Chop Wood, Carry Water
Little things make the big things
Hey friends,
Well! That was a long weekend, wasn’t it? I’m going to do my best to talk about writing here, because that’s all I’m really qualified to talk about and everything else is a dumpster fire. If you happen to take solace or find motivation in these words in other parts of your life, I’m happy to have helped. Oh, and if you don’t think trans people exist, you can GTFO.
I, like many, bought a planner this month and filled it out with glee. I love a worksheet and always have. I made grand plans for this month! There were:
Write 20,000 words
Run 4 times
Wear my expensive LED face mask every evening
Respect the screen time limits I put on my phone
Read 6 books
I have done… almost none of those things. Instead I have:
Written 5600 words so far
Run 0 times
Worn my expensive LED face mask 6 times
Marginally respected the screen time limits I put on my phone
Read 4 books
This is ok! There were things I forgot to account for when I made these goals, like three school holidays, a minor medical procedure (I’m fine. Routine stuff.) that took me out for two days, and bitter cold weather. I haven’t made time for writing like I intended. I under estimated my willingness to run at the gym. The charging cord for the LED mask wasn’t working (it’s working now). I have stopped myself from hitting 15 more minutes on my screen time blocks more times than I have previously, so I’ll take that win. And I am on track to read two more books this month so that’ll be great. So what am I going to do about this lackluster adherence to my plans and goals?
Chop wood, carry water. I’m going to remind myself of my goals more often, so I remember to prioritize them. I’m going to set aside time to write this week. I’m going to find another time to wear my LED mask because right before bed is not working for me, obviously. I’m just going to keep trying. I’m not going to freak out. I’m not going to give up. The month isn’t over yet. My failure isn’t inevitable just because I’m behind.
I’m also not going to beat myself up. I’m not going to berate myself. I don’t suck because I haven’t reached that word count. I’m not doomed to never write another book. I didn’t waste money on that LED mask just because I don’t maximize its use. If I really want to run, I’ll make time for it (or maybe wait until Spring). This is all fine. This is all life.
Most days, you do what needs to be done. Chop wood, carry water. The big things happen when you do the little things every (most) days. The little things are tedious and boring to do every day. It’s hard to see results except in the rear view mirror. Deciding to do something is one step. The doing it is 1,000 little steps one after another.
Big change takes a long time. I doesn’t happen as a result of saying I want that or that’s not right or it should happen this way. Every little thing counts. Don’t stop doing the little things. Stopping is the only sure way for failure.
This applies to writing. And everything else.
Let’s spin the newsletter dial and look back on today’s ICYMI post!
Happy pub day to Suzy Hopkins and Hallie Bateman! This mother/daughter team is out with their second graphic memoir and I know you or someone you love needs it ASAP.
Buy it here or wherever books are sold! It’s so beautiful. Thanks for reading, friends. Trans rights are human rights.
XOXOXOXOX,
Kate
Good words from life as it is, Kate. I have a plan going into every day, even more necessary since retirement last year. It's not about word counts, it's about application to the planned tasks. For example, I lead a morning stretch class at my local Y; normally, we have anywhere from a half-dozen to a dozen people, sometimes more, sometimes less. Well, at 12 degrees after a rain, freeze and snow, I walked in to find... no one but the Y staff present. I ran the 45 minute class anyway, for myself and for whoever else might show up. No one did, but after the class I ran into a young woman who had been attending and stopped. She told me she had hurt her hips, which led to a discussion of incorporating her physical therapy into alternate moves for her in the class, where she could get the benefit of both while listening to her body. We roll with the changes, and keep on.
Yup! I'm with you on the dumpster fire chaos. Let's all chop wood and carry water.