Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Some Reflections on 2013



The first IWSG blog post of the year! Welcome 2014 participants and all those who aren't! If you'd like to check out the other blogs joining me on this day, click on this link...

Many things happened that made 2013 a challenging year, the worst of which was my father dying, but I don’t want to go into the negatives here. I will write about three wonderful things that happened. AliĆ©nor P.K. Wight was born in February to my cousin and god daughter! She is beautiful and growing in our hearts and eyes. Going to see our daughter, Marjorie, in Ohio for Fourth of July and meeting her “new” family was amazing. We feel good knowing she has a lovely support group up there in the cold lands! For me professionally, November’s overwhelmingly successful stint with NaNoWriMo was a true gift. I felt I found my true writer when NaNoWriMo focused me and gave me direction. I think realizing that I actually gave myself direction and followed through with what the month offered, was the biggest plus of the year when it comes to my career.
I’m really ready to move on from 2013, to learn what I am capable of in 2014. I am reading “World War Z” right now and read something that stuck with me. A character in the novel, Breckinridge Scott says, “The only rule that ever made sense to me I learned from a history, not an economics, professor at Wharton. ‘Fear,’ he used to say, ‘fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe. …Fear is the most basic emotion we have. Fear is primal…’”
I want to use my fears as catalysts instead of inhibitors in my career and personal life. I don’t want to be “ruled” by it, letting it take away my self-worth, my confidence. I’ve done that for far too long. My commitment to myself and my family is to strive to be totally engaged in my self-motivation and make this the best year ever for me, not only in sales, but in my familial and emotional life as well.

26 comments:

  1. Use fear as motivation? Love that!
    I read WWZ also. A good book. The movie wasn't anything like it but still darn good also.

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    1. Yes, fear as motivation is my new mantra! Thanks for dropping by and commenting!

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  2. It's lovely to look back and celebrate good things that happened in the year. I'm so sorry about your dad, though. I hope everything you plan for this year happens for you :-)

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    1. Thank you, and for you too, Linda!

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  3. My condolences on the passing of your father. But a new baby is always something great to celebrate and it's wonderful that Nano was good for you.

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    1. Thanks for coming by and commenting Nana. Yes, and the baby was born ten days after my dad passed. It was good. Looking forward to this year's nano...

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  4. Fear is used to control and to motivate. Using it to motivate is taking a negative and making it positive.

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    1. Yes! And that's what I'm working on this year... and for the rest of my life.

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  5. Fear can be an amazing motivator...if we let it be. Many of my successes in life came after panicked action I took as a result of my fear of failure. Things I never thought I could do, I did, because I was too afraid not to!

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    1. Love that, too afraid not to!!!

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  6. Fear is definitely a great motivator!
    I am sorry about your Dad. I am sitting by my father's Hospice bed right now. Such a sad part of life:(

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    1. Doreen, I feel for you and will hold you in my thoughts. Thank you for sharing. I know it is so hard to be there, and yet you wouldn't be anywhere else.

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  7. I'd heard that once before but needed the reminder - you can turn fear around to motivate you instead of paralyze you. Thanks for visiting my IWSG post too!

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    1. My pleasure Margo! Looking forward to next month as well...

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  8. Hi Lisa. I hope you're doing as well as can be expected after losing your father. Thanks for the idea of seeing fear in a positive way. Also thrilled that you had such a great NaNo experience. Due to my travel commitments I didn't finish for the first time.

    Have a wonderful 2014!

    And thank you for writing for WEP.

    Denise

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    1. Well, Denise, if I'd been where you were, I'd not have thought twice about NaNo!!! LOVE Paris! Hope you too, have a wonderful 2014 and I'll be "reading" you in it!

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  9. Hope you're coping well with the loss of your father.

    It's never easy, but fear is something we can control and make work for us if we take control of us.

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    1. That's what I'm hoping Joe. That's what I've working on!

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  10. Anonymous1:09 PM

    Lisa - Great post! I love how you are turning fear around. It sounds like 2014 is going to be a great year.

    Leanne ( http://readfaced.wordpress.com )

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    1. Thanks for coming by and commenting! I'm gonna do my best, that's for sure. Hope it's good for you too!

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  11. I know these have been such traumatic times for you, dear Lisa. From that sad passing of your beloved father, you also have had some precious moments of upbeat positivity.

    You face fear and you tackle it head on. A driving force as 2014 bodes well for you.

    Gary :)

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    1. I hope 2014 will be a good one for you too, Gary. Looking forward to seeing what changes will come...

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  12. Hi Lisa .. that's wonderful that you've a new baby in the family, your daughter is safe with her new family and friends and then your NaNo success ... it's good to have those future things to look forward, while you remember your beloved father's loss - the most important thing is you did so much for him especially latterly in his long life ... his hug will be with you always for that ...

    As Gary says above .. you face your fear and beat it head on ... have a peaceful and happy 2014 - Hilary

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    1. Thanks Hilary! Sounds like you are busy! Working hard on facing the fear...

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  13. Great inspirational post! Thanks for sharing!

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