PREPARING FOR THE NEW YEAR

2013

It's hard to believe, but it's true. It's the time of year again, when we need to start to prepare for the New Year.

I've always loved this poem:

I AM THE NEW YEAR
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Life, I am the new year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.

I am your opportunity to practice
what you have learned about life
during the last twelve months.

All that you sought
and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out
with more determination.

All the good that you tried for
and didn't achieve
is mine to grant
when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do,
all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have -
these slumber lightly,
waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am your opportunity
to renew your allegiance to Him who said,
'behold, I make all things new.'

I am the new year.


The original source of this poem is: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/poetry.cgi?record=101

The New Year provides us with a blank canvas in which we choose how to fill and create. The choice is ours.

However, we should not even think of starting the New Year until we evaluate the past year and from there, we can then choose what we want from the new year.

Shall we start to prepare for the new year? It's that time, after all.

JOURNALING EXERCISE
* If you could live the perfect year next year, what would that look like? Describe in great detail. Take at least 1 day, preferably 2-3, in order to look at this fully.
* What would it take for you to do it?
* Make sure to write out an actual plan for the new year. Be thorough and specific. Write an 1-sentence, a 4-sentence, an 8-sentence, 3-paragraph, 1-page, and 2-page plan.
* Put your plan into action. Write out a goal for the entire year. This is your mission statement.
* Write a goal for each of the things you mentioned previously in order to live the ideal life.
* Write out a goal for each month.
* Write out a goal for each week.

* Put it all on your planner/calendar/schedule.

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Blog Number One

Today is the first day of my blog. I hope I don't bore you. I've never done this before and am a little apprehensive. So, bear with me, please.

My goals with this blog are:
1. To share stories with you. I will talk about all of the books I'm in the process of trying to get published, am writing, or are in the process of editing. I write several different aspects of the drama genre. I write thrillers, murder mysteries, speculative fiction, and romance. There's always a romantic theme, a lesson learned, and I show how life is real and raw.
2. To help you escape for a while.
3. To help you look at life from a different perspective.
4. To help you learn how to leave a lasting legacy or create a way to preserve your memories.
5. To develop a stronger interior life.
6. To share my process of making my dream of becoming a published author come true.
7. To talk about writing.
8. To share how I am in the process of moving to a different state with my husband and hope to start our family soon and how that impacts life.
9. To show how life is difficult, but it's what we put into it, the lessons learned, guard our hearts and minds, and how we hold fast to our faith that makes the difference.

What lofty goals I have and wish I could make it simpler. However, in order for me to be realistic about life, faith, relationships, and dreaming, I am forced to recognize that I cannot put it in a pretty box with a pretty bow. Life is complicated. However, we can find a simplicity in it and I want to share how I've learned, and am learning, how to do so.

A wise man in my life taught me a long time ago to focus on making my every today and tomorrow better than my every yesterday. Even though life sends me curve balls, I can look beyond them and life a life focused on leaving a meaningful lasting legacy to future generations of how to live life fully and simply through the sharing of stories and the lessons learned. I would love to hear how you've learned to do the same.

I want this blog to be interactive. Write me. I will choose what gets put on my blog and ask for no profanity, but beyond that, I welcome differing perspectives as well. Life is hard enough without learning from one another and helping each other through things.

I also welcome critique on my stories. I will share my writing with you. Again, I have the choice as to what to apply and what to ignore, but I welcome it.

How do you plan to live a meaningful life and leave a lasting legacy? What's your story?

Blessings to You,

Stacy D.