Nov 15, 2011

Blog Chain: Greatest Accomplishment

This time around, Michelle Hickman, started the chain with this question:
This is the month in creating writing goals and making big accomplishments. What is your greatest accomplishment -- in writing, your life or perhaps something incidental that had a big effect on you?

Hmm.......

Er...............................

Uh........

Well.

My greatest accomplishment, thus far, was my decision to move out to the country to become a writer. That sounds so much more romantic than it actually was. Things have not been all that easy since I made that decision, but I am happier. Let's just say that if I got paid to be a self-saboteur, I'd be a millionaire.

As I work on my writing, I am also working on a degree in secondary education. My writing is both helped and hindered by my pursuit of a degree. I also work at a restaurant as a server. That was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. I spent the first 10 yrs of my working life refusing to work around food. I was scared to death of getting orders wrong, poisoning someone, or spilling burning coffee on some poor old woman (my family carries the clumsy gene in many, many ways.)

Working at the restaurant has given me so much confidence, even in my writing, but especially in my communication skills.

Where am I going with this?

I think I mean to say that sometimes, our greatest accomplishments do not look like finishing that big first draft, but instead are a small beginning to a grand end. That end is in sight, and it's not really an end, but yet another beginning.

There are other inspiring posts to check out! Go see Sarah's post from yesterday and tomorrow head to Christine's blog.

12 comments:

  1. Happiness and confidence are great accomplishments!

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  2. I love all this, but especially the server part. I truly believe we become stronger in everything, when we do the things we think we can't do.

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  3. P.S. Did you get that poem I sent you? Was it so bad you couldn't comment on it?

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  4. Wonderful post! Sometimes the small accomplishments lead us to greater things than just the big flash-in-the-pan deeds we accomplish.

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  5. Nice post, Jon. Sometimes it's just putting one foot in front of the other that is more powerful than the big stuff. :)

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  6. I agree--I think that the biggest accomplishment is simply to point our feet in the right direction and to keep taking steps. We'll get there eventually.

    And I love that you went out on a limb with the job. Sometimes I have to wonder why I really am avoiding something. And most times it has nothing to do with why I think I'm avoiding it. :) Keep on keeping on. We'll get there!!

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  7. I like the way you put this, Jon. Small beginnings are just as important as any beginnings.

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  8. I love this, Jon. You've made decisions that will get you to where you want to be. I'd say that's pretty darn good!

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  9. A small beginning to a grand end - YES! That is exactly what an accomplishment is. I'm impressed, proud and inspired.

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  10. Love this: "That end is in sight, and it's not really an end, but yet another beginning."

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  11. I am so impressed with your decision and the road you have taken to accomplish your goals! And I completely agree that often our biggest accomplishments are works in progress and happening day-by-day.

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  12. Ditto what Kate said. I love that your decisions, which can be seen as self-sabotage (man, can I relate!) are actually mini accomplishments because of where they've led you. There are so many ways to define success. I'm glad you're finding joy in what you're doing right now.

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:D