Sep 23, 2010

new motto, new direction, same old me

Lately, I feel like I have been deciding between two options, give up or live up to everyone else's expectations. Well, I realized the other day that there's a third option: live up to my own expectations. So, I have adopted a new motto. Of course, I could be setting myself up for failure if I have unrealistic expectations of myself. But there are my options: give up or live up.

I am opting out of nano again this year. I don't think I have the drive to attempt it. Give up.
I am grabbing my novel by the balls and writing fifty thou in one month. Live up.

There's no way I could crit ten books by the end of the year. Give up.
There's no way I'd miss the opportunity to learn from the brilliance around me. Live up.

I could never successfully complete a novel in second-person, it's an amateur mistake. Give up.
You are writing an awesome novel in second-person and you love it. Live up.

I hate my classes. Give up.
I love that I am still working hard in my classes. Live up.


so...

which will you choose?



and of course, we need a theme song


21 comments:

  1. JONNNNNNNNNNNNNY! Posts like this make my HAPPY! And not just because that video and song make me wanna get up and dance.

    YAY, live up!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love you.

    Congrats, J. Brilliant advice. I'm proud of you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love this! The song is perfect too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Live Up!! It isn't always easy to have a good attitude about life, so sometimes we just need to "fake it 'til we feel it"! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very profound of you. Also, great advice that more of us should internalize.

    I'm opting out of nano too, so I totally get you. *raises coffee cup* to #notnano

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great phrase, Jon!! That's gonna be bouncing around in my head for a while.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ooh, I like this a lot. Here's the thing. You can only ever do what you can do. So I like how you're making your own expectations. I think it's okay to give up some things and live up to others. So go you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey! That is a THEME VIDEO. Totally 80s and my original response was jeeze so OK Go to the vid and then it totally charmed me with all the references and that feel. Yep, I'm with you all the way! Let's sing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Whoa that video is freaky and psychedelic. I like it!

    I don't think giving up is a dirty word. But I do think LIVING UP to your potential is a beautiful thing. So YAY to living up to your OWN hopes and dreams and "W" to anyone else's.

    Go Jon!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh,I miss you!:) Love this. I'm glad you are doing this. We can only do what we can. I've realized this a couple of months ago--Hence my lack of commenting--sorry. A person can only handle so much and giving yourself realistic goals is awesome.
    You go. Miss ya.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love how you characterize it as "live up." I'm not giving up either. But it's okay not to try to do everything, like Nano. It's a lot with working & going to school. I've never done it either. This was a great, inspiring post. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for the thoughtful responses, guys! GIVE UP OR LIVE UP! seems to be working for me so far.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yay! Live it up.

    I was TOTES faced with the choice between sleeping or doing Nano this year. I CHOSE NANO. Mwhahahaha.

    WAIT. Hang on, let me ask Twitter Jon something.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love this post! It's okay to recognize that some things must be set aside so others can be fully embraced. That's living up! Great reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  15. OK, BACK from speaking to you. It was brilliant.

    Ahem.

    Right, so whatever you choose it will be goo *thumbs up* I'm actually doing Nano with the view that I'd rather try and fail than never try. But I WILL BE PROUD of you whatever you decide.

    This is because you are awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is excellent! Most awesome outlook! It makes me very happy and inspired.You totally rock.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've given up some things this year. I realize one cannot have or do it all.

    I've never done nano. I want to, but I don't want to stress myself out.

    ReplyDelete
  18. LIVE UP!

    I want t-shirts, bumper stickers, a float of dancers in a parade... or maybe I should just shut up and live up!

    The amazingness of Jon Arntson knows no bounds.

    ReplyDelete
  19. SMOG! How did I miss this post??!!! LOVE IT.
    LIVE UP!
    Goth you!

    ReplyDelete

:D