Hey there friend.

So one problem with trying to be consistent is that it can be exhausting. Especially if you deal with some big health issues. Even if you don't, sometimes life decides to throw a few curveballs.

I want to give you a head's up.

I have one of those curveballs in regard to some big health issues. Most of the time, things are just fine, but not always. 

Every once in a while, my body likes to say, "NOT WORKING!" It can take me a few weeks to figure out what changed and adjust accordingly.

Yesterday was a rough day. I slept most of the day after overdoing things on Monday. So now I have a few weeks of adjustment and not knowing what my body is going to do for the day.

So while I will try to be consistent, if I don't show up, know that you are still loved.

Reader's Escape

Fun story, I started hosting retreats. 

I never imagined that would be something I would do. It's been a huge learning curve, but I feel like I have finally figured things out. I started out hosting writing retreats. I held three of those, but they never really took off.

It didn't help that my very first one was in November of 2020. I had one speaker and two participants show up online, while the rest of my speakers and guests were digitally attending. Then I did one that was entirely digital that had about three attendees.

My last one was entirely in person. I had one guest attend.

To be honest, I was probably a large part of the problem. I also attended writing retreats with Richard Paul Evans at his ranch, which were far better attended and lower cost than my own. I was SUPER uncomfortable charging more with less experience. So I gave that up.

At the same time, I saw a post on social media that made me think I should switch gears rather than completely abandoning all that hard work of learning how to put on a retreat.

I mean, look at this. People were literally asking for it and no one was doing it. How could I not host a READING retreat instead of a writing one? I held the first back in March of 2022 and loved it so much I did another in September.

Twice a year was a bit much. Especially as I had also gotten married in May of 2022. As a result, these were small, but so, so great. I loved them, as did the guests.

So I am hosting just one per year, in September. It is currently 137 days away, but I have all but FIVE spots taken. 

This is by far the biggest one I have put together. I'm sure they will only continue to grow. 

What Happens When We Are Consistent?

Results. There are HUGE results.

I know I wrote a blog post about this topic before when I was much more consistent about writing my blog in the first place, but wow.

Sometimes lessons have to be learned more than once I guess. After setting a goal to be more consistent in writing my blog in 2016, I saw a huge uptick in the results that I was getting in every aspect of my life. 

Life gets complicated, things get in the way. The past year alone has been one of constant change for me, with very little consistency. Was not good for my ability to get things completed or make much progress in my life.

Honestly, I'm not even sure I remember the goals that I set at New Year's this year.

But even just in the past week of consistent effort just showing up to my office, I have seen a lot of progress in my novel, in my blog, in my studies, and in reading. 

I need consistency in my life.

And boy, do I sure love the results. I might actually finish my novel within the timeframe needed to publish this year. And it's coming up really fast. 111 days left to publication as of today! (I may or may not have a countdown timer on my phone.)

But I'm so, so grateful for all of the support that comes when I take time daily for myself and my goals.

Week 1

 I'm so proud of myself this week! I made it into the office every day except Thursday. It wasn't always for very long, so I didn't make as much progress on Madamn as I would have liked, but I did finish several projects that were just on hold. 

It is amazing how much more energetic I feel, I'm even waking up before my alarm in the morning ready to get out of bed. 

I actually dreamt of going to my office last night because I was so excited to go this morning and get some work done! 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to jump right into the novel work!

Trying Something New

Life can get pretty overwhelming at times. I am amazed at how often I find myself wishing for more time in the day, or even in the week.

Yet I also know it is entirely my own fault. 

I'm so nervous and excited to publish Madamn and to release it into the world that I've been putting other things in front of my time to write. 

I stay later at work, I schedule things on my day off, I make an extra mess cooking that takes extra time to clean up.

Sometimes it's not entirely my fault. I will get asked to help with various projects for church or by friends that I want to love and help and support...

The funny thing is, that's in big part why I wrote my fourth book, Hard Earned Lessons Learned. I was asked to help so many with writing and publishing books that I put it all in a book so I could have time for writing. 

That's a bit harder to do with things like singing at funerals, or making dinner for someone whose house has flooded. 

BUT, despite the chaos that life holds, I am going to spend some time every day in my office.

My super supportive husband is going to hold me accountable. I'll also report here how I'm doing with that goal and make sure I'm making progress on Madamn so I'll have updates there as well.

Life Lesson This Morning

 Today when I got to my office before I started working, I did a bit of study time. I love studying and learning various topics and often study from both my scriptures and another nonfiction book that can vary. 

Sometimes they seem to overlap. Today both books taught me a pretty powerful lesson in humility. 

I grew up fiercely independent and proud of how much I am able to accomplish and do in my day-to-day life. And sometimes I am stressed and overwhelmed at how I am going to accomplish everything. 

Apparently, I tend to bite of more than I can chew. At the same time, I always manage to complete all the important tasks and eventually recognize I was making mountains out of a few molehills. 

I find myself fortunate to believe in a higher power. Even more wonderful, that higher power is a being that I can trust and depend on.

Whether I have too much to handle on my own, or things aren't going my way, or a myriad of other things, I can take a step back. I can take a deep breath. 

Then I can continue working while trusting that everything will work out for the best, whatever that means and whatever that looks like. 

It feels kind of vague, but the point is that I need to be a bit more humble. The more I stress over meeting a deadline, making payments on time, or whatever else life throws at me, the less faith and trust I show in God. 

It's kind of a prideful act, thinking that we have to do everything ourselves and we are depending entirely on our own power to accomplish these great feats.

But the more I look back on my life, the more I realize that every big accomplishment came with help. Whether by divine intervention, or angels who are willing to help and support me. (Angels being both living people like friends and family, as well as invisible servants of God.)

I'm not really doing justice to how profound this experience was for me, but it was a good exercise in trying to share!

Spring!!

It is finally here! I don't know about you, but I am simply thrilled!

This winter has been a long and rough one for me. I feel like I barely escaped with my sanity.

Fun fact about me, I'm solar-powered. The more sunshine I have, the more energy I have and the more capable I feel. Now that I have longer hours and am recovering from a car accident back in January, I am going to be able to do so much more. 

It may not always be writing-related. I have a lot of responsibilities at home, with family, and at church, too.

It's just that now I feel like I can handle it all instead of needing lots of naps and hibernation breaks. This warm weather is just so invigorating!

Maybe I'll get this book finished by my deadlines after all!