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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/10005-Dont-Give-Up.html
Action/Adventure: February 05, 2020 Issue [#10005]




 This week: Don't Give Up!
  Edited by: Kit
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Are your resolutions or goals not going as you'd hoped for? It's okay! Don't give up now!

This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about our ability to succeed, even through temporary setbacks.

Kit


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

How are you doing so far this year? Did you make any New Year's resolutions, or set yourself any goals? Are they working out for you, or hasn't it gone quite as you planned? If everything's going great then congratulations! I am genuinely happy for you! If things haven't gone as you wanted to, though, I'm here to tell you not to worry. It's perfectly normal, and perfectly okay. It doesn't mean that you cannot achieve what you want to achieve!

I set myself various goals for the year. I don't call them resolutions as such, because I think that resolutions have more pressure attached to them than simply saying, “I'd like to do this or that,” or, “I aim to have this done at some point during the coming year.” Being a month into 2020 I have done well with some of my goals. I hadn't written much the last couple of years, but I have various new items in my portfolio. My classes have started back up and I am being a dutiful student. Towards other goals, however, I haven't made as much progress as I'd hoped for. I'd signed up for a reading challenge and I am already behind on it. I haven't been a regular blogger. And my chocolate intake-per-week remains too high. I want to lose weight, and I want to get all healthy and fit, but it's so tasty!

I doubt I am the only one who has seen some successes and some setbacks. The question is, what are we going to do about it? It's too easy to think that as some things haven't worked out, perhaps they aren't meant to be, or aren't meant to be yet, and to push them back to another date that is supposed to offer another magical fresh start and clean slate. That habit of kicking the can is very natural, but we all know that it doesn't solve anything. It doesn't get us what we want. If we're honest with ourselves we know that there are no magic dates. There are no clean slates. There is that tradition surrounding New Year's Day but it doesn't actually mean anything, other than when you tell people you aim to do this or that they'll nod and smile because it's socially understood that a percentage of the population will indeed use that date to try and better their lives. It isn't a day that contains special powers. Any other day will work just as well.

Yep, we know this. We could try again tomorrow. Or the day after. Maybe next week's better, because we have this happening this week, and oh there's that, so it can't be then.... When is the best time to pick with that one convenient date having passed and the next one being nearly 11 months into the future? That's the question, isn't it? You're talking to the Queen of Procrastination here.

There is no easy answer, except that we have to do this ourselves. If we truly want to achieve what we set out to achieve, if we really mean it that we want to make a positive change, we have to pick a date and make it our own. In order to do that, it helps to realise that we don't need a clean slate. It's okay if things didn't work for us in the past. It's okay if we made mistakes. It's okay if we fell flat on our face, even. What matters is the here and the now and what we want for our future. It's always a good time to begin to be better.

Now, let's say that you read this newsletter and feel inspired. And you try again tomorrow, and happen to slip up again. I'm not saying that because I don't have faith in you – I just know that some changes are hard. Like me and my relationship with chocolate. I can foresee a slip-up here and there and especially around my birthday next month. Because I know that the occasional chocolate is fine, so me eating chocolate on my birthday is fine, but no matter what I say to people about not giving me chocolate as a gift, some don't listen. Meaning that I'm likely to end up with boxes of the stuff. And when there's chocolate in the house sooner or later – usually sooner than is compatible with an attempt at healthy eating and weight loss – they're going to be in my stomach. Now, let's say that something like that happens. I'm here to tell you to not give up then, either. Even if it's difficult, don't be too down on yourself. Don't go punishing yourself. A slip-up isn't failure. The only way you'll fail at your goal is to give up and never ever make another attempt at success. These momentary setbacks are just that – momentary.

I've started to make daily lists of what I want to do. There's a certain satisfaction that comes with crossing things off my list, which makes for a good motivator. Whilst it would be nice to cross off everything that's on there every single day, I know that that's not going to happen. If I don't complete or even start something one day I just move it on to the next, and the next, until it's done. Thus far that has worked; it appears that slowly but surely stuff is getting done. Perhaps it will work for you, too. Or you can choose another method that will motivate you, or try different methods. It can be fun to experiment.

Whatever you end up doing, what matters is that you keep doing. Believe in yourself. Be kind to yourself. You deserve to achieve your dreams. You deserve the best. *Smile*

Kit



Editor's Picks

Some contests and activities you might enjoy:

There's still time to enter

FORUM
The Contest Challenge  (13+)
Join by entering a contest a month for 12 months--Win Badges! Catching up is allowed!
#2109126 by Schnujo is Late to Lannister


Just jump right in!

Be on your best behaviour, however, when entering

FORUM
Cupid's Lucky Arrows  (13+)
Role Playing Raffle - Supports 2 Groups - 1 in 14 Wins 5K!
#1971188 by Osirantinous


if you don't want to face a grumpy Cupid!

For your daily dose of inspiration:

FORUM
The Writer's Cramp  (13+)
Write the best story or poem in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPs!
#333655 by Sophy


Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the Twisted Raccoon


Feeling rebellious? Try

FORUM
Rebel Poetry Contest  (18+)
Open for March 2024
#2112615 by Warped Sanity


If you think you can be Mr. or Ms. Heartthrob Poet 2020, this is the place for you:

FORUM
Search for a WDC HeartThrob Poet   (E)
A contest for the heart season- (Poetry Contest) OPEN!
#2110571 by Samberine Everose


If, on the other hand, you did end up facing a grumpy Cupid, you can diss him here:

FORUM
The Bard's Hall Contest  (13+)
MAY Villanelle
#981150 by StephBee


If you have run out of things to say:

FORUM
No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED  (E)
Write a story containing no dialogue, in 700 words or less.
#2079495 by QPdoll


And if you're up for an early spring clean:

FORUM
The Lodestar Contest  (13+)
Looking for a guiding light. May 2024 round is open, looking for short stories.
#2130938 by Satuawany


If you need a place for your 18+, GC and XGC items there's

FORUM
Kit's Higher Ratings Contest  (18+)
A contest for items with a higher content rating.
#887621 by Kit


Last but certainly not least, don't forget

SURVEY
Journey Through Genres: Official Contest  (E)
Write a short story in the given genre to win big prizes!
#1803133 by Writing.Com Support


Good luck!


 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! *Smile*

Tip: "The Quills [ASR], 2019 Edition will enter its judging stage soon. If you would like to be a judge for any of the main categories, keep your eye on the newsfeed, as Elle - on hiatus will do a call-out for assistance. The genre categories, including the Action/Adventure category, are judged through a public poll/survey, so keep your eye out for those, too. Every vote is appreciated. Just remember that you cannot vote for yourself. *Wink*

Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,

The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team


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