Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Delighted

Delight is what you experience when something greatly pleases you. When you are delighted, you feel great pleasure.

Now, doesn't that sound just lovely?

I am absolutely delighted when I have a butterfly cross my path in greeting as I venture to my local park on my walk. Seeing a mocking bird on a top-most tree branch, trilling in a way only he can do, delights me. I stop and smile, thrilled with the joy that erupts with his sweet sounds.

I am delighted when my grandboy says a new word or laughs heartily, needing to catch his breath or when he takes steps and knows he's a big boy when he does so.

Delight finds my heart when I am laughing with my family because someone says something unexpected. Those are the best moments.

I experience delight when I see something that is vibrant and colorful; and then I want to paint it.

My art journal delights me since it gives me the opportunity to put my soul on the page, choosing whatever color suits me at the moment, stamping a meaningful word/message, and designing to my heart's content. And it lifts my spirit all at once in a way nothing else does.

My written journal often delights me when I can describe something fabulous I experienced or a great idea I've just come up with that excites me.

My connection with Spirit is a great source of delight to me; I am often surprised by the sense of humor, the relaxing elixir God's presence and powerful energy becomes to me. I don't take that for granted; it is a gift to my soul.

What delights us speaks worlds about who we are and what really matters to us. What delights us can often trigger delight in another; and when that happens, a relationship/friendship is sometimes created due to the resonation of what we love and why.

When we focus on what delights us, either by being in the moment of that delight and relishing it fully, or telling a friend or loved one about that delightful experience we had, or by writing it down so we can relish it in the re-telling and even in the re-reading at a later time, that delight becomes something that we carry with us, that becomes a part of us deep in our hearts.

Which only sets the stage for more delight, for more deep understanding of our authenticity, our creativity, our purpose.

Pay close attention to what delights you.

As the Professor in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe once said to Peter and Susan, brother and sister in the story, when they came to speak with him about Lucy: "Why, I am absolutely Delighted to be interrupted. Otherwise, life would only be work and study, no FUN at all."

Don't forget that what Delights Refreshes.

© 2013 by Dawn Herring

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Three Steps Toward Accountability...to Yourself (as published in SFC Newsletter, Dec 08 edition)

Accountability: to give a reckoning or explanation for one’s actions, responsible.

When most people think of accountability, they often negatively associate it with answering to others, such as a spouse, a friend, a mentor, or, in most cases, a boss. As a writer, you are your own boss, which is one of the reasons that you need to be accountable to yourself. And it can be a positive experience rather than a negative one.

The first step in being accountable to yourself as a writer is setting goals for your writing and keeping track of projects you want to finish. Incurring a deadline for yourself can help
motivate you in this area. This step can also include daily writing goals. Some authors plan how many words or pages per day they will write.
I’ve set goals for myself as a writer by making them reachable and attainable. This year I have set a goal to write at least one scene for my novel per week and at least one other piece,
whether it be memoir or essay, per week. That can mean just making notes, writing a first draft, or revising a draft.
As long as your goals keep you moving forward and you’re making progress, then you know you’re headed in the right direction.

Once you have your goals set, the next step in accountability to yourself is writing down what you accomplish each day. You can use a daily calendar just for writing or keep track of your
daily accomplishments on your computer. I designed a custom monthly writing calendar. It helps me track what I write daily, whether or not I’ve met my goal for the week, and it has
space for ideas for future writing pieces. I also have a spot to keep track of books I’m reading for that month. I use abbreviations to keep the daily writing easier and to save space. As I review each completed month, I can go back to see what I’ve accomplished and keep track of when I wrote each piece.
Whether you use something pre-made or customize something for yourself, use whatever works for you and helps you stay accountable to yourself.

A third, and perhaps most important, aspect in accountability in your writing is taking care of yourself as a writer. Than can mean giving yourself space and not being hard on yourself if
you don’t reach your goals each day or each week.
Flexibility and refreshment are paramount to your health as a writer. It also frees up your creativity and can actually help you produce more quality writing in the long run.
I enjoy writing in my journal, reading fiction or memoir, and watching a good movie with my family. Taking a walk, listening to music, talking with your family members, and just taking time to sit and enjoy life are all ways you can be good to
yourself—and ultimately accountable—as a writer.

Learn to celebrate your accomplishments and your uniqueness as a writer. That’s one of the best ways to be accountable—to yourself!