Fiction author Robin Brande talks about writing, reading, and other vital matters

Nancy, a.k.a. Journey Woman, tagged me with this meme about listing my 10-15 personal and/or professional goals for the summer.

If she had asked me a month ago, my list would have been very, very different. I would have been all about my planning and my benchmarks and who knows what all.

But I’ve seen the light. I’ve had an epiphany. I’ve whatever metaphor you’d like to substitute for “pulled my head out.”

So here are my goals, my plans, my attitude toward this summer:

1. I am on vacation. I am off duty. For the next two and a half months I am officially not in charge of anything or anybody. What does this look like? It means I’ve stopped keeping track of things. I’ve stopped developing timelines and lists. I’m taking it as it comes. I am applying ZERO pressure to myself about anything at all–what I eat, how much I exercise, how much I sleep, how much I read, how long I want to sit in my red chair every day with my eyes closed and just meditate and think, how much I spend on gas or groceries or moisturizer. OFF. DUTY. I am normally a prudent, frugal, modestly-behaving person, and I’ve decided to give myself the benefit of the doubt. If I want to do it, it’s probably okay. If I don’t want to do it, don’t.

2. I am wearing girl clothes. Woman clothes. Clothes that show some skin. I am wearing sandals and skirts and tops that might just show a little cleavage. Not much–see modestly-behaving person above–but more than I usually do in my Amish ways. Still looking out for the sun coverage, but if it’s nighttime there’s no reason I can’t expose a little front and a little back.

3. I am playing outdoors. As much as I want. I’m going hiking every weekend if I feel like it, and going backpacking for a few weeks midsummer, and every day I’m taking a break from my computer to just sit out on my porch and listen to the birds. Hoping, for example, to hear from those baby birds we tried to save. Maybe they and their parents have forgiven us by now.

4. I am steeping myself in comedy, preferably romantic comedy. I want to read it, watch it, live it. I don’t have to read anything sad or disturbing this summer, don’t have to go to movies like that, either. The eye is the lamp of the body? Then I want these eyes to be filled with happy, lovely images. Treat it like a juice fast or some other deep-cleansing health kick. (Although, let me be clear, I’ll be seeing the new Harry Potter film and reading the new HP book, scary or sad or funny or whatever J.K. wants to throw at me. I’m in.)

5. If I want the white daisies, I’m buying myself the white daisies. How many times do I see something like that and think, “How pretty!” but then just pass on by? Whom am I expecting to get those for me? What special event am I waiting for? The special event is right in front of me: there are daisies here. Get them.

6. I am writing a new screenplay that just started percolating in my brain this week. No time pressure, no deadline, just dream about it for a while and write it when it’s time. Might be next week, might be next month. Whatever. It will get written because that’s how it goes. I have a track record with myself now, and know that I get my work done. I don’t have to mean about it or bully myself in any way. So just relax and enjoy the story unfolding.

7. I am taking a break from my slavery to technology. I’m turning off the phone if I want to meditate for an hour. I’m noticing when I’ve been here at the computer for too long, and saying out loud, “I’m taking a break,” so I’ll remember to get up and go do something else for a little while. I’m not checking my e-mail every two minutes. Anyone who has to get ahold of me will call back. Anyone waiting for my reply e-mail can wait half an hour. Just because rushing is possible doesn’t mean it’s necessary. So I’m picking a pace that feels comfortable and relaxing, and then letting technology conform to that.

8. Just because a meme calls for 10-15 items, doesn’t mean I have to comply. (Trust me, this is radical!) I could go on, but I’ll stop here, just to remind myself I can. Free, I tell you, free!!

I tag . . .

Sara Lewis Holmes
Katie Alender
Jen Robinson

And anyone else on the blog here who wants to throw out some items of their own.

Thanks, Nancy! That was fun!

Going hiking now. I’ll see y’all this afternoon. No rush.

Technorati Tags: Meme, Goals, Goal-Setting, Relaxation, Simplification, Not Setting Goals, Taking the Summer Off

Posted on Sunday, June 10th, 2007 at 5:05 am under Life, Writing . Subscribe to responses: RSS 2.0 Comment Feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.