Posted on: January 4, 2017
It´s day 3 of the New Year and time to post my goals for 2017. We never know what´s in store for us as a new year begins but by setting some goals, I believe I can make it a good year.
First I want to share this great list of New Years Resolutions for Writers I found on Lynn Thaler´s blogsite.
Thanks, Lynn. These are perfect!! Check out Lynn´s blog as she writes some great posts, especially about her four dogs!
Over at It´s Just Life, Beth Ann challenges her readers to chose 3 words to focus on this year. I decided my three words for 2017 will be: kindness, strength and curiosity. I feel they will help me achieve my goals.This month Beth Ann will donate five cents to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® for every comment made on her site. A cause after my own heart as our Dot was a rescue dog. Pop on over and make a comment or two. Her posts are fun and enlightening.
My goals for 2017!
Wish me luck with these goals! I would love to read about yours.
As my son recently said, “Happy New Year. Another year to Chase Dreams and Achieve more Goals.”
Posted on: January 3, 2017
I hope you all welcomed the New Year with joyful spirits! We enjoyed welcoming the start of 2017 with our dog, eating our 12 grapes at midnight and watching fireworks from our terrace.
I just returned from a successful launch in Canada of Amanda on the Danube – The Sounds of Music. I am so happy with this book and hope the readers will enjoy this adventure through a beautiful part of the world!
2. Finish Amanda in New Mexico – The Ghost Hotel
I just finished Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind and hope to have it published by, October 1, 2017. Yes, I did change the sub-title. These things happen as you go along with the writing.
3. Do more promoting of all the Amanda books and Pig on Trial
I did a lot of promoting of all my books but still feel I could do more.
4. Connect with local schools and bookstores
I did 4 presentations in Spanish bookstores last year. Have not connected with any schools yet.
5. Continue to explore Spain, attend cultural events and write about them
I saw a lot of Spain and attended many cultural events. Of course, there is still much more to see and do.
6. Travel to Holland, France and England
I made a trip to Holland and France last year. England will be soon.
7. Work hard at making new friends in Spain
I have made some wonderful friends here in Spain. I also just recently found a writers group that meets every week. I am so excited about that and have been to a couple of meetings. Everyone has been very welcoming.
8. Attend Pueblo Ingles with friends
This didn’t happen due to conflicting schedules but we will keep trying.
9. Take time to read more
I did read more and learned how to read in the pool during the hot summer!
10. Practice Spanish
Need to work on this but seem to be communicating fine with my Spanish friends.
11. Keep learning more about writing
Thanks to the many blogs filled with writing information, I feel I have learned a lot.
12. Enjoy my more relaxed lifestyle
I am enjoying this lifestyle very much. I have learned not to get upset when things don´t happen as fast as I would like.
13. Look after my health by eating better and exercising more
We got a dog, which wasn’t on the list, and now I go for many walks.
14. Keep in touch with family and friends back home via social media and mail
This has worked out well. I even Skype on a regular basis with my 88-year-old mother. I have been sending postcards of the area I live in, to my great granddaughters. They tell me they love them.
15. Help other writers meet their goals
I have promoted other writers on my blog and given assistance to writers whenever I can.
16. Be thankful for at least three things every day.
This is now a habit. So much to be thankful for.
I think I did quite well with my list, although there is always room for improvement.
In the next few days, I will post my goals for 2017 as I look forward to things that have never been.
Whether you wrote them down or not, I hope some of your goals for 2016 were met. Or maybe a dream you didn´t know you had, came true! The best thing about 2016 was getting our dog and I didn’t even know I wanted one.
Dot at the beach on Christmas Day
Posted on: January 1, 2016
In ancient Roman myth, Janus was the god of gates, doors and beginnings. January, was named after Janus in 700 BC. Having two faces, one looking back into the past and one looking forward to the future, he was an appropriate deity to dedicate the first month of the New Year to.
