Wednesday 2 January 2013

IWSG - can I be amazing all the time?

It's the first IWSG of the year! I actually have no idea what I'm going to write about. I've spent the last couple of weeks over Christmas being completely out of routine, and not writing or even thinking about writing, so my head isn't really in the right place to write this post.

At the beginning of a new year, I always have the same insecurity - I expect the year to be amazing, then get to March or April and realise I'm not doing anything to make it amazing. January is my least favourite month, and I tend to hibernate which means I waste thirty-one days straight away.

I sometimes wonder if I'm too busy writing about amazing things that I forget to do any real-life ones. But then, what if I got too busy having an amazing real-life that I forget to write.

Okay, so this isn't a proper insecurity, it's just one of those things I think about sometimes, but what do you think: is it possible to be amazing all the time?

90 comments:

  1. I'm living proof that it is *W* Just kidding. I think everyone needs lazy mornings and afternoons of doing nothing every once in a while. Living in high gear isn't sustainable. That said, I also think it's a good idea to try new things and take chances frequently.

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    1. Lol! I think I love being lazy too much sometimes :-)

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  2. I think that would take loads more energy than I'm willing to use! Just thinking about it makes me exhausted. You do need down time and you do need to stop and plan your next move, sometimes. So, just don't dwell on the downtime and focus on the times you are amazing. :D

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  3. I usually hibernate in January too, mainly because it's usually quite a dull month, when everyone is sad Christmas is over, and nobody has any money left to do anything fun lol! It's all about balance, I think. Plus, don't we have a writers retreat to organise, or something? :D

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  4. I'm with Mel. It sounds exhausting and downtime is important. Just don't be like me and take too much downtime.

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    1. Also, with two kids, I can't be amazing all the time or I'd never see them!

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  5. I say define amazing. To each is a different idea or ideal. I wish you luck in those few months of downfall that you will pull out of it and remember how amazing your are.

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    1. Thanks Tammy, that's a very good point. I think I sometimes fall into the trap of comparing myself to others negatively, when they don't have the same commitments etc as me.

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  6. I think a month to do nothing out of an entire year is perfectly ok, and what better month to hibernate then January - get your downtime over so you're ready and energised to be amazing for the rest of the year :)

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    1. It sometimes feels like I'm wishing my life away though. I have got a novel to write, so hopefully I can hibernate and write at the same time this year.

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  7. I like to ski in January, and this year, we're going twice! But I still feel kind of sad at New Years, even though I have fun stuff going on in January and this year I have things to look forward to. There's something about the holidays being over and the year, too, that makes me feel sad.

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    1. One year I had a weekend away at the end of January, and it was great to have something to look forward to - we just haven't been able to do it since. Have a great time skiing :-)

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  8. I understand what you mean. I tend to hide away from reality so that I can write about my fictional one, which makes people think that I am a hermit. I am sure that you will make your year amazing, as in my view, you always do. Best of luck with your endeavours in 2013.

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    1. I am technically a hermit too, albeit a very sociable one who likes going out :-) Thanks Murees!

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  9. I'm gonna' go with no. ALthough, sometimes downtime and lazy days are kind of amazing. :)

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    1. I'm being lazy as I catch up on blogs. I'm lying down and have a blanket wrapped around me - although I think I'm coming down with a cold, so that's not so amazing :-(

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  10. I think that would be a lot of pressure. And whose definition of "amazing" would you go with anyway? Amazing to one person could be kind of eh to someone else. :)

    I used to feel like I needed to jump into achieving all my goals and doing everything on January 1st or 2nd but now I feel as long as my mindset and motivation is clear, I can ease in and enjoy the start of the new year.

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    1. It's completely my own definition, but I have wild dreams! Easing in is probably a better way to do it.

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  11. It is for me ;)

    Jokes aside, I hear what you're saying. Just like the wonderful Kyra says, we need to find the balance. Over this Christmas break, I tried to get stuff together for my blog tour...then I felt guilty for neglecting the kids, the dishes...okay, so I didn't really care about the dishes!
    Here's to striking the right balance. Work a little, play a little, sleep a little...

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    1. Balance is a great word - the reality is harder to figure out. Once I do that, I'll be sorted :-)

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  12. If everyone was amazing all the time, amazing would become normal and then we'd all have to work DOUBLY hard to be just as amazing! And that would be awful! Taking a break and relaxing will make you all the more awesome when you choose to be. (For the record, we're twins! I do the exact same thing, although I last a week into January before I give up all hope :-)

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    1. That's a really good way of looking at it. If amazing became normal, I really would exhaust myself trying to be even more amazing!

