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December 10, 2006
The "One Year to Live" Mindset
I've been re-watching old "Studio 60" episodes and I've been thinking a lot about one moment: Jordan admitting that when she took the job she decided she would approach it as if she only had one year to live.
Maybe that's what I need to do. Maybe that is the kick in the butt my work life needs.
I know however that I can't apply the "one year to live" mindset to the rest of my life, because then I would just eat whatever sweets and junk food I wanted, with wanton disregard for my long-term health.
But it might be a useful approach to my writing life. It might keep me working when I feel discouraged, keep me focused when I really just want to lay around and watch TV. It might help me shake off the inevitable setbacks.
And writing has a lot of setbacks. Just this month, I have received three declines so far. I got them all in the first week of the month even. Three declines in eight days – that can't be good.
But my husband reminded me that this time last month I had just finished writing 50,000 words in one week. So that's something.
Also on today's plus side:
1) I tried out Sunday School at the new church I've been attending. (They call it Bible Fellowship, but whatever.) It went okay. I think I'll go back next week.
2) We had pizza for dinner and I managed to stop at two slices and one breadstick. That's impressive for me.
I keep trying to focus on this scripture from today's lesson:
"…God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (Philippians 1:6)
God has begun something good in my life; I just need to get out of His way and let Him get on with it.
Posted by Selena at December 10, 2006 09:02 PM