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Saturday, April 04, 2015

D is for DO SOMETHING - THIS I DO FOR ME

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Welcome to Pearson Report.
I am participating in the 2015 A to Z Challenge.

Yes, I will be adhering to my THEME Calendar.


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Yesterday I touched upon COOL STUFF - namely Me and My Posse.

I hope you had fun looking “behind the scene” into the world of commenting, and what happens when bloggers use their comment areas for more than saying “great post”. Invest some time in your commenting and reap the rewards.


OKAY… HERE WE GO… 

Today I will be talking about Goal Setting.

JUST DO IT

Nike took three little words and changed how we see our ability to do something.

These words inspire and motivate us to go beyond, and excel at the things we do, whatever they may be.

On January 1st I set a goal to do something about my writing, or lack thereof.

Everyday I would take FIFTEEN MINUTES and write. 

I would write based on a photo prompt. 

What that means is everyday, from a folder on my desktop, I take a random photo and write based on feelings evoked from looking at it.

I DO NOT THINK ABOUT THIS PHOTO

I FEEL IT - I BECOME IT - I AM ONE WITH IT

What happens next is magical - words appear from deep within and tell a story that often surprises me when my timer rings to signal the end of 15 minutes.


I have written a total of 53,137 words in three months.
(January - 18,363   February - 16,869   March 17,905)

For some this would be a novel.

At first I was afraid my imagination would run dry - that was January. 

By mid February, those fears had left to be replaced with an odd sort of euphoria. I was getting a little rush from writing like this.

Now, I can’t imagine not doing my daily 15 minute photo prompt free write. Yes, that’s a mouthful, but that’s what it is.


I decided I wanted to live my dream, so I set a goal and I am on my way to achieving it.

That goal, by the way, is to have 365 free write pieces by the end of 2015. I know I will do it.



Do you DO SOMETHING special just for you?


Cheers, Jenny

A special shout out to Arlee Bird, from Tossing It Out. He’s the Founder and Creator of the  April Blogging from A to Z Challenge, As well as being a blogging friend, he is a great motivator and an inspiring leader. Thanks Lee - you rock!

40 comments:

  1. Wow, I'm highly impressed by your free writing skills. And to keep it up day after day is no mean feat. Great work!

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    1. Thanks, Nick - this has been an epic goal accomplishment. The other day, when I made it to 90, I realized I was no longer thinking "oh, I need to sit and to my free write". Now, it's "I am my free writes." They have become part of me.

      Thanks for checking in, and cheering me on. :) :)

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  2. The first 2 are my favorites as well. Of course my A post was originated off the spark you ignited on the marsh trees.

    Bushman
    2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
    @jwb81074

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    1. You've been such a supportive friend - thank you. Your words of encouragement kept me going in those early tough days… and now I count on them to keep me on track. Thanks Bushman. :)

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  3. That sure is the way, I make sure I write a blog post or two a day, and now am 110 posts ahead. So if I want a break, I can take it with ease whenever I please haha

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    1. Now that's clever if ever I heard
      beats not writing and feeling like a turd. (hahahahaha)
      It's late, I'm two glasses into the wine
      I think I should take that as a sign.

      Thanks Pat - you've added a real sense of fun to my blog. That's what Pearson Report is all about… good laughs, good times, not a heavy slog. Cheers!

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  4. Always enjoy your thoughts, "D" is no different.... thank you!

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    1. Thanks Jeremy - as I do yours! Good begets good… ah, nothing like being surrounded by good people, good blogs and good fun!

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  5. That's awesome! Thanks for a great post.

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    1. You're welcome, Anne Marie.

      How are you doing out there - enjoying the A to Z Challenge?

      I'll be heading your way on Sunday. Worked on Friday and Saturday so my visiting is a little off…. looking forward to seeing what's up on your blog. Cheers, Jenny :) :)

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  6. Regular writing really does build up into something substantial. What will you do with the stories on 31 December?

    Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep

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    1. Hi Annalisa,

      Ah… I have great plans in the works… but more on that later. ;)

      Thanks for stopping by - always a treat when you do.
      I'll be heading over to visit you - see what's up… smiles are coming your way.

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  7. It is a matter of the mind! One has to get started and the big thing is to stick to it, once that happens, it becomes part of our habit. We all have bad habits but this one you have a not just good, it's a great habit! I set goals-some are very small and some are not but if I want it bad enough I achieve it

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    1. Hi Birgit, the thing with goal setting is actual setting a goal that's doable, and that we want to do. :)

      Originally my goal was to write for 15 minutes, but that wasn't right. What my goal ultimately became was "taking 15 minutes and setting it aside to write". The lack of writing was the direct result of the lack of time.

      Once I set the right goal the rest just happened. It is now a habit. A good one!

      Thanks for stopping by! xo

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  8. Wow, sounds like a great writing adventure. The only way I write is after meticulous planning, so maybe I should try something more freestyle... :)

    @TarkabarkaHolgy from
    Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
    MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

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    1. Hi Zalka - welcome to Pearson Report.

      Like you, I'm a planner too. Seems though that my planning was interfering with finding time to write. Doing this daily writing exercise has liberated my inner writer. And that's a good thing! :)

      If you try this, let me know. I'd like to hear about what you think of it.

      Thanks for stopping by. I dropped in on your site and added myself as a follower. I'm looking forward to seeing what other great pieces you've written for the A to Z Challenge. With smiles, Jenny :) :)

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  9. Good for you! I don't really do anything for me.

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    1. hahahahah… well, we have to change that now don't we, Lady B!

      There's got to be something you want to do… just for you. Come on, you can tell me… no one's listening (W.ell, I think I saw Al lurking around but he's busy baking a brisket… and opening a can o' peas!) LOL

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  10. As you well know, my friend, this is one of the best things you've done yet! You are finding out about that group of writers that live inside your head! You are unbelievably talented at this and I look forward to reading your 15 mins.eagerly. Not knowing what you're going to write ahead of time is one thing, but for us readers, not knowing what we will be reading is part of the excitement in following along on your goal. I just love the way your mind can go from one thing to another to another. Amazing! XX

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    1. Barb, without your supportive, encouraging words I don't know if I would have hung in. There's something about having comments, like yours, that just make me want the next story to top the previous.

      Funny thing is I have no control over that - it is what it is. Though I do think the more I write these 15 min free writes, the better I get. Meaning, I find myself letting go, not fighting what wants to come forth. Each piece is really a dark tunnel until I start the timer, only then do I see the light.

      Hugs and love, you've been amazing. xxoo

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  11. When I do something special for me, I usually lock the bathroom door.
    Nuts, there I go with that TMI business again.

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    1. Good God… I knew it… I did. I just didn't want to say anything. I figured you were taking bubble baths, wearing that pink shower cap of Mrs. P, and using a luffa to get those hard to reach areas. I knew it.

      Don't worry Mr. Bones - your secret is safe with me… and anyone else that reads this. :)

      The things a man will hush up in the name of keeping his manly image.

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    2. Funny you should mention loofahs (or luffa...what the heck do I know?). After I watched my nephew graduate from Navy Boot Camp, I asked him if they still make the recruits use nothing but Zest soap (like they did with us...I have no idea why). He said they did, and it soaped up real good with their loofahs. LOOFAHS?? IN THE MILITARY??? Oh, my, how times have changed.

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    3. See, it's in the military - must be okay then for boys to, you know, loofah their privates… that's if they all shower together! hahahahahaha oh, my, that's too funny.

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  12. I take the time to blog and participate in this challenge just for me. I indulge on long coffee mornings on Saturdays, just for me. And when it's warm I treat myself to late night swims in the dark just for me.
    Life & Faith in Caneyhead
    I am Ensign B ~ One of Tremp's Troops with the
    A to Z Challenge

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    1. Seems I buzzed right past your lovely comment… and forgot to leave a reply - shame on me!

