Monday, August 10, 2015

Motivational Monday


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. 

31 comments:

  1. 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.

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    1. It's so easy to get caught up in instant gratification, especially in today's world.

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  2. You're so right, we need to celebrate all the victories - not just the big ones. Every little step counts.

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    1. I don't celebrate nearly as much as I should. Must remedy that! :)

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  3. And the seeds we plant could be in other people.
    We always worry about production, but sometimes it's not about that at all.

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  4. I love that! Some things take time to show results. If we give up after one day, then those results will never happen.

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    1. So often the things that are the most worthwhile are the things that take the most time. :)

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  5. I do get angry with myself for wasting time and energy. You always have something inspiring to say.
    Susan Says

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    1. Thank you, Susan! I appreciate that. :)

      I think a lot of us beat ourselves up way too much. We're so hard on ourselves.

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  6. Seeding is one thing, but nurturing what you started is what will bring the rewards.

    People give up too soon. I'm guilty myself, wishing things would progress faster.

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    1. You're right about the nurturing. So often we forget to do that and things just fade away.

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  7. All the time! I have to remember that the little things count and make a difference just as much as the big things do. :)

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  8. Always 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).
    All of this, so true! I've planted seeds and while I might not get time to tend to them anymore today, I will tomorrow :)

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    1. "Enough" is a tricky, tricky word, one I often struggle with defining. Let's try not to be too hard on ourselves. :)

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    2. Will do, you too! :)

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  9. glad i stopped by - i needed a little encouragement! thanks!

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  10. Agree! I have to remind myself of this often.

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  11. Sometimes 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.

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    1. I think that's the trick - having the patience to wait and see what happens, to see what grows.

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  12. Thanks, Madeline! I needed to hear this today.

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  13. I 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.

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    1. Those pages really do add up!

      I'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. :)

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