Sunday 1 December 2013

19 weeks

Those of you who've followed my blog for more than a year will know that I tend to shun the normal New Year's Resolutions. I prefer to make mine at random times - my birthday, the start of the school year, Tuesday...

Today is a Resolution Day because in exactly 19 weeks time I will be forty...

I've been counting down to this day for a long time, the number kind of lingers once you reach one of the other ages. It'll be a different age for all of you, but then - suddenly - it will be there, lurking.

Not that I'm worried about the age (despite the very small letters above lol), I don't feel that old at all. It helps that my 20s were a wasted decade. Okay, I got married, had children, bought a house - but I was a passive bystander. It wasn't until my 30s that I started to take an interest in my life.

So, therefore, I'm actually [age]-10, always.

Here are my resolutions to be completed by my birthday (and yes, I might have mentioned some of these before, I don't always succeed):

  • To figure out the business side of writing AND to not look at any stats, at all
  • To have my next novel ready to query
  • To start a new story with the title 19 Weeks, because the more I look at it, the more I love it
  • To complete two pull-ups and ten press ups (injury means both of these need a lot of work)
  • To gather the courage to update my author pic
  • To have a lot of fun, not just the normal amount, but loads more!

So that's mine, what would you like to achieve by my birthday??
(Or your own, if you prefer...)






34 comments:

  1. I don't mind getting older either, i just wish that I lived more. You did quite a lot and are still doing so much, so you are actually ahead in life...or at least ahead of me. I think your goals are great. I especially like the last one, about having fun. That will be my resolution too, to have fun and for me to live more. Good-luck with your goals. I know you will conquer them all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It should be everyone's resolution to have fun. And I'm only ahead of you because I'm older, you've got loads of time. Just decide what you want to to, and go for it :-)

      Delete
  2. These zero birthdays definitely make one take stock. I have one coming up next March, and by then I would like to have found an agent. And a wish for my daughter - she is trying IVF next month and as she's 45 it really is her last chance at motherhood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wishing your daughter lots of luck, Liz. And for you, I wish your MS hits the right desk at the right time :-)

      Delete
  3. My favorite of yours is the last one; I want to do that, too. I also want to do everything I can to make each day count. I don't want to look back and have more regrets.

    Have a great Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not having regrets is an awesome goal, good luck :-)

      Delete
  4. By my next birthday I'd like to find a way to stop aging.
    Birthday goals. I like that idea. Need to think on it...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When you figure it out, let the rest of us in on the secret won't you?

      Delete
  5. I love these resolutions. And by the way, 40 is the new 29 :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brilliant, I'm going to hold you to that Keith!!

      Delete
  6. There's something about those decade markers that provide good motivation and a great reason to look forward to the next ten years. Next year, I'll hit the 50 mark, and rather than fear it, I feel excited by the possibilities. I will be an empty nester and I can start thinking more "selfishly" again. I'm looking forward to reclaiming my life a little. As for goals-- I always have several I'm working on. All the best to you, Annalisa-- you have very focused ideas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You sound very focused as well Julie, there's nothing wrong with a bit of selfishness, especially once your kids are flying by themselves. Have a great year :-)

      Delete
  7. Love these resolutions. You should definitely post again when it's your birthday so we can see how much you've accomplished ;-) And my goal: finishing my book and publishing it. The other goals aren't nearly as important. Have a lovely Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Vanessa, I'll definitely be posting again... argh, the pressure!! Good luck with your book :-)

      Delete
  8. HI Annalisa .. life is life isn't it - the children are your best results - well half yours!!! Good luck with working forwards and onwards and happily towards success .. keep on writing .. that seems to be the best goal to have .. Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I take total credit for the kids when they're behaving ;-) Thanks for the good wishes.

      Delete
  9. Those are admirable resolutions! For myself I need to complete my latest book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck Pat. There are lots of 'finish novel' type resolutions in these comments, not surprising for a bunch of writers, I suppose.

      Delete
  10. Mmm... by your birthday, I'd like to have a new book query ready.

    My birthday is on 28 December, so odds are that I won't really get much done by then. :-P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm, I can see how making goals for your birthday wouldn't work so well. You definitely need to borrow my date :-) Good luck with the book and the querying.

      Delete
  11. Forty is a great age to be, especially when you're already focusing on your life's dream. At least you won't look back one day, wondering where all the decades have gone, as if they'd all disappeared into one long Groundhog Day!
    I agree with you about making resolutions - best made in your own time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll remember that, Fanny... Forty = good, forty = good :-)

      Delete
  12. I tend to set goals more so around my birthday, too - after all, that's MY new year. :)

    I've started working more on short term goals lately, taking it month by month with an eye - and some jotted notes - toward more long term ones. I do like your last one about having more fun. I might have to add that to my list. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Short term goals are hugely important. If you only focus on the long term, you never feel you're getting anywhere. Having more fun should be a standard fixture on everyone's resolution list :-)

      Delete
  13. I totally freaked out about turning 40 and was depressed about it, but now my 40s have been one of the best times of my life. Like you, I was a "passive bystander" (love that) for a long time and it took this decade for me to stop that.
    Great resolutions - good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you're having such an awesome decade! I don't think 40 has the same connotations it did when my parents and grandparents reached that age - everyone is so much younger these days - it's just a great excuse for a party :-)

      Delete
  14. I have a birthday coming soon, not the big 4-0, but I'm starting to be really sensitive about every birthday so I really enjoyed this post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not so sensitive about the number, just the reflection I see in the mirror every morning lol!!

      Delete
  15. we are peas in a pod writers. I would prefer to be a hermit writer too. I think most writers hate marketing. You are published though! And you have other things in the works! That's great! I took a marketing course and learned one thing I should be doing is expanding my facebook presence. If you'd like to 'like' my facebook page, I'm be happy to like yours/! we have to help each other.
    Look me up - Adventures in the Ballpark - Mare Ball. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hermitism is so underrated! I've liked your Facebook page, here's a link to mine:
      https://www.facebook.com/annalisacrawford.writer Thank you!!

      Delete
  16. Fantastic goals. I hope you achieve them. My birthday is next week and I haven't thought about goals for it. And I'll be approaching 40 in a few years. I hope to have more books under my wing by then.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The best thing about having your birthday next week is you have a whole year to achieve goals by the next one! Happy birthday :-)

      Delete
  17. Love your goals - and I wish you all the luck you can handle in achieving them!

    But really it's not about luck, is it? Just hard work! (but the fun part means you'll have fun while working hard :D)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Trisha. Luck plays its part. And it never feels like hard work, does it?

      Delete

Please comment - I love a good chat!

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.