It’s That Time Again
Posted on: January 3, 2018
- In: Dreams | quotes
- 86 Comments
I hope 2018 has started out well for everyone! As is my habit, I sat on my terrace in the sun, took out a pen and paper and scribbled down my goals for the coming year. I feel I need to share them with you. So here they are
Darlene’s Goals for 2018
1. Finish Amanda in Holland -Missing in Action
2. Publish an anthology of short stories about growing up on the Canadian prairies
3. Go on a driving holiday to Paris with Paul and Dot
4. Attend a Writer’s Conference in the UK
5. Have the house painted
6. Take some mini get-aways
7. Visit places I haven’t been before
8. Start Amanda in Malta
9. Find new markets for my books
10. Promote other authors
11. Help my daughter with her pottery business
12. Create more girlfriend time (I miss this from my life in Canada)
13. Hold more dinner parties
14. Be with mom on her 90th birthday
There you have it. Wish me luck!
My three words for this year are
Create
Happiness
Friendship
I will leave you with a thought by Anne Lamott from her book “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”
“Oh my God, what if you wake up someday, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen.”
and from the amazing Neil Gaiman
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”
Have a surprising 2018 and thanks for following my blog, inspiring me and being my friend!
86 Responses to "It’s That Time Again"
January 3, 2018 at 9:33 am
A wonderful reminder to really live life. Thank you, Darlene.
January 3, 2018 at 11:27 am
Great goals and great advice from some of the best. Have a wonderful 2018, Darlene!!
January 3, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Your blog will make you many friends, my friend! And happiness is what comes from creative(ness), so you will have 2028 made!
January 3, 2018 at 2:01 pm
Darlene, thank you very much for being such a supportive writer friend, and for faithfully visiting my blog and leaving cheery comments.
I’m hoping to live a more rewarding writing life this year with the purpose of realizing some goals … and maybe even enjoying life itself more freely. We’ll see.
I like your list; there are some big goals there. You can do it! (and you probably will. I think Amanda is just a younger version of you.)
Happy 2018!
January 3, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Thanks, Lynn. We have been blogging buddies for a long time. I wish you all the best in your writing life and life in general. May you shine in 2018!!
January 3, 2018 at 4:35 pm
That’s a great list! Happy 2018 🤩🤩 best wishes to your Mom
January 3, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Thanks Ishita! How kind of you to think of my mom. She is doing great for 89 years old. ❤
January 3, 2018 at 6:07 pm
Love those quotes thank you. Really good ones! Impressed with all your lofty goals and hope you achieve at least most of them!
Peta
January 3, 2018 at 6:50 pm
If I can reach most of them, I’ll be happy. Sometimes life gets in the way. Those are some of my favourite quotes. Glad you like them. All the best for 2018!!
January 3, 2018 at 6:42 pm
I love your goals, Darlene, and, like I said before, I am confident you will achieve them all. I too miss ‘girlie time’, especially with my sisters.
Your final shared thoughts are very inspiring and I am glad to be mad enough to be doing what I am doing now and fulfilling an old dream of long-term travel.
I wish you luck with tour targets, but, honestly, I don’t think you need it! Have an amazing 2018! 👍👍👍❤❤❤
January 3, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Thanks for your good wishes, Fatima. You are a fine example of following your dreams! That girlfriend time is so precious. Glad you enjoyed those quotes.
January 3, 2018 at 7:46 pm
I love your goals for 2018. I would also like to have more dinner parties and invite you!
January 3, 2018 at 7:58 pm
Thank you for sharing Darlene and may most of your goals come true.
Above all, may you feel happy whilst you execute them.
I really love the one by C.S. Lewis you gave us.
I never make any lists of goals, only keep the main one in my heart.
It doesn’t mean there isn’t anything I want to do. 😊 .
Have a wonderful 2018
miriam
p.s. I didn’t plan to start a blog this year…it just came to me
January 4, 2018 at 1:02 am
Some things do just come to you and often those things are special. Have a great 2018!!
January 3, 2018 at 11:28 pm
I like that your goals include both personal and professional goals and intend to help other writers. I always appreciate your encouragement when you comment on my blog. The Anne Lamott quote is so apt – ha!
