There are exactly four things on my 2014 Goals list. I’m not going to share them, (because why would anyone else care about my goals for myself?), but in the process of making it as concise as possible, I went through an interesting exercise. Though ruthless editing is a part of everyday life as a writer, it felt very different to be editing myself, or, at least, my aspirations for myself over the next year.
When editing a story, every single world needs to be there for a reason. If a story can survive the loss of any extra anything, it’s cut. Applying that process to life goals was helpful in a way that I’m hoping will make the entire next year more efficient and clear. Here are a few of my first draft goals that I cut and the reasons I let them go:
At least there’s this.
I have one more story to write. It’s 10:47pm. So…probably not going to finish it. I haven’t unpacked since I got home from being gone yesterday. House needs vacuuming. Never made it to the gym today. Lois got a very sad, short walk. I got a lot done in the last 14 hours, but not everything I wanted. Sorry, world.
But “write blog post” is on my to do list. And I’m doing it. Done.
Sometimes you just need to check off one more thing.
And post a Lois picture. She’s ready to pack it in too.
The Work/Life Balance Blur
I’m sitting in my mother’s living room, trying to get some work done. It’s hard here. Not just at my mom’s house, but in my small hometown in general. I was born in Tawas City and grew up here. I feel like a kid here, always. I drink my mom’s Diet Cokes without fretting about the aspartame. I roll through stop signs. I nab dog toys from my dad’s vet clinic, and nobody seems to care. Nothing counts here, but in a good way. It’s like the magical protective dome of my childhood is still in tact and waiting to receive me each time I return.
Natalie Burg 