105 Ways to Give a Book

Create. Connect. Comment.

Last year I decided on a mantra, rather than a resolution: Comment. Connect. Create.

I knew that commenting on blogs is a good habit, one that makes the community stonger. In connecting, I hoped to reach out to my friends, lest they become only Christmas Card friends. I wanted to write in a space other than my blog.

Halfway through the year, I checked in with myself. I found that I was doing a pretty decent job on my commenting, though one can always improve. Other than a trip to Las Vegas with my college girlfriends, I hadn’t connected much with my friends and planned to do better. As for creating, I had written articles, tried some poetry, and helped in our filmmaking projects. But not enough of a writing focus.

Now, at the end of the year, it’s time to revisit the theme for 2008.

Comment: I’d say that the Comment Challenge puts a big checkmark by this goal. I also now recognize that there are periods where I don’t have time to keep up with my blog reading and commenting as much as I’d like. For instance, the entire month of December. But by keeping the concept in focus and by bringing the idea to the attention of others, I’m keeping it relevant.

Connect: I did abysmally on connecting with my lifelong friends. However, I spent a lot of time with my extended family, particularly my niece. I also worked on connecting with my blogging friends, both online and off. I was a pretty constant member of the DC Kid Lit Book Club, even when we had to drive two hours away to visit with Jenni Holm. (Totally worth it.) I throughly enjoyed the Kidlitosphere Conference, enough so to organize it next year. (Gulp.) I don’t know if I can call this a draw, or an astute observation that you can’t fit everyone in your life at one time, regrettably.

Create: I did some creative, artistic, literary things, but I did not get as far as I’d hoped with this goal. I did write a picture book, pretty much just as the publishing industry came crashing down. I’ll come back to that project next year, for sure. I know that I have more to write, but I’ve been unable to make it a priority, to my own disappointment.

For 2009, I’m keeping my mantra, but I’m changing the order.

Create. Connect. Comment.

Will that change in word order help reset my priorities? Eh, maybe. And as Girl Scouts have a slogan and motto that are completely unrelated, I’m adding a blanket resolution to Get Organized in 2009. I’ve got the book and a growing irritation with living in chaos. Oh, and don’t forget the near certainty of time on my hands when budget cuts take my job away. Don’t worry for me; I’m looking at it as more of a sabbatical. I think I’m ready for 2009. How about you?

7 comments:

Franki said...

I have the same organizing book!? Too funny! I have one I really liked that helped me a ton once for about 6 months (and would have helped forever had I followed it..) called Living Organized by Felton. It helped me realized that being CREATIVE (:-) sometimes hindered my being organized. I should pull that off of my very full self-help book pile! Good luck with your goals! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I think that changing that prioritization is wise.

Happy new year, MR!

Judy said...

I don't have the book, but I should probably get it! I like your idea of creating a mantra rather than resolutions...will work on that today and see what I come up with. I know I don't comment enough, or even upgrade my own blog enough...so maybe that should be a start...and of course, writing would fit in there for me, too.

Have a good and blessed, organized year.

Jennifer Schultz said...

Ugh. Our director told us about other budget cuts in neighboring counties (we're having cuts too-no longer open on Sunday). Hang in there.

Cuppa Jolie said...

Love the matra! And I'm betting the change in order will make a difference.

Vivian Mahoney said...

I'm with you on the organizing..need to work on it big time!

Love your mantra and the order of it seems so right.

Have a wonderful year!

laurasalas said...

These are all big, ongoing goals, so it's not a failure at all to keep them (just in different order) for a second year. It's determination and commitment:>)

Sounds like you've made decent progress--and here's to a very create-ive 2009!