January 4, 2018 at 1:04 am
I thought you would like that Anne Lamott quote! Pleased you like my mix of goals. All the best for 2018!!
January 3, 2018 at 11:46 pm
Wonderful, Darlene!
January 4, 2018 at 1:34 am
A fine list of goals. I can’t wait to hear about your driving holiday to Paris, that should be fun.
January 4, 2018 at 7:10 am
A gorgeous, inspiriting post, Darlene. I have a strong feeling that you will accomplish all of your goals this year. I love Anne Lamott’s book – and use it often for my writing classes. She is so right. Have a big juicy creative life!! xo
January 4, 2018 at 7:56 am
Her book is amazing! Now that I’ve put it out there, I have to make it happen. xo
January 5, 2018 at 1:50 am
Darlene, a wonderful and inspiring post! The quotations are lovely and I love the energy and passion for life that shines forth in them all. Your goals are likewise full of life and love – how fantastic that your daughter has a pottery business and that you can help her and wow, a very Happy Birthday to your mother on her 90th! Your goals show a great balance between work, creativity, relaxing and being with the family.
January 5, 2018 at 4:43 am
Over the years I have learnt to balance my life but it took time. So pleased you enjoyed the post and liked those quotations. Have a wonderful 2018, Annika!
January 5, 2018 at 9:57 am
Ambitious goals, Darlene, and I’ve no doubt you’ll meet every one of them. You’ve inspired me to organize my own thoughts on this matter. Wishing you a New Year filled with joy, love, peace, laughter ❤
January 5, 2018 at 5:46 pm
Wishing you all the same, Tina. Thanks for your vote of confidence!!
January 5, 2018 at 11:39 pm
Love, love. love this post, Darlene! You have such great goals and I do not doubt for one moment that you will not achieve them. Love your words and your outlook on life. Those quotes….I needed the Anne Lamott one for sure. Thanks for sharing!!!
January 5, 2018 at 11:51 pm
That Anne Lamott quote is so good! Glad you liked the post. Thanks for getting me started on picking three words every year. Great to hear from you. ❤ ❤
January 6, 2018 at 2:06 am
I always enjoy reading your new year’s resolutions, Darlene, and you’ve got a wonderful mix in there. It sounds as if your 2018 is going to be filled with adventure, friendships and love, which is a wonderful attitude to start the year with. I like the quotes, and the bit about kissing someone who thinks you’re wonderful made me smile. 🙂
January 6, 2018 at 2:10 am
Neil Gaiman has a great way of putting things! Thanks for reading my goals for the coming year. Hopefully, I can accomplish what I am aiming for. All the best!!
January 6, 2018 at 6:51 am
My goodness you are busy! Two more Amanda books! I really like the three words you chose for yourself. They really represent you. I usually add a new virtue I want to work on. Last year I worked with “harmlessness” in my thoughts, words and actions. This year I want to do more with “joy” in my life and how I can impact others. Have a wonderful 2018, dear friend!
January 6, 2018 at 8:27 am
Thank you so much, Patricia. Joy is a perfect word for you as I would say you already spread joy by providing excellent reviews on meaningful books for children. I wish you and your husband a joyful 2018!!
January 6, 2018 at 9:55 am
Wonderful goals, Darlene, and I just love the quotes. Happy New Year!
January 6, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Have you set out some goals for 2018.. Darlene Foster shares hers and perhaps it might trigger some ideas for you.
January 6, 2018 at 11:06 pm
Good luck with achieving your goals, Darlene. I love the quotes you added – both great reminders that we really should live life to the maximum.
January 7, 2018 at 12:24 am
Wow, Darlene, this is an incredible list of goals. You are also going to need a time turner like Hermione in Harry Potter. I ask Santa for one every year.
January 7, 2018 at 12:37 am
I would so like a time turner, maybe one day we will both get one!!
January 7, 2018 at 9:24 am
Beautiful quotes, beautiful post Darlene. And I could sure use more #12 and #13 too. Cheers to you. 🙂
January 7, 2018 at 6:33 pm
We can all use more girlfriend time and dinner parties. Thanks, Debby and Cheers to you as well.
