Just Do It

You may be surprised to discover that my Christmas tree taught me something. Yes, the tree is inanimate and other than being adorned with lovely ornaments that fill me with delight and nostalgia, it’s never been a teaching tool...until now.

Before I explain, let me give you some back story. Okay, that’s just wrong for a writer. Mary’s asking, “Where’s the explosion?” Well, this is not fiction, this is truth, the kind that creeps in on padded feet and requires some explanation.

I’ll start with my husband, a hard working, take-charge, get-er-done kind of guy who is unconcerned with details.

I’m, ah, well, different.   

I didn’t realize how different until we were taking the ornaments off our tree. He suggested we remove all the balls, put them on the couches and then box them. I nixed that idea as many of the balls are adorned with glitter. Glitter has a life all its own. Did you know you can never dispose of glitter? All you can do is to move its location. Usually that new location is my face. Have you ever tried to get glitter off your face? Enough said.

I suggested we take a box, find the right size balls of the same color that fit the holes, remove and box them. He muttered that would take longer but agreed. I’m happily traipsing around the tree in search of blue balls with silver tops, leaving the blue balls with gold tops for the next box when...

Can you see where this is going?

...I noticed my dh had lost his zeal for my method. I took this photo of his boxes. True, some balls had gotten broken over the years so my system isn't perfect. Still, this is the best he could do? Really?

I’ve been told I’m a perfectionist, but I always pooh-poohed the idea, knowing my desk is cluttered, my rubber stamping area is a mess, my spices are not alphabetized, not even in the same spot. Clearly I’m not a perfectionist.

What the tree taught me is I’m a tad...persnickety. At least about some things. Sadly, often things that don't matter. I wasn’t delighted with that insight but other instances came to mind that confirmed it, like my inability to relax in a room with a picture askew, my inability to set the table without spoons even when they aren't needed, my inability to write a rough draft without revising.

What to do?

It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Not that I’m canine. LOL I'm hoping my answer for getting hung up on the little things will be my word for 2013.

“Do.”

“Do” requires action. Action means moving about, getting things done. I chose the word because I need exercise. I need to handle more chores. That go-getter husband of mine steps in and fills the vacuum but who wants to be a kept woman?

Stop waving your hands! You know you wouldn't.

I’ve discovered I talk a good game, but instead of talking about something, I just need to do it. That sounds simple, but we know it’s not. I've failed at resolutions more years than I care to count. What I love about “Do” is it’s not specific. "Do" can encompass all kinds of goals, be they goals for better health, goals for serving and witnessing, goals for writing and promoting. Why the list is endless.

Being too picky about trivial things impedes action, slows me down and messes with productivity. "Do" is the antidote. I don’t expect to change who I am. "Do" may take me longer than it would take you due to my fussy nature, but the more I focus on "do" even if I have to fold the towels just so, I'll still make headway. 

I not only need to do more physical activity, I need to write more, write quicker. "Do" eliminates procrastination. "Do" eliminates getting stuck searching for the perfect sentence, perfect word, even the perfect plot. "Do" means forging ahead. Seeing that word count pile up. Maybe not as fast as some, but more than the norm for me. 
With "Do" as my guiding word, I expect to accomplish more this year.

Speaking of accomplishments, I'm thrilled to have a new Love Inspired Historical out in April and want to share the cover and blurb. The Bride Wore Spurs is my first book set in the West and I'm excited about the story! Who doesn't love a cowboy?

The Cowgirl Takes a Husband!

 To keep the Texas ranch she loves, Hannah Parrish will wed a man she doesn’t. Cowpokes won’t take orders from a young, single female. But while her exasperating neighbor Matt Walker jokes about her being a mere debutante, Hannah is a rancher to the core. Just like Matt.

“Will you marry me?” It’s a question widowed Matt never intended to ask again. Now spirited Hannah is asking him for a marriage of convenience! Yet whether she’s birthing a calf or caring for a young orphan, the tomboy next door is becoming the partner Matt always hoped for. Now he must convince her the greatest strength comes in trusting your heart to another—and your future to God.…

In case you missed my Fort Worth thrill of sitting on a longhorn, I’m sharing a picture of that too. I’m proud I didn’t just think about climbing aboard, I actually did it.

“Do” is a big word.

For breakfast I brought perfect cinnamon rolls slathered with icing, fresh squeezed orange juice, crisp but un-charred bacon and eggs sunny side up without one broken yolk. Persnickety in the kitchen makes for great food. LOL

Leave a comment for a chance to win an IOU copy of The Bride Wore Spurs. Tell us your word or resolution for 2013. If anyone struggles with obsessing over the small stuff, please share so I don’t feel so alone and weird. I suspect Grammar Queen is a tad obsessive, don’t you? Hoping she stops by with her antidote.