As I look back over the past year I like to revisit the goals I set out on January 1 to see how I did, and share them with you. How did I do?
1. Sell the house in Canada
It took longer than we thought but the house in Canada sold on April 2, 2015
2. Get settled in Spain
We bought a place in Spain and feel quite settled.
3. Finish Amanda on the Danube – The Sounds of Music
Amanda on the Danube -The Sounds of Music is completed and in the hands of the publisher! It should be out mid 2016.
4. Write more travel articles and find a market for them
I am working on this one, have found a couple of markets but need to find more.
5. See Pig on Trial published
I am pleased to say Pig on Trial has been published as a bi-lingual book for kids.
6. Get connected with writers in Spain
I have met a couple of writers here in Spain but would like to connect with many more so will continue to work on this one.
7. Lean Spanish
Oh dear. I haven´t learned much Spanish at all. So many people in my area speak English including the Spanish folks. I have picked up some phrases but not enough to carry a conversation. Need to work harder on this one.
8. Join a walking group
Oops, didn´t do this.
9. Cut back the sugar intake
I did do this and feel so much better!
10. Explore Spain and write about it
I did this too and have seen so many parts of this fascinating and diverse country. It is a great place to explore!
11. Make new friends and keep in touch with old friends
I´ve made a few new friends and hope to make many more. It takes time. I have been very diligent in keeping in touch with old friends. Thanks to social media this is easier than it used to be.
12. Go home to Canada for a visit
I was fortunate to be able to go back home twice last year to see family and friends!
13. Find a yoga studio
I didn´t join a yoga studio but have been doing yoga every morning at home, so I feel this is a yes.
14. Write everyday
I do write everyday. This has become a habit.
15. Embrace change and look for surprises!!
I believe I have embraced change this past year, and there has been plenty. Thank heaven I love surprises as there have been many of them too! You can´t move continents without experiencing changes and a multitude of surprises. It wasn´t always easy, but I learned so much and am glad I did it.
As this year comes to a close, I wish you all a very Happy New Year with many welcome surprises.
In the next post I will look forward.
Posted on: August 21, 2015
Today I have the pleasure of being a guest on Jan Moore´s blog, Work on Your Own Terms, where I talk about my decision to move to Spain.
Following the Dream, by Darlene Foster
I met Darlene on Gabriola Island when she was visiting her daughter, just before she and her husband moved from Canada to Spain. I’ll let Darlene tell you about her new lifestyle in her own words. Her travels inspire the children’s books she writes. See how happy they look in Spain. She just might convince you to follow your own dreams.
“I’ve got to follow that dream wherever that dream may lead.” Elvis Presley
“Why Spain?” was the question asked of me often when I made the decision to move to another country. “Why not?” was often my answer.
I could have said, because of the warm, sunny weather, the fabulous Mediterranean food, the medieval markets, the rich history, the castles, the fiestas, the warm and friendly locals, the laid back life style etc. The truth is, I wasn´t really sure. I just knew I wanted to try living in another country, preferably a warm country.
Click here to read the rest of the article: http://workonyourownterms.com/followingthedream/
Posted on: August 10, 2015
A metaphor is a figure of speech that identifies something as being the same as some unrelated thing for rhetorical effect, thus highlighting the similarities between the two. (the dictionary definition) I remember learning about metaphors in school. I love them! We are advised, however, to use them sparingly in our writing as many of them are considered clichés. I once submitted a story to an anthology call out. To my delight, my story was chosen. The editor asked me to make a few changes including removing some of the numerous metaphors and similes. I thought I was being so clever, but once I removed a good chunk of them or reworded them, I realized the story read much better. By using metaphors in my rough draft though, I developed some great ideas.
In a newsletter sent out by Jan Moore she writes about how metaphors can be useful, not just in writing. She mentions that Creative people use metaphors automatically. It’s our natural mode of communication. I certainly agree with her on that point. I often get strange looks from my non writing friends and family when I use metaphors in my speech.
