A Brand New Me

Last night I sat in my living room with my notebook in hand and wrote down three goals.

Goal 1: To train for a half-marathon and then RUN said half-marathon.
Goal 2: Enter a writing contest.
Goal 3: Learn how to appreciate and love myself.


I started in on these goals today, and let's just say that I feel awesome about the first one. I'm keeping track of my training training on the blog so that I can stick with the plan. I mean, if it's public, that means people are watching me to see if I can keep my word, right? I mean, I can't back out now! The first three miles are posted...

Okay, so the second goal is to enter a writing contest. I'm not the world's best writer, and I know it. Most of my friends have told and/or asked me to take writing seriously, so I'm going to do it. I found the contest that I want to enter, so I'll just plug along until the deadline and make it work. But see, the problem with writing is that I'm a perfectionist, so I type three sentences, reread them, and then decide that I don't like the sound of them, so I delete them.

I spend 10 months out of the year teaching children that getting their thoughts down is the most important part of the writing process, and no one cares if their thoughts aren't cohesive when they first start because they're writing first drafts. And now what's happened? The tables have definitely turned, and I am in their little positions - only I'm not using a writer's notebook or a pencil, for that matter. I'm plugging along on my trusty computer (and not playing Mafia Wars on facebook, mind you) and my thoughts won't come easily. I've gotten as far as the introduction, and that's it.

Fini. Mindblock. Roadblock. Dead end. I'm sure some ideas will come to me tomorrow when I'm not in front of my computer. They'll probably come while I'm doing laundry and I won't have a writing utensil in sight. Great. GREAT! Now I'm going to have to start carrying a notebook around to record my thoughts.

And now I'm getting stressed.

Oh man. Wow. Goal 2 is totally making me want to break out the Lambic in my fridge and take four huge giant swigs...maybe that won't be such a bad idea. Hmmm...