DON'T JUDGE EACH DAY
BY THE HARVEST YOU REAP
BUT BY THE SEEDS
THAT YOU PLANT.
(Robert Louis Stevenson)
Oh, I find this so easy to forget! Do you often look back on the day or the week and feel like you accomplished nothing? I do. I wonder where the time went. I scold myself for wasting effort and energy. I determine that I will be better, do better tomorrow.
And the truth is that while maybe we didn't accomplish anything huge or outstanding, we did set so many things - good things! - in motion. That line of dialogue jotted on a napkin might later become the lynchpin of a whole scene. The note of congratulations sent to a fellow author might result in a wonderful friendship. The passed up desserts, the extra treadmill time will show up in lower numbers on the scale, in smaller sizes in clothes.
Let's make a point today, this week, to look back and notice those seeds, to nurture them, to be proud.
Good point! We're all so obsessed with instant results these days, we forget that some great things take longer to come to fruition. I'll try to take your advice.
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to get caught up in instant gratification, especially in today's world.
DeleteYou're so right, we need to celebrate all the victories - not just the big ones. Every little step counts.
ReplyDeleteI don't celebrate nearly as much as I should. Must remedy that! :)
DeleteAnd the seeds we plant could be in other people.
ReplyDeleteWe always worry about production, but sometimes it's not about that at all.
Excellent point, Alex! Thanks for the reminder. :)
DeleteI love that! Some things take time to show results. If we give up after one day, then those results will never happen.
ReplyDeleteSo often the things that are the most worthwhile are the things that take the most time. :)
DeleteI do get angry with myself for wasting time and energy. You always have something inspiring to say.
ReplyDeleteSusan Says
Thank you, Susan! I appreciate that. :)
DeleteI think a lot of us beat ourselves up way too much. We're so hard on ourselves.
Here here!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteSeeding is one thing, but nurturing what you started is what will bring the rewards.
ReplyDeletePeople give up too soon. I'm guilty myself, wishing things would progress faster.
You're right about the nurturing. So often we forget to do that and things just fade away.
DeleteAll the time! I have to remember that the little things count and make a difference just as much as the big things do. :)
ReplyDeleteThose little things definitely add up! :)
DeleteAlways need to hear this. Even though I've done a lot today, I still feel I haven't done enough (mostly because I've only written about half of my thousand word goal and haven't edited at all).
ReplyDeleteAll of this, so true! I've planted seeds and while I might not get time to tend to them anymore today, I will tomorrow :)
"Enough" is a tricky, tricky word, one I often struggle with defining. Let's try not to be too hard on ourselves. :)
DeleteWill do, you too! :)
Deleteglad i stopped by - i needed a little encouragement! thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! :)
DeleteAgree! I have to remind myself of this often.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of us do....
DeleteI'll give it my best shot and let you know :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Elements of Writing
Go for it!
DeleteSometimes I don't see the fruits of my seeds until a long time after I've planted them, but it's quite nice when they finally show up.
ReplyDeleteI think that's the trick - having the patience to wait and see what happens, to see what grows.
DeleteThanks, Madeline! I needed to hear this today.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was helpful. :)
DeleteI LOVE this. SO true! There are days when I feel I accomplished nothing but I did write a page on my novel...and each of those pages adds up to the finished project. Even a day with one good idea is not a wasted day.
ReplyDeleteThose pages really do add up!
DeleteI'm trying to make sure I don't call any day "wasted" anymore. I'm trying to find the good and/or the good idea in every day. :)