Write-Minded Woman
  • My Pith
  • About Me
  • What I Read

A Work in Progress

12/29/2013

15 Comments

 
perfection - the state of conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type
progress - a movement toward a goal to or to a further or higher stage
~ Dictionary.com
Picture
This year I made just one resolution: write weekly. I created this space to enable me to do that, and I did. Sort of. 

With this final post of 2013, I will have published 23 times. That's 23 weeks out of 52 possible weeks. Mathematically, I failed. However, while 44% is failure on a test score, this project isn't a test. It's a work in progress, and I'm proud I didn't give up when it was clear I would not get even close to a perfect publication score.

It may be obvious to others, but it only recently dawned on me that striving for perfection is incredibly stressful, and if perfection is reached, then what? On the other hand, making progress is fluid, allowing for celebrating accomplishments and learning from setbacks while addressing new challenges. Ironically, I encourage my students to focus on learning and making progress rather than grades - which are letters or numbers that don't tell the real stories. So why do I not practice what I teach? 

As I reflect on this past year, I can see some progress in areas that matter to me, and that is worth celebrating and building on. So, even though the list of things I want to do or change or improve keeps growing, I'm not making any new resolutions. Instead, I'm going to continue working in the areas where I've been making progress:
Picture
Picture
Picture
#recalibrate, #resolutions, #progress, #perfection
15 Comments
Shel Harrington link
12/29/2013 01:22:48 pm

Now there's a New Year's Resolution that makes sense!

Reply
Natine
12/30/2013 04:57:10 am

I'm not thinking of it as a "resolution," Shel. I prefer to think of building on progress as a "plan." I figure plans can be modified and changed if necessary! :)

Reply
Jill W link
12/30/2013 10:53:01 am

Making forward progress toward a goal is better than any resolution. I'm not a believer of resolutions. I make a decision to change or work on something and I just do it. Happy New Year, Natine!

Reply
Natine
1/1/2014 01:27:24 pm

Thanks so much, Jill! And happy new year to you and your family! :)

Reply
Sharla Fritz link
12/31/2013 03:19:11 am

Keep going Natine! I agree with Jill. Progress toward a goal is better than making a resolution. I think in addition to making goals or resolutions we also need to make list of what we did accomplish this year.

Reply
Natine
1/1/2014 01:30:20 pm

Oh my gosh, Sharla! It's like you're reading my mind! I was thinking that keeping an "accomplishment journal" of sorts would be a good thing. It's easy to list all the things we'd like to do, and even easier to forget how much we've done! Two great minds... :)

Reply
Dee Dee Chumley link
12/31/2013 05:27:03 am

Love this! I'm definitely in the "progress" camp. Not only is it "do-able," but it also suggests there is no end to our efforts to improve. If we achieve "perfection," what comes next?

Reply
Natine
1/1/2014 01:32:34 pm

I knew you'd be with me on this one, Dee Dee! I'm actually kind of stoked to see how much farther (further?) I can progress in each of those areas this year. Hope the enthusiasm will make it beyond the end of the week! Happy New Year! :)

Reply
Lisa Marotta link
1/1/2014 10:53:03 am

I like the motto "progress not perfection." It helped me finish many things I would have ditched otherwise. Love your blog- Keep writing!

Reply
Natine
1/1/2014 01:37:22 pm

Wow! Thanks, Lisa! Don't know why it took me so long to figure this out, but it's quite the perspective shift. Happy New Year! :)

Reply
cmk link
1/8/2014 05:00:07 am

I gave up making New Year's resolutions quite a bit ago. I realized that making a resolution, for me, was the kiss of death for whatever project, etc, I targeted. Now I'm just happy whenever I finally finish what I start, whenever it takes place. :)

Reply
Natine
1/11/2014 06:52:17 am

As usual, CMK, great minds are thinking alike. You think it might be an age thing? :D

Reply
cmk link
1/11/2014 09:20:17 am

I am finding, especially as I get older, that there IS something to thinking alike based on age. At this point in time, I REALLY can't wrap my mind around what the young'uns think. ;)

AnnieB
2/13/2014 07:01:13 am

Okay, so I am beyond fashionably late to this party. A newsletter from Kay White of Way Forward Solutions had this to say about resolutions (and I paraphrase).
Resolution: a firm decision to do or not do something; action of solving a problem, dispute or contentious matter. Take it apart, re-solution becomes a solution redone. You know when you say it there is a bit of resistence, something you should be doing as opposed to something you want to do. Something you've tried before and are trying again.
She advocates swaping 'res' for 'ev' which produces evolution, the gradual development of something. A word which has a different energy, a feeling of unfolding.
The idea resonated for me and fits with the direction of your thinking. Which brings me to my question. Does no new resolutions mean no posts in 2014?

Reply
Natine
2/16/2014 07:44:12 am

You're welcome to the party any time, and your contribution is terrific! Absolutely love the semantics and will be stealing it for future posting.

And I actually have a post ready to publish. I asked my "editor" to look at it since I've revised it a gazillion times. (My editor works for "thank yous." :) ) Thank you for asking and still reading!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    To Subscribe:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    WMW Soul Searching
    Write-Minded Woman

    Promote Your Page Too

    Archives

    July 2018
    January 2018
    July 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013