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  13. I'm not sure it'd be so much fun for everything to be amazing all the time even if it was possible to achieve that.

    Happy New Year!

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    1. To be fair, I do overuse the word amazing. I can stop still in the street because I've seen an amazing cloud :-D Happy New Year to you too!

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  14. I always have to remind myself, no matter the decisions or lack thereof, to be gentle on myself. I make goals but try not to rule my life by them. I'm learning that life very rarely caters to me anyway. I like a vision but know it's important to be flexible in how life goes. Best to you in the coming year.

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    1. That sounds very sensible. You get to work towards something without beating yourself up - I like that a lot. Happy New Year!

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  15. The dead of winter is my least favorite time of year, too. Hibernating is good for writing, though. I think you're amazing as you are. I hope you find 2013 to be a fantastic one.

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    1. Thanks Mary :-) I'm hoping to make good progress with my novel this year! Have a great 2013 too.

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  16. Having some real life adventures without writing is better than neither happening, right?

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    1. I break out into a cold sweat at the thought of not writing, actually!

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  17. I think writing is amazing! Who needs real life? But that's just me ;)

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    1. I completely agree with you, but occasionally I look up and see everyone else having holidays and fun and stuff, and I think 'Hmm, is that what I should be doing?'

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  18. Do not guilt yourself for not writing. It does little to inspire creativity. On the other hand, I participated in a group during 2012 that supported a philosophy of no more excuses, "Just f--in do it." Warmest wishes for 2013. -valfoxwrites

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    1. That's a great philosophy. At the moment I'm busy writing and not having a life, so my guilt is more along the lines that I'm neglecting my real life in favour of some rather bizarre characters I've created. Thanks for commenting :-)

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  19. I'm so with you on January, I hate this time of year. But my answer to your title is yes, of course, you already are always amazing! :D

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    1. Aw Julie thank you :-) Let's both make January fun this year (it seems wrong to just wish it away, so we have to embrace it!)

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  20. Good question. Yes, you can be amazing all the time.
    You can be amazingly chilled and laid back or amazingly revved up to go! Each one has it's time and place...
    Happy New Year!

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    1. What a great way to mix it up... Today I'm being amazingly chilled on account of being ill, but I'm being amazingly ill :-D

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  21. I make goals but always try to make them attainable by breaking them up into manageable junks. I don't sacrifice having treats, especially in January. And another thing. Annalisa, you're better than you think you are!

    Start planing a few small pleasure for the month ahead, and if you don't feel like writing hundreds of words, commit to just five minutes a day this month...you'll be amazed what you can write, and you may just forget when the time is up.

    Have a happy January :-)

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    1. I definitely need to plan small treats to get me through January. My first one is upgrading my phone on 20th - Hubby needs to help me, which automatically means we'll have to go somewhere lovely for lunch :-)

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  22. Being amazing all the time sounds exhausting! Think I'll just go with a part time position. January seems to be looking like a busy month for me in many ways also its my birthday later this month so maybe I try and be amazing that day.

    Best wishes for 2013, Annalisa.

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    1. Lol - part time amazing. That might be a good way to ease myself into it. You definitely will be amazing on your birthday, you have no choice in that one. Happy 2013!!

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  23. Well, I guess we can strive to be amazing all the time, right?

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    1. After reading all the comments so far I'm going to aim for about 75% :-)

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  24. We can try, but I don't think it's possible because life has a way of throwing challenges at us when we least expect them. All we can do is try. Happy New Year!

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    1. Yes, but those challenges my be amazing :-) Happy New Year!

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  25. No, I don't think you can be amazing all the time. We all want to, but life is as much about the minutes in between as it is about the events. Take them in, enjoy them, and don't fret about January. Day-to-day can be beautiful too - even when it's not amazing.

    Great IWSG post!

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  26. Happy New Year! I think it is tough to be amazing all the time.

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    1. I actually wrote this post after I dressed up as Audrey Hepburn for New Year... she's someone who seemed to be amazing all the time. But I think, for now, I'll just learn how to apply eyeliner :-)

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  27. I'm way to lazy to reach amazing, but I'll settle for pretty good :)
    Happy 2013, I'm declaring it Year of the Writer.

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    1. I'm jumping on the Year of the Writer! I'm going to appreciate each and every day :-)

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  28. It would be so boring to be amazing all the time - it wouldn't be a novelty on those occasions when we are truly amazing!

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    1. If I could get to the point where I was bored of being amazing, I think I'd have earned the rest :-)

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  29. I'm with Linda! And what's 'amazing' anyway? I'm sure 'amazing' would quickly become the new 'normal' if we did it for long enough - not that I'm in a position to find out, you understand...