January 8, 2018 at 1:08 am
Great goals for the new year. All the best & I hope you fulfill them 😊💕
January 8, 2018 at 2:20 am
Thanks for dropping by the Sunday Weekly Meet and Greet. I will pin and tweet this
January 8, 2018 at 2:32 am
Thanks so much. Lovely to meet you and other great bloggers.
January 8, 2018 at 3:40 am
Thxs. Please share at least 3 others and invite your followers to also join and participate weekly. 🌹
January 8, 2018 at 2:27 am
Fantastic goals! I’ve got to start planning my goals for the year… Only a week in and already falling behind! Lol! Goal #1: stop procrastinating!
January 8, 2018 at 2:34 am
Thanks for popping by. Glad you liked my goals. We all procrastinate!! It seems to be part of life. I now call it planning.
January 8, 2018 at 4:08 am
Wow.an .awesome array of goals which I am sure you will meet and I love the quotes very inspirational..My word for this year is Ruminate…
January 8, 2018 at 4:23 am
Ruminate is a great word! Glad you enjoyed the quotes and like my goals. Now to get to work on them.
January 8, 2018 at 4:42 am
I am sure you will Darlene especially the dinner party one 🙂 Shame I don’t live closer or I would gatecrash…lol
January 8, 2018 at 4:45 am
You would be invited. I am sure I’ll be using more of your recipes.
January 9, 2018 at 4:08 am
Hope you get to realise all your aspirations in 2018 Darlene.
January 9, 2018 at 6:47 am
Great post Darlene…..I like the sound of the trip to Paris and the writers bash. Thanks for sharing on Esme’s new post #SundayMeetGreet – really good to meet you! x
January 9, 2018 at 8:26 am
Thanks for stopping by my blog. o great to meet you too. Glad you enjoyed the post! Have a super 2018.
January 9, 2018 at 8:07 pm
The turn of the year always brings reflection and resolve …. your list is full of enticing possibilities and I have no doubt that you will see them all to fruitiion. For me the biggie is to stop worrying so much, stop trying so hard. My father gave me that advice on his deathbed and I realise that was 15 years ago this year. Therefore, I really do think it is time to heed it! Je vous souhaite les meilleurs vœux et surtout le santé – bonne année
January 9, 2018 at 10:40 pm
Thanks! Those are two big goals as we all tend to worry too much and try too hard and it is counterproductive. Your father, like mine, was a wise man. Good luck with that!
January 10, 2018 at 3:42 am
Great minds think alike! 🙂 I just posted yesterday about selecting a word for the year and how I selected 3 words for 2018 before reading your post. Fun to see we both wrote about the same topic and we both chose 3 words! Very fun! https://helpwithyourlife.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/choose-your-word-of-the-year/
January 10, 2018 at 4:22 am
Yup! Great minds do think alike! Your words are great. All the best.
January 10, 2018 at 7:03 am
You are right – great minds do think alike. I have also used the C.S, Lewis image and quote. My list of accomplishments is not nearly as daunting as yours but I definitely have at the top of my list watering the friendship I have so that they keep blooming.
January 10, 2018 at 8:01 am
Yes, we need to keep those friendships healthy as without them where would we be. ❤ ❤
January 11, 2018 at 6:03 pm
What a wonderful post Darlene. Wishing you the very best for 2018.
January 18, 2018 at 9:08 am
Darlene those are marvelous goals. I hope your New Year is off to a grand beginning! Love the quote too. Hugs.
January 18, 2018 at 7:01 pm
Thaks so much Teagan! So far so good. All the best to you for 2018!!
January 31, 2018 at 10:55 am
Darlene, you are such an inspiration. I have no doubt you’ll realize all your goals. You are a dreamer of big dreams, and dreams do create our reality. You prove that time and time again!
January 31, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Thanks, Laura! The interior of the house is being painted as we speak and I´m working on Amanda in Holland. If I write them down, it seems to work for me. All the best for 2018 my friend!! ❤
Darlene Foster's Blog 
January 3, 2018 at 8:52 am
Lovely, Darlene. Part of our rationale for escaping to France initially was to avoid being drawn into the perfectionism and people-pleasing that we were slowly being drawn into. A timely reminder for me – thanks!
January 3, 2018 at 6:55 pm
Glad you enjoyed this post, Catherine. Have a fabulous 2018!!