words to matter, and I want to know they matter. I want to make a difference in my life and society.
I want my life to matter, and I want to know I matter.
Using words through speaking and writing is a high desire of mine to explore for my future life and career.
When it comes to my future career as an RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist), the words I use to write nutrition diagnosis and prescriptions will hold weight in the medical field.
When counseling clients — adults, elderly, and the young — on certain diets, or walking them through proactive decisions they can make to improve their own health will make a huge impact in their overall wellness.
Words speak with emotion and cause us to think.
Words can lead us, and motivate and inspire others.
Thus, I need to be incredibly mindful of how I use my words and how they influence others.
3. Writing helps me think.
- Well, writing makes me think, and sometimes its helpful.
Writing causes me to sit down and contemplate the thousands of thoughts that are constantly rolling around in my head.
Taking a minute to breathe, to write out a few things to remember for my day or simply scratch a few words into my calendar can be one of the easiest steps I can take to ground myself and help me reconnect with the world.
Being so caught up in my busy schedule and the many obligations I walk with on my shoulders each day, I can honestly say that taking the time to ground myself is something I definitely need — EVERY single day.
4. Writing helps me create.
- What does it mean to create?
Common Plaintiff: “Why don’t you just go draw something?”
Me: “I can’t draw. Well my 1st grade teacher always told me to never use the word can’t. “
Rather, I should say, I am very untalented when it comes to any aspect of art associated to drawing utensils like markers, paint, coloring crayons, or otherwise. I feel like an artist when I am cooking and experimenting with food, but many people never have a chance to reap the benefits of my culinary arts.
Thus, writing is one medium I can use to engage with my greater world, to share my art with people around the world.
I believe that we are all creators in our own right; it just takes some time to find how we are created to be the best creators we can. I believe I have the opportunity to step into the glorification of my life and career when I decide to create. Promoting value and worth in this life is what I care about.
— — — — —
You’ve probably heard common phrases about providing value to your clients, customers, readers, and other audiences. I hear it like this…
“Just provide value, and everything will fall into place. People will start to take notice, and someone will step in to help you, strengthen you, and help grow you higher and send you farther.”
People talk about things like karma and energy — even though many do not consider the origins of these historical topics — and suggest that doing good produces good.
So, what do we decide to grapple when we see the sweetest woman, with a kind heart, taking care of her two kids and a dozen neighborhood kids for over 20 years suddenly fall ill due to a blood clot? Hmmm….?
That’s where faith steps in.
- Where do you place yours?
You can read about what I call faith here, in which I share a bit of my personal story with the scary reality of my mom’s own medical problems.
Writing provided me with an outlet during this struggling time in my life. When I felt overwhelmed by the hundreds of patients wasting away in the long hallways of the hospital, I found inspiration to create, to provide value and share what I felt at that time. I used writing as a medium of art.
You too create art.
5. Writing helps me see myself.
- Taking the time to look in the mirror helps me see my own reflection.
As I type each word upon the page staring blankly back at me, I am faced to consider the truth in the words.
“Do I really think this way?”
“Do I really feel this way?”
“Is this really what I think about…”
“But, how can I honestly say that…”
Writing helps me affirm the truths that I believe in, be honest with myself, and come to grips with those scary ambiguous spaces in life when we are searching for answers and all we hear is silence.
Writing enlightens my beliefs.
Writing strengthens my beliefs.
Writing sculpts how I articulate my beliefs to others.
Writing molds how I actively and passively think about myself and others.
The more I write, the more I think.
The more I write, the more I create.
The more I write, the more I see myself.
The more I write, the more value I can provide.
Writing more is one of my New Year’s Resolutions.
Some may laugh,
Some may applaud.
I ask you this, are you willing to do the same?
Do you enjoy writing?
Do words speak to you the way they do me?
Do you think #WordsMatter ?
I entreat you, consider writing more in the coming year, and do your part to build your portfolio. Start small and just keep writing. Keep writing each week or even each day if you can. If you write… TELL ME!
Tell the world!
Share it with everyone you can!
Tell it!
Yell it!
I would love to see what you have to say.
— —
For me personally, I am dedicating myself — and dedicating to you as well — a commitment of writing at least 500 words a day for the year of 2018.
That’s write* ;)
500 words a day for 365 days.
500 words x 365 days = 182,500 words.
Some articles may be shorter than 500 words.
Some may be much larger than 500 words, like this one today.
But, at least 500 words a day will be what I commit.
I deserve to do this for myself.
You deserve this.
I deserve to do this for you.
I believe you deserve at least 500 words a day.
I can only hope that as we go throughout the year, you will reap the seeds I sow with these words.
I believe you can benefit from staying with me along this journey.
I believe we can travel many places and have many conversations together.
I just wonder, what will we say?
What will we discuss?
Oh, how incredible it will be to look back at the end of 2018 and see all the words we have shared with one another!
So here’s to us, writing more in 2018.
But, if you have other New Year’s resolutions, here’s to you and your goals!
I hope you accomplish all you seek to achieve in 2018!
#WordsMatter
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