    I love the idea of new year and wondering what on earth the next year will have in store for us. However, depending on how my writing's going, it can take me a while to find my mojo when Christmas has gone and it's just me and my desk again. I blog to get myself back in the moment which works most of the time.

    Wishing you all the best for a wonderful and productive 2013 :)

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    1. Blogging is a great way to get back into the writing groove. Have a great 2013 too :-)

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  30. It can be difficult finding that balance. Here's to am amazing 2013 for both catagories!

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    1. I've decided the secret is eyeliner - if I can get that right, I can do anything :-) Happy 2013!

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  31. you asked the right person, of course it is! ha ha ha!
    but seriously, housework is not amazing. waiting is not amazing. being stuck is not amazing.
    wallow in the low spots, its ok for a bit. just be sure not to stay there too long and when you do something, it will be that much more amazing!

    have a year filled with amazing moments!

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    1. Yeah, I was just going to ignore those obviously unamazing bits. Who needs a clean house... or clothes... or dishes... (I may need to rethink a little)

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  32. My particular list of "Wants" for 2013 depends on so many factors that are out of my control that all I can do is my best, but isn't that the same for all of us? Happy 2013

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  33. I wish you an amazing writing year!

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  34. I too get the winter blahs and feel like hibernating daily five minutes after getting up. Wishing you both for 2013, Amazing Life and Amazing Writing!

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    1. Thanks Gossip_Girl. I've been hibernating today while reading blog posts and it's been awesome... amazing, even :-)

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  35. I'm sure it is possible to be both, although I lean way more towards writing than real life experiences. Heh.

    I tend to start out the year well, but then around May, everything falls apart and I do very little writing until around September, except in sporadic bursts. I think everyone needs a hibernating phase, so they can get the energy to keep going. :)

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    1. I'm going to try my best not to neglect one area over the other - it seems like a good idea on day 3 of the year! Hibernating to gather energy makes sense.

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  36. I think that you can be anything all the time. Nor would I want to be. It's the hills and valleys that make you appreciate the opposite so much more. Good luck this year. :)

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    1. I could probably be an amazing chocoholic most of the time, but it wouldn't be very good for me... so in retrospect, you're probably right :-)

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  37. You can have both. Just sometimes we need to take a rest from the amazing. Have a fantastic 2013!

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    1. I'm going to have a good try at having amazing lazy days though :-D

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  38. Time out is probably a must... to avoid the insanity of being overloaded of course:) January is my month to take it a bit easy:)

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    1. The problem I have with January is if I don't fill it with something it lingers and takes twice as long. I should enjoy the month - but I don't.

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  39. Hi Annalisa .. January seems a good time to hibernate - and you've had one long winter down in Devon - and must be ready for some Spring sunshine ... I sincerely hope the floods haven't you or your loved ones too much - life has been disrupted for so many ...

    Have a great 2013 - once you get going .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Sunshine would be good. They tell me there's some on the way... Luckily I'm on a hill, and we don't have floods in our town, but there's been some horrible floods in nearby towns. Happy 2013 to you too!

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  40. Amazing all the time? Doubtful. Life's just not that consistent. It's more like a roller coaster. Good thing I like those.

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    1. Consistent = boring, so it's probably a good thing.

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  41. I think we can be amazing all the time, just not in all the same things. Like today, I'm going to be amazing at sitting in L.A.traffic.

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  42. LOL Jenn! I'm amazing at sitting in traffic, too--thanks to my audiobooks. seriously though I dont think it's possible to be amazing all the time. Too exhausting. :)
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. As I think I mentioned earlier, as soon as I figure out how to apply eyeliner, everything will be amazing! Watch this space :-)

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  43. It's a tough balance, isn't it? We have to live in order to have real things to write about. But living takes away from writing. Oiy! :)

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    1. Yep, that's pretty much the problem I'm having. I know - because of my working hours - that I spend far too many Saturday nights writing!

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  44. Hello Annalisa :D I love your blog! As for being amazing…I'm sure your writing will be brilliant …and that makes you amazing too! Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks for visiting and commenting! Happy New Year :-)

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  45. I've also spent the past few weeks way out of routine! I've put aside this week to get back into things, and by next week I'm supposed to be in full swing work mode!

    I think you need to define amazing ... it's probably different for everyone. But I certainly don't feel like I'm amazing all the time, especially if I'm spending most of my time writing about other people being amazing!

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    1. Yes, writing about amazing things makes me want to do them too!

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