Jan Moore has written a book called Work on Your Own Terms: Change Your Mind and Change Your Life in Midlife and Beyond which is worth checking out. Written by a former career counselor , Jan writes about how you can create meaningful work that nourishes the soul and sets you free, at any age.
Jan also goes on to say: Metaphors can be powerful guides for living. Writers and artists use them and so can you. Playing with metaphors can help generate new ideas. Here are a few to play with:
What would your answers be to these questions? Put your answers in the comments if you wish. I would love to read them.
From one of my favourite authors who passed away last year at age 92:
Words. Words. I play with words, hoping that some combination, even a chance combination, will say what I want.
…Doris Lessing
photo from Wikipedia
Posted on: October 10, 2014
“Reach high, for stars lie in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” Pamela Vaull, 20th Century American Author/Poet
As many of you know, up until very recently I have been facilitating workshops for job seekers for the past thirteen years. I loved my job and enjoyed all the workshops I created and delivered, but my most favourite was my goal setting workshops. The participants enjoyed the sessions and said it gave them renewed hope. I have attended a few goal setting workshops myself over the years. As I was cleaning out my desk at work, I came across a workbook from an excellent session I attended nearly four years ago. I almost fell over when I read my notes.
1. At the beginning we were asked to write down a dream. This is what I wrote:
To be an internationally known children’s author living on the coast of Spain.
2. We were then asked to close our eyes and picture ourselves having achieved this dream, then describe the environment around us. My response:
In book stores and schools doing readings and presentations, surrounded by fans of my work and going home to my villa in Spain.
3. After a couple of other exercises establishing capabilities and values, we were to write down who we had become once we achieved our dream.
I am a writer of children’s fiction expanding my horizons and meeting new and interesting people while adapting to a new culture and environment.
4. Finally we were asked to write our dream again with enhancements that came from some explorations and reflections. Here was my enhanced dream:
An internationality known and well loved author of children’s stories, interviewed on TV, with lots of fans and owning property in Spain where I can go to relax and write after my travels and book tours.
There was much more to the workshop, but what I realized when reading what I wrote, was that goal setting does work. Writing down your goal or dream and visualizing it, is powerful.
Since taking this workshop four years ago, I have written and published three more books, read from my books at schools and book stores and am about to move to Spain! I haven’t been interviewed on TV but I have been interviewed on blogs and that is even better.
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” Walt Disney
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. -C. S. Lewis
Posted on: September 24, 2014
I found this on the wonderful Beth Ann Chiles blog It’s Just Life. A blog I enjoy following regularly because you never know what gems you’ll find there.
Life is too short to not take the time to do something fun every single day.
Life is too short to not use the good dishes or eat in the dining room.
Life is too short to not wear the expensive perfume.
Life is too short to not say what is on your mind.
Life is too short to be wasted on silly disagreements.
Life is too short to not stop and admire every beautiful thing in nature that we happen upon.
Life is too short to not embrace new things.
Life is too short to not say I am sorry when we are wrong.
Life is too short to ignore someone in need.
Life is too short to not sample something new.
Life is too short to worry about a single thing that you can do nothing about.
Life is too short to blend in.
Life is too short to spend in negativity.
Life is too short to be living someone else’s dream.
Life is too short to not do something challenging.
Life is too short to not do what you love.
Life is too short to not tell those you love how much you love them every single day.
Life is too short to be mean.
Life is too short to just exist—go out and LIVE!
This week Beth Ann is giving away fabulous stuff everyday. (Because that’s just the kind of person she is!) Hop over to her blog, add a comment and you may win something marvellous.
I am about to make a major life change. (more about that later). This post helped me to realize I need to do this because after all – life is too short not to.
And this from Cynthia Baker’s blog Simple Pleasures where she matches her incredible photography with meaningful quotes.
Photograph by Cynthia Baker
Have you been given an opportunity to make a life change in the past? Are you glad you did? Was it worth it?
