How did this past year go so fast? I’ve had enough birthdays to enjoy giving presents as well as receiving them and what a better 
time to do it than while celebrating another year of possibilities.
I love having a birthday in January because it’s the month of resolution making and breaking. The month for thinking ahead with hope of what the year might bring. The month when many things seem possible for each of us.
This year I picked my one word to help me focus for the rest of 2014. It’s kind of scary. I chose: DISCIPLINE.
“Keeping a journal is a good discipline for a writer.” This was one of the examples at Merriam-Webster. I like this use of discipline.
And then there was this:
1: to punish or penalize for the sake of enforcing obedience and perfecting moral character
I like the following much better.
2: to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control
So how can we discipline ourselves to achieve our goals and make it fun? I think it’s possible. So all I want for my birthday this year is your comments on how to make discipline fun.
Here’s a few links of interest I think can help.
- Turn Temptation Into Discipline
- 10 Disciplines for Fiction Writers
- Rules, Discipline, and the Paradox of Creativity
- “The Inflexible Routines”
Let’s get away from punishing ourselves and focus on gaining good stuff through our ability to do healthy things like, “Keeping a journal is a good discipline for a writer.”
My first step so far has been finding an accountability partner. And this year it will be my buddy Vicki Cato who writes Civil War romance fiction. This way we can build each other up and get the job done.
So leave a positive thought about how we can strive to have discipline in any area of our lives, just not in our writing lives, and you will be in the drawing. Feel free to share the word you chose this year too. Here’s what I’m offering you in celebration of my birthday on Jan. 11th.
I’ll be giving away five copies of my novels. You’ll have a chance to win your choice of, Secrets of the Heart, Chameleon, Mystery of the Heart and also two Amazon Gift Cards each worth $10.00. I’ll keep this going through midnight Pacific time on my birthday on Jan. 11th and post the winners on Jan. 12th. Void where prohibited as usual and all that stuff.
This week in Cincinnati we’re expecting a lot of Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr temps.
May God bless you with a wonderful year. Now, let’s have some fun and stay warm.
Jill
My word for the year is JOY. Will it be as difficult to find joy in every situation this next year as it was to discipline myself? I hope not as I didn’t do a very good job in that area last year. It’s good to have an accountability partner. Keeps you on your toes. Stay warm.
Hi Martha,
Thanks for joining in my birthday bash!
I think Joy will be easier than discipline but I’m hoping to find a little joy in my discipline.
Jillian,
My word for this year is “decrease.” I need to decrease my weight but also myself and allow Christ to be more in me.
As far as discipline, I need to focus on getting my daily word count done earlier so that I have more time to get the other things done that I need to do.
We set a record low of -2 today. That’s over 30 degrees lower than it should be. Stay warm!
Hi Vickie,
And it’s currently 8 here so that feels like a heat wave. Of course it feels like -7. A trip to a tropical island sounds right about now.
Decrease is a great one. I’m thinking not only weight but for me it would also be to decrease that clutter. It seems to follow me.
Happy Birthday Jill,
Burr all over the states now even here in Ga, just not as cold as your area. Discipline needed in my life is to not save everything, let it go…give it away. I save everything and then later have mess to go through to clear it out. not quite a hoarder but can see myself headed that way.
thanks for sharing your birthday, I too have one this month but lot older then you my friend. so enjoy all you have they get away from from you quick.
Paula O
Hi Paula,
I hear what you’re saying about not saving everything. I dread mail. Everyday, like most of us I’m sure, I get so much junk mail, the snail mail kind. If I don’t deal with it immediately by the weekend it’s disaster.
Have a great Birthday yourself.
I think I will adopt your word discipline. Last year I started a journal to hold me accountable to writing fiction. The journal also served as a record and a reminder of things I needed to get done on my book.
I’ve been lax in my writing the last few months, thank you for holding me accountable. 2014 will be a great year!
I’m looking forward to us holding each other accountable in 2014, Vicki. I think the journal idea is good as well. Let’s get the goals accomplished together this year. We can do it!
Happy Birthday, Jill!
My word is “Press”…as in Paul’s word to “press onto the goal…”
And there are so many! I need to spend more time in my prayer life
for others; and add an extra hour to my writing and also critique work, with my partners. I see the possibilities and know I can do better. I’m from Michigan Jill and I know what you’re dealing with in that snowy state….but it’s so beautiful; we’ve had 30′ weather in FL and it’s finally warming up. I hope you do too, soon! Blessings, Diane
Hi Diane,
Enjoy the Florida sunshine, I’m a native born Floridian. May have to go back there some day but for now I’m happy in Cincinnati, unless it’s cold.:)
Love your word, “press,” as related to Paul. I hope you find the ability to get those extra hours. Wish I were one of those people that didn’t need much sleep, but alas I need a good 8 hours to function well. The frigid weather finally started to lift around Thursday. Today we were in the 40′s, a heat wave!
Thanks for helping me celebrate my birthday.
Blessings,
Jill
Happy Birthday, Jill!
I love how you’re celebrating your birthday by giving gifts to others!
A thought on discipline? For me, I often think of discipline as this huge task I have to heave onto my shoulders, rather than realizing discipline is really one small step forward … one right choice … one action leading to another … and that makes the change in my life.
And yes, I’m a one-word woman! This is my ninth year focusing on one word and the word for 2014 is THINK. I’m memorizing Romans 12:1-2 and ensuring I’m anchoring my thoughts in His Word.
Hi Beth,
I like this, “discipline is really one small step forward … one right choice … one action leading to another … and that makes the change in my life.”
THINK-another great word. I love hearing about the words chosen by others for the year. So much we can learn from each other in the process.
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
Vickie McDonough- $10 Amazon gift card.
Beth Vogt – $10 Amazon gift card.
Everyone else the left a comment on this blogpost gets their choice of books from the Ravensmoore Chronicle series. They can be read as stand alones or you can start with the first book in the series, Secrets of the Heart. If you’ve read them you can pass one on to a friend. Please send me your addresses. Vickie M. and Beth if you want me to send you your gift cards via e-mail just let me know.
Thanks for joining in my B-day celebration this year.
Blessings,
Jill
I used the random number generator to pick the gift card winners. http://www.random.org/
Oh shoot! Jillian, I’m too late to hope for a copy of one of your fabulous books. Our internet was out nearly a week due to the ice storm. So sorry I missed the boat…or was it the sled. landtbeth@yahoo.com
Hi Laurean,
Drop by The Christian Fiction Historical Society Blog on January 29th. I’ll be doing a give away over there and will have a link here to let everyone know.
So sorry about the ice storm. So dangerous.
Take care,
Jill