      All those things you've mentioned I second! The swimming in the dark I've done, though where I live it's not that easy. The coffee indulgence is a tradition on Sunday mornings here. Ah… the good life! :) :)

      Thanks for stopping by Barbara - enjoy your A to Z travels.

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  13. Thanks for stopping by my blog. What do I do for me? Heaps. I am an essentially selfish person and look after myself - even when I had my 4 children little and living at home I always made sure I did stuff for me. I think it was a kindness to my kids and my husband. If I am happy and cared for then I am much more able to care for them. These days playing on the internet is something I do for me and of course there is my sewing. Even if I give my finished product away, sewing it is for me.

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    1. Hi Ozzypip! Welcome to Pearson Report. I'm glad you could stop by and have a look around.

      Reading your comment makes me happy. I think woman don't take time to do something for themselves, so reading this is uplifting, inspiring. You are right in saying you will be a better person to your family if you had happy and cared for. You go girl! :) :)

      I'll be back to your place again to see how you're doing on those wonderful posts for this A to Z Challenge. I really enjoyed the one on your Dad - truly special.

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  14. I have the same thing with writing stand-up. Half an hour a day, it means I'm never short of new bits to try.

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    1. Hi Michael, welcome to Pearson Report.

      It works, doesn't it! I dabbled in stand-up back in 2001 - loved it. But it does take a lot of planning. Folks that think good comics get up there an wing it have another think coming. It may look like that, but it's a lot of hard work.

      What you're doing is great, that way you've always got something new to draw from.

      Thanks for stopping by - much appreciated. :)

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  15. Hi Jenny - what a great way to get into a habit of writing .. and fun too to have 365 of them at year's end ... that's great... and then we need to see what next with all those stories .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary - I have great plans for my year of writing. I'll be sharing them in May or June. Until then it's hush hush.

      I've really enjoyed this daily exercise. Now, if only I could as some physical exercise I'd be well rounded… oh, I'm already well rounded. hehehehehe

      Thanks for stopping in and visiting. Hugs, xxoo

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  16. Congratulations on the good fruits you are giving your goal to write 15 minutes a day, and your willpower and confidence in yourself!

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    1. Hi Leovi - thanks for bringing your colourful avatar for a visit! :) :)
      I'm enjoying my 15 minutes and yes, it has given a little boost to my confidence. My willpower still wanes, but for the most part now this daily exercise comes easy to me.

      Thank you for stopping in and visiting. Cheers, Jenny xo

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  17. Thanks for sharing this - I had also thought about using photos as writing prompts for daily writing. I am definitely writing more this year - mostly blog posts but also personal experience stories - and I recently joined the Five-Minute Friday free-writing prompt bloghop. Check it out at www.katemotaung.com

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    1. Hi Susan, welcome to Pearson Report.

      Sounds like you've found what works for you. Blog writing is a great way to hone that daily, or weekly, commitment.

      That Five-Minute Friday sounds interesting too. Thank you for providing the link, I will definitely check it out.

      Thanks for stopping in and adding your thoughts. :) :)

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  18. What works for me is to start with a sentence already created from a book, article, etc. But I am going to complain to you about how hard it is to comment on the blogs in the challenge. Word Press, which you have to sign into, and others. It spoils the whole thing for me, so I tend to go back to the blogs I follow anyway, yours included.

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    1. I'm so with you regarding the difficulty with commenting this year. I don't know why bloggers are making it difficult for visitors to leave comments. Makes no sense.

      As an Ambassador it's doubly frustrating as I can't even leave a little "hello" behind. If I'm able to I tweet them, or email them and let them know about it. Happily I can report that those I've contacted didn't know people were having a tough time commenting.

      Thank you for dropping in and sharing your thoughts, much appreciated. :) :)

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  19. Good on you, Ms Jenny. Keep up the great work.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.