Daily Positive Thought #8

.

The sun came up this morning.

Yes, I know it does that every morning. That's my point. No matter what happens, the sun comes up. Sometimes I feel like if everything doesn't go just right it's the end of the world. the truth is, no matter how bad things seem to get, the sun keeps rising. A new day comes. Life moves on, and each new day brings the promise of better things to come. Thank goodness for the sun.

Daily Positive Thought #7

.

Books are your friend.

I can't say how many times I've been hurt, confused, lonely, board, or otherwise feeling miserable and have picked up a good book that has swept my cares aside as I leave my life behind to experience the world of the book. I love that. This world would be a much more miserable place without books. What great friends to have around.

Daily Positive Thought #6

.

You have a unique story to tell and the world needs to hear it.

Every person views the world a little differently. We've all had different life experiences. The same topic expressed in one person's story is bound to come out totally different in another's. That's what makes literature so deep and vibrant. Don't be afraid to tell your stories in your own way. It brings variety and enjoyment to the world.

Daily Positive Thought #5

.

You've worked hard. Reward yourself.

In a regular job you go to work, clock your hours, and get paid. Within a couple of weeks you get monetary reward for your hard work. Not so for writers. We write and write and rewrite and submit, and even after something is accepted for publication it can take months before we ever see the first advance check. Delayed gratification is the name of the game. So, as writers we need to keep ourselves motivated. I've found that if I reward myself for little goals along the way, I do a better job of waiting for the big checks later on.

After a good day's work, give yourself a pat on the back. After achieving a writing goal, reward yourself by going out with friends. Or hey, try one of my favorite rewards, Chocolate! Of course I'm on a diet now, so I've relegated that to sugar free hot chocolate. But the effect is the same. I reward myself for doing a good job. You can to. It feels great and helps us to keep going.

Daily Positive Thought #4

It's never too late to start writing.

LOL. A perfect thought since It's after 9 PM here, and I just remembered I hadn't done my thought for today. Obviously I have a little way to go before this becomes a good habit.

I met a lot of people who say they want to write a book (or a journal, or poetry, etc.). The older I get, the older my acquaintances get. I like to tell them if you want to write then do it. Most look at me rather glassy eyed. I can see their mind just screaming, "It's too late. I haven't managed it my whole life. How can I possibly start now?"

The Truth is, there is only one moment in life. Now. Now is all that really exists. Yesterday and tomorrow are only in our minds. It doesn't matter how many yesterdays there have been. We can't know how many tomorrows there may be. All we have is now. If you want to write something, start now. Type something in a blog. Tweet. Scribble something on the back of an envelope. Or open a Microsoft Word document and start a book. Now is the beginning of all of our lives. You are never too old. Now is the time to write.

Daily Positive Thought #3

.

No one succeeds alone.

I spent a number of years in my early life writing and never really showing anyone what I wrote. During that time my writing didn't really grow or improve.

It wasn't until I started taking classes, joining writing organizations, and attending conferences and workshops that my writing gained strength and I rallied the courage to submit. I could spend days trying to name everyone who helped me along the way. Every mentor and writing friend I've rubbed shoulders with has moved me forward.

As Ken Rand, one of my first mentors, always said, I can't pay them back. There is no way. The only thing to do is pay it forward to others I meet. So a great BIG THANKS to everyone who has helped me on my road to success. And I hope I can do the same for others.

Daily Positive Thought #2

.

What looks like a dead end might hide a secret road to success.

Daily Positive Thought

I've been thinking about doing a Daily Positive Thought for about a year now. For my own self, mostly. I need a shot of positive thought on a regular basis to keep me going as a writer, a DPT booster you might say. An inoculation against rejection, distraction, and self-doubt. But the intimidation of coming up with a positive thought to post each day has kept me from starting. Crazy, as if thinking one positive thing a day should be so hard.

So, today I'm going to start sharing one positive thought a day with my friends. If I fall off the horse and miss a day or two here and there, I'm not going to try to make it up. I'll just start where we are and go on.

DPT #1: Starting to write each morning is like jumping into a cold pool. Sometimes you just don't want to do it, but once you get in and going it feels pretty go. So, go ahead. Take the plunge.