My word of the year and changes in the blog

2015 has been quite a learning year for me. 2015 always be the first time I realized that I’m not young anymore, the first time I had to go see the doctor again after a physical, the first time that I’m faced with the fact that I don’t wear a red cape and that I’m not immortal.  So my word of the year reflects my understanding that I have to do better for myself by making sure that instead of rushing through things, or overly worrying about the future, I need to take time and experience Joy while I am in the moment.

It’s going to be a tough one. I’m pretty hard headed. I have a lot of pressures in my life. But clearly I have to find a way to deal with these pressures so that I can experience joy on a much more regular basis. I must do better. For example, most folks know that when authors release a book, they mark the occasion in some way. Maybe they have dinner with their families or buy a special piece of jewelry to mark the occasion and make it special.

So, what did I do to mark my three releases this year in the “Migration of the Heart” series?

Nothing.

What did I do for myself after I won two awards this year?

Nothing.

Any celebration after the 4.5 star review from RT magazine?

Nope.

That is a shameful record. I have got to do better.  Even if the people in my life don’t see or understand my accomplishments, I have to see them, acknowledge them and not downplay them as if they didn’t matter.  Because they do.

So, you may have heard, The Representative’s Revolt, the third book in my Milford series, released the other day.  And yes, so far I’m keeping up with my old record of doing nothing. I’m racking my brain to think of what I can do to commemorate the occasion. It’s hard because I’m such a nerd. I don’t wear jewelry, I don’t like fancy restaurants because I always feel as if I can make it better (and cheaper), and I’m allergic to flowers. But I will do something. Feel free to hold me accountable.

My blog will change a bit in 2016, so that I keep these lessons in front of me. (I told you I was hard headed).  The first blog of the month, which will still appear on the second Sunday, will be focused on someone who might have learned this lesson about self care the hard way.  The second blog of the month will still focus on the historical knowledge I’m researching for my novels. At other points in the month, I may still post about something worth reporting about myself, as I have been doing. But 2016 is a year where I become a student, and I’m determined to get the lesson.  And en(joy) the learning process.

Thank you so much for your support and a Happy New Year to you all!