January 2009

Happy New Year - or Happy Whatever Day - it does seem like we have a day for something every day, doesn't it?

Your days are spent finishing up your book; for many of you meeting signature completion goals will allow you an extra week in March or even April for a complete and accurate index. You are calling me with problems, stories about problems, reasons for problems; you are verbally wringing your hands about students, administrators, teachers, photographers, editors, staffers; the list goes on and on.

My days this time of year are spent reassuring, coaching, mentoring, conjoling, consoling, cheerleadering, threatening, explaining, hand-holding, story-telling, packing (and unpacking), driving, cell-phoning, emailing, StudioWorking, re-explaining, signature completing ... that list goes on and on.

Side Bar: (Speaking (or writing) of packing, Ashley and I are off to San Diego on Thursday early morning January 22nd for Taylor's annual national meeting; Jim Macy will join us on Friday afternoon and, following the meeting, we will drive to Malibu first thing on Sunday to spend that day and Monday there with the Striderman and his parents.  Tuesday we spend the day in the air arriving back in Orlando in the late afternoon. So we are back on the ground and in the mix first things on Wednesday morning the 28th.

We both will be available by email via our Blackberries the entire time so please use that as the best method to reach us.  We will return your email or give you a call as our schedules allow.  Phone service is sketchy in Malibu due to the mountains so I have found that email works best.)

Now - back to New Year's Resolutions and the developing of an attitude that makes keeping them possible:  Jack Canfield is a champion at nailing quality living down.  I listen to his tapes while driving; I read his Chicken Soup for the _____( fill in the blank) books.  I made my New Year's Resolutions using his method of sharing with friends in order to put on the pressure.   (My #1 BTW is to lose these 10-plus lbs and 3 inches I have added here and there along the way; I start Pilates on Saturday and am doing pretty well with my morning or evening walks.  Plus I am very cautious with what I eat; please don't tempt me when I see you!)

His feature this month in his emag follows.  It deals directly with accountability and taking responsibility for what is yours in order to "fix" it - not to place blame.  If you are interested in his writing, the link to his website, etc. is included at the end of the article.