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Thursday, January 9, 2014

My Year of 40 ~ Beginnings

I’m impatient.

I’ve always wanted things to come easy—make the decision, come up with the idea, and voila!, there it is: Cellist. Book author. Famous blog personality. Interior designer. Well-educated children. World traveler. Business owner. Fluent Spanish. Fluent French. Phenomenal photographer. World-renowned public speaker [just kidding]…

It doesn’t really matter what the thing is, I just want to have the finished product manifest itself at the beginning of the journey. That’s not too much to ask, is it?

[Oh, heavens. I just typed “finished product” after typing “well-educated children.” That speaks volumes, doesn’t it?]

So, when I came up with my theme for my “Year of 40,” I fully expected to roll out the carpet on January 1st. Transformation complete. And the year just born, all pink and wrinkly.

The crux of the matter is, I have a slight issue with the whole productivity thing. With time-management. Self-management. It seems I may have to start at the beginning before I can end at the, well, end. (Yes, I’m slow on the uptake.)

To that end (or beginning), I’m starting my first 40 on Monday: Forty days of the Storyline Productivity Schedule to face my inability to structure my day and manage myself.

My first project will be completing the free week of life coaching by Donald Miller (author of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story) at Storyline (where you can also find the free download of the Storyline Productivity Schedule).

I’d love company (and accountability) on this journey. Would anyone be up for joining me in this challenge? I’ll be checking in here at Mt. Hope quickly at the end of each day with an update and something—a quote, a thought, an image, a video—to inspire and encourage.

Are you in?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd really love to join you. I'm writing my story down (the writing is my art) and learning to live it well as a gift back to Jesus. It's hard. I'd love to encourage you however I can to keep going on this journey, too!

Anonymous said...

Oops - sorry! That was me, Misha. : )

Unknown said...

Heidi,
I'm turning 40 this year as well (April). Count me in :)

Have you stumbled across Jeff Goins blog in your web wanderings? I've committed to the 500 word challenge (http://goinswriter.com/500-words/) ... so far so good ...

Heidi said...

Misha~ I am so excited for your writing project and I can't wait to read it. :) I love your voice and your vision!

Jennifer~ I didn't realize we are so close in age. I turn 40 on March 31st. :) Yes, I've stumbled across Jeff Goins. I follow him on fb and have one of his books on my tbr list.

As far as writing goes, I do think that writing is part of my art, but I feel deeply inadequate. I've had very little instruction and experience, and I don't have a specific vision for my writing. I'm not even sure where to start. I am going to do a writing challenge soon, but I have to figure out what I am going to be writing! Most likely it will consist of writing exercises similar to what my kids are doing (IEW and Lost Tools of Writing). Even my blog writing is lacking vision.

Anonymous said...

Count me in! I will be 39 this year and need a vision. I love your question, "What is my art?". I can completely relate, although, you truly have blessed so many people with telling your story through this blog already. I hope you find peace at the end of this journey!
Sarah, Little Rock

Annie Reneau said...

Oh my gosh, you described me perfectly. I have the hardest time managing myself and my time. I homeschool as well, and work as a writer and blogger, and I KNOW I can be more productive than I am. I just can't seem to grab hold of whatever it is—willpower, structure, self-discipline—that will help. I just signed up for the Storyline download. I may be joining you. :)

P.S. I think your blog is just beautiful. I've dropped by here for years to indulge in its loveliness. :) Keep it up!

- Annie

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Count me in, a home education mom.

Hannah said...

Just downloaded the free Storyline productivity planner, although I haven't looked at it quite yet. I was looking over the life-coaching thing too; have you taken the DISC test? I may do it, but I'll Google the free version. :-)

Heidi said...

Oh, I'm so excited to have friends along for the ride. Thanks for joining in, ladies!

Hannah~ I took a free DISC test (this one: http://www.123test.com/disc-personality-test/index.php), and I felt that it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know from the Myers-Briggs personality typing, which, as you know, I'm rather fond of. :) I'm certain I can use what I know about myself (and the people around me) from MB and apply it when needed.

Unknown said...

Hai! How goes the productivity schedule?

I know those feels about "desperately awkward" and "deeply inadequate." In that, you're not special, snowflake ;)

But to give a little push-back, I disagree your blog lacks vision. Go back and look at your header, sweets. Living. Lovely. All your posts are that. About real life. In all its crazy, nutball awesome loveliness. {{hugs}}}