In a recent post WordServe agent Rachelle Gardner provided statistics in review of her year. WordPress also sent out the stats for our WordPress blogs. I took note of mine but they didn’t tell me much I didn’t already know… that the number of readers here has steadily increased and the most popular posts are writing-related. My busiest day of the year was December 3rd with 146 views. The post that day was Writers Don’t Learn Writing By Writing. The second most read post was way back last January: Getting the Gears in Motion .
There’s been a flurry of year end and New Year activity as we all take stock, evaluate, decide on new directions and fresh starts. Me? I’m more of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. I was relatively content last year. I accomplished much of what I set out to do and enjoyed the doing. Yes, there are still unachieved goals as I continue my pursuit of publication, but they don’t require a major change of direction. They just require patience and persistence.
Taking stock isn’t a sedentary thing. I’m tuned in to God, listening, looking for direction. But I’m not marking time. I’m continuing to write, revise, and work at the craft. Staying active. Exercising my abilities. Even when I sometimes feel stalled I am moving ahead because I know God is there, ready to lead if I will follow.
Did you do year end stock taking? What did it reveal about your progress? Is it causing you to continue on the same path or head out in a new direction?
MUSINGS 
You are so right that if we keep moving along the path we know, acknowledging Him at all times, He will guide us. Your blog is a fount of wisdom. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I’m moving in the direction of making changes. I don’t know why I move so slowly. Intention takes too long to turn into action. I feel overwhelmed with things to do that require time. I must organize and prioritize. Blessings to you, Carol.
I was recently reminded that if we always do what we’ve always done then we can expect to get the same results we’ve always gotten. Sometimes that’s not a bad thing. But desired changes require different action. I’m a list maker so your “organize and prioritize” hit a familiar note for me. Occasionally I make a list of several chores that need doing. I include big tasks and small, pleasant and arduous, and then tell myself I have to cross off at least one each day for the next week. Sometimes it works; other times I only complete the easiest tasks, but I always have a sense of accomplishment that I’ve crossed off several items, and the better I feel, the more likely I am to dig in and try to get more done. I hope you’re soon able to make progress on your changes.
I haven’t looked. I think the next book has my head in the sand. I agree tho, if it’s not broken don’t fix it. I am way too sensitive for my own good, so not paying attention to stats is my way of not dishing myself. Make sense?
Makes perfect sense to me. 🙂 Stats can be a good evaluation tool, but when it comes to this blog I enjoy doing what I’m doing here, so right now I don’t really care what the stats say. A ‘head in the sand’ approach works just fine.
Guess for the time being I’m staying on the same path. I’m rather content at the moment, actually. 🙂 I’m not even going to wonder how long that feeling will last..
Contentment is underrated! We don’t always need to be “striving”, do we? I think this post was more about talking myself through a current disappointment — the Plan A versus Plan B thing — than convincing myself that any major change is needed.
I love this post. One of the reasons, I’m always competing with myself. And comparing what I’ve written. And always asking myself, could I do better? Of course I can. So, I constantly read books on our craft, read what other writers, write. My Grandmother’s words sometimes come back to haunt me. She used to tell me all the time, “you are way too hard on yourself.” Why did this agent reject me, why did this publisher reject my work? And so it goes.
I love your comments about Patience and persistence. How true is that? And what great advice.
When I finally realized a few years ago to stop the competition with myself, (how many hits today) my life took on a new beginning. It’s not my clock that I need to worry about. God has the perfect plan for me.
I can beat myself up everyday about goals, but when it comes right down to it, I need to be Patient and persistent. Be still and know I am God. And above all else, He’s in control.
Thanks for this beautiful reminder, Carol. You rock!
I think there has to be a balance between self-evaluation, criticism and learning but it can be hard to find. When we put ourselves and our intentions into God’s hands it’s easier to do our best and leave the rest up to him.