I called everyone today to help me celebrate my win. It is done, and my second book is finally in the hands of the publisher. It felt good to talk to the people in my life that support and encourage me. They are excited and congratulate me, and this drives me forward to the next goal and the next task. Call your tribe, make a coffee date, drop them a text or an email, and celebrate your win. It does not matter how big or how small it is, celebrate it.
It has been a long process and I am filled with emotions. My wonderful partner and sister help me to understand why I am so emotional. I have poured my heart and soul into my book, I Saw an Angel Today, and it is going to print at last. This book has been in my head for over fifteen years and in my laptop for over two years. I am probably one of the most impatient people I know, and I cannot tell you how many times my sister has sweetly whispered in my ear, “enjoy the process.” Many times, I have told her she is lucky she lives almost four hours away or I would come over and “enjoy the process” of kicking her butt, however she has been absolutely right. Just don’t tell her I said that. She has helped me to slow down, be grateful for every step of the process and celebrate every win. There have been many little wins to celebrate.
Today as I celebrate the wins over coffee with my partner and sister-in-law, they help me to remember all the small wins that got me to this amazing finish line. I feel like I just won a gold medal in an Olympics and I am on top of the World. It will be hard to remember what they are saying so I am writing them down. I think this is a good practice and at the finish line you could pull out your wins and reflect on all the amazing things you have accomplished. My list starts with just writing a few stories about the people I know well and how they have made a difference in my life or in other peoples lives. Then I started putting my short stories into sections which eventually became chapters. Along the way I read almost every story to my partner and received the love and encouragement I needed along the way. Sometimes I would send people in my tribe a copy of a story or talk about it over a coffee or lunch date. More celebrations, more love, more encouragement, appreciation, and energy to keep working towards my goal. I talked about my process with anybody and everybody who would listen and grew my tribe at the same time. I also would be energized and grateful for them and in the process, I would see more Angels doing more wonderful things for people and another story would be born. At the end of every chapter we would celebrate again, driving me on to complete the next chapter and the one after that. Loving every minute of the process.
If I could pass on any insightful advice about writing and even setting and achieving goals, it would be to remember to celebrate every win. Every time you feel wonderful for something you have accomplished. Maybe cleaning out a closet, finishing a chapter in a book you are trying to read, walking or running an extra mile, not eating junk food or sweets this week, finishing a letter to a friend, or finishing that story, that chapter, and eventually that book. Celebrate every win. You will achieve more, feel wonderful, and eventually make it to that Olympic finish line. Celebrate and “enjoy the process.”
