geralt PD, via Pixabay
I love the New Year. It’s a fresh start for anyone and everyone, and we can all use a clean slate to start from once in a while. I’m no exception.
2012 was a hard year for me as many of you know. The one thing that has been hanging over my head the most is my lack of self discipline with my exercise regimen. I had lost 70lbs and gained so much lean muscle that I had almost completely eliminated my risk of type II diabetes. But because of my husband’s injury and loss of work, I haven’t worked out in months. I haven’t gained the weight back, but I’ve lost the majority of the muscle. It took me 18 months to get where I was, and only about 3 months to lose it.
What really pisses me off? The self discipline I had is completely gone. I was getting up at 04:00 every morning before work and working out for 3 hours. What he hell happened to me?
That’s what really f@#$ing pisses me off.
But it’s a New Year.
In order to take advantage of the beautifully clean slate, as I said in my earlier post, I’m taking this blog in a new direction which means the blog will not only have a new look, it will also have a new voice, and I intend to make it mine.
And I love to curse.
They say you have to find your “blogger voice.” I’ve found this a bit difficult because of fear. Fear of what people may think of me, fear that people may not read my blog, fear that I might come across as a bad person, you name it, I feared it.
Fear can be paralyzing.
But, my blog needs to be me, and I need to be myself. If people don’t like it, they don’t have to read it, right? Sugar-coating and no foul language is just not me, and that’s a major reason I didn’t keep up with the blog in the past.
Let’s just say it’s going to be a bit grittier…
Why am I telling you this? Because it’s one of my goals for 2013 of course! No, cussing more is not a goal…
Mommy Writings by Daughter of Maat 2013 Goals
I want this blog to be a haven for women who are going through similar trials and tribulations and you know what? Damn it, we cuss when life throws us curve balls. We also cry, become depressed and feel like we’re ready to give up.
Been there, done that.
But this is my life. I’m not about to let anyone but me (maybe my hubby) tell me how to live it. I want to share that sense of determination with other WAHMs who maybe feeling the way I did just a few short weeks ago.
So my blog goals for 2013 include:
- Blog Daily – or at least 6 times a week
- Read more blogs and get to know my fellow mommy bloggers – I really need to stop being antisocial!
- Comment as often as possible on blogs I really enjoy reading (most of which involve cussing…lol)
- Be more active with the Bloppy Bloggers FB group that I adore! (Love you guys!)
- Incorporate more personal anecdotes as examples for other WAHMs – and I have quite a few…
- Plan my blog diligently – I already printed out the calendar and if you want an awesome blog planner, you can download it by clicking on the picture to the right
Of course I have a multitude of personal goals to work on as well. Although, I’m not quite finished planning those, here are a few of the things I’m planning to work on:
- Get back to my regular exercise routine
- Get back on my diet
- Take more pictures!
- Catch up on my scrapbooking and scrapbook more often
- Finish the crochet blanket and cross stitch projects I’ve been trying to finish for the past year
- Get the maintenance done on the car
This is what I’m currently using to plan my goals for 2013
- Systematically go through all of our belongings and get rid of the things we don’t need or love
- Plan, plan, plan
I have quite a few more, but that’s just what I have written down at the moment. Like I said I’m still working on all of my goals for the year. I’ve been working on the steps to reach the goals as well which is why it’s taking so freakin’ long.
I also have several writing goals that I’ll be working on including:
- Finish the HP apprenticeship (this is month 6 WOOHOO!!)
- Continue building my brand
- Write more frequently for Knoji
- Work on getting more clients
As you can see, I’ve got quite a bit planned for this year. I didn’t set any goals for 2012, and I’m surprised I accomplished as much as I did. I need to have a set plan, otherwise I have no direction. And when I have no direction, I get completely lost, depressed and become nothing but a pile of couch potato goo. Yes, that’s a technical term.
So I wish everyone a VERY happy 2013! And I’m looking forward to watching this new year unfold. Until tomorrow!
DOM, you have made some excellent goals and I hope you master each and every one of them! Looking forward to seeing all the awesome things you do with 2013!
Thanks Terrye! I hope I can accomplish all of those goals!! I think the blog will help keep me on track though because I know all of my followers will hold me accountable… Just be gentle Terrye lmao 😀
I totally agree with you on the blogger voice. You have to be yourself. It’s hard to maintain that, I’m finding. I like your blog calendar planner. Do you have a blogging planner that will write the posts for you? That’s what I really need. Ha!
It is hard to not only find your blogger voice but keep it as well. I think planning posts might help with that, but I’ll let you know lol. I have not found a planner that writes the posts for me yet, but as soon as I find one, I’ll end you the link lmao. That would make life so much easier. There is a wordpress plug in calendar that will allow you to schedule your posts by dragging and dropping them on the calendar… I’m going to try that actually… 😀
Wow, the drag and drop would be cool. I’m on Blogger, so I can’t do it. Meh. However, I printed the blogging calendar out and I think it will help me get organized. The social media part is where I’m struggling. It just takes up SOOOOO much time!
I know what you mean! Twitter is easier for me than FB. But both sites take up SO much time. And forget Pinterest, I can’t even get to it! Social media makes it difficult to get any blog writing done, let alone any other writing!
You sound like you’re off to a great start…loved your goals and your new resolve to be yourself on your blog. I believe that’s the key to a successful blog – you can’t pretend to be someone you’re not. Once you find your true voice, you’ll thrive. You’re definitely on your way! (and btw, I curse too…:))
Thanks Emily, I have to give my hubby credit for pushing me to be myself. He reminded me that if I don’t enjoy writing it, what’s the point. (and I have to admit your blog helped put me at ease about cursing! :D)
I love that you are being yourself here (I curse, too so seriously bring it on, lol!) and believe you will go really far. I can’t wait to see it as happens and truly am excited for you. Happy New Year Melissa!!
Gritty is good. I think we all go through this, when we begin writing publicly–we want to attract a wide array of people, we don’t want to alienate anyone… but that makes for boring and artificial writing. May you have an exciting 2013.
Thanks Marzena. I agree. I was really afraid of alienating people and that I wouldn’t have any readers. But if it’s not fun, and I don’t enjoy it, no one else will either! Happy New Year to you, and many blessings for 2013!
excellent goals… (remember goals can be used as a way to make sure you do not stray too far from your intended path, as opposed to each and every literal one). and….and! as one who has used goals and such, be sure to give yourself credit as you hit the marks… is way too easy for some us to notice the shortcomings to the exclusion of where we do something new and better!
good luck
Thank you Clark! I know exactly what you mean about praising myself for actually hitting a goal. I’ve been guilty of not doing that and it just kills your motivation.
DOM, don’t be too hard on yourself, all of us struggle with exercise/nutrition routines, and sometimes you just need a break. Regardless, 70lbs? Wow, good for you! All your goals seem great for 2013, best of luck!
I know I shouldn’t be too hard on me, but sometimes I just can’t help it you know? And you’re right, I may have just pushed myself too hard and I need a break. I’m having a hard time getting myself motivated to work out again though… It’ll be a huge accomplishment when I do though!
I’ve never used a blog planner. Maybe I should check it out. Do you find it helpful?
By the way, I am highly disappointed that there wasn’t a swear word in the post. You’ll have to do better than that next time. 🙂
lol I’m sorry, I’ll make sure I add a few in the next post to make up for this one! lmao. I do find the planner helpful actually. Right now I’m planning a few guest posts, and let me tell you, I’d be all confused if I hadn’t written all this down! I’ve noticed using the planner also makes it easier for me to come up with new ideas, I don’t know if that’s because my mind is clearer because I’m writing it all down or what, but it works!! 🙂