Jun 8, 2010

How do you celebrate the small victories?

I am not gonna lie. Tuesday came out of nowhere. Without this new schedule I probably would have gone until next Tuesday without posting.  Another not-gonna-lie moment: i have nothing to say.  This weekend completely burned me out with the funeral and traveling and my dad's 60th and more traveling and school starting yesterday.  Oh, yeah, classes officially started yesterday! I am looking forward to learning. I really am.

Without sweating the small stuff, I am celebrating the small victories of my new WiP (I wonder how long I am going to refer to it as the new WiP, let's end now). So, I am celebrating the small victories of my WiP for one reason: I tend to forget the breakthrough and celebrating it is just a way for me to remember. Any suggestions for celebrations? I could take a shot of vodka every time*. Or what do you do?  How do you officially celebrate the small victories. On the flip-side, how do you push past the small stuff?

Alright, I'm out. How d'ya like the short post?!

*If I am really plastered when you chat with me, it must've been a really good day!

16 comments:

  1. Yay, Tuesday - Jon Day! and Yay for small victories! I am super boring when I celebrate. I'll have a victory, and jump up and down and shout HOORAY! And then sit back down and keep on chugging away at my WiP. Yeah, not exciting at all. But I like the vodka shot one. Good idea :)

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  2. Usually when I have a small personal victory I either a) give myself a back rub or b) find someone who owes me one and get a few minutes outta them! I cary the weight of the world on my shoulders, and the instant relief I get from a quick back rub makes the next leg of the journey a little easier.

    I can honestly say I'd get too drunk and not be productive if I was sipping vodka all day. However, I did make mac and cheese half uner last night, and all I can say is it's good my knife wasn't too sharp. Cutting onions while you're sloshy in the brain is not a good mix. So if you take the vodka rout, be careful :)

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  3. Small victories...usually I get really spontaneous. For example, if I write over 500 words, sometimes I'll just randomly take my kids out for ice cream. Or I'll go to the park. Or I'll just take a bubble bath in the middle of the day.
    As far as pushing past the small stuff, I just have to stay focused. I've made myself a goal-at least 500 words a day. That way it keeps moving. That way I maintain my focus!

    I hope you get totally tanked today Jon :-)

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  4. I have a bad habit of not celebrating the small victories...and sometimes not the large ones either, lol. As for pushing past the small stuff, I tend to just muscle through it. In a WIP, I'll often just force myself to write anything, no matter how bad, that will move me past the trouble spot and continue on. Then I can take the time and allow my mind to work on the trouble spot in its own time.

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  5. I like to celebrate small victories with chocolate. But, then again, chocolate is good for large victory celebrations/sad moments and anything else I decide is worthy. lol.

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  6. I don't really know how I celebrate the small things, maybe just by not stressing about it for an hour or two. And I like Lindsay's suggestion about chocolate, that would work for me :)

    I'm glad you're celebrating the small stuff with your new WIP, and that things are going better for you. Good luck with school, you'll do great!

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  7. So, so glad to hear you're writing!! That's a super victory. And school starting up? Another major Yahoo moment!! Now if you can continue without major stress, I'd be throwing a party, guy. Sounds like you've managed to turn a difficult week into one filled with positives, too.

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  8. Hmm? Good question. I don't think I'd do it with vodka. More likely wine, but that would get old. M&Ms? not really my kind of thing. Broccoli stems? Cabbage? Tweeting? Music? Stickers? Frozen yogurt?

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  9. I'll sound like the biggest dork, but for a small at-my-laptop kind of celebration, I'll break for a cup of my best tea. If it's a major minor victory, I'll take myself to a cafe or rewatch an episode of Glee. If it's a major major victory I'll take myself to a movie. The "take myself" part is key. No partner, no friends. I don't want to worry about what another person is thinking about the film and I get to eat all the popcorn. Jon, please don't ban me from your blog b/c of my dorkiness.

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  10. I like the Practice Room, because I feel that my reward is chatting with you all after I write. Though I still chat even if I'm not productive :).
    I have rewarded myself with chocolate before...
    I'm a lightweight, so a few shots of vodka would make me super silly!

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  11. I think it's just important to celebrate. The way to get through is to celebrate the little steps. I like Kelly's idea of chocolate. Yum.

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  12. The small victories are the best to celebrate. The big things...well, they are just too surreal sometimes and you spend all your time not believing that they are true.

    Be spontaneous!! Do what you feel. Eat, Drink, and BE MERRY!

    Shelley

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  13. Glad the new posting schedule is working for you! I use small victories as motivation to keep going. And I try my hardest to ignore the bad stuff. Doesn't always work though.

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  14. Sometimes I reach my right hand over my shoulder and pat myself on the back. Good job! I tell myself. I do this a lot after running. I'v eonly had vodka once, and I puked afterward. Never again!

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  15. Wow--for someone who claimed he didn't have much to say, you sure had much to say! I agree about small victories--I usually forget about them five minutes later. But the good is--we can always re-evoke them! I enjoyed your post!

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  16. Hmmm. Chatting with friends I think is my reward. Maybe I have to come up with something bigger. J--why don't you come up with some rewards for me, and I'll come up with some rewards for you. I do have my eye on some new boots for when I get an agent. But that's not a small victory...

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:D