Good-bye, 2012. Ready, set, go for 2013!!!

2012, the year of the Dragon, has been incredible to me.

About this time last year, I was blogging here how instead of asking the Universe for my dreams to come true, I was now asking myself to start living the life of my dreams in earnest. To work harder, and with more purpose. To be worthy of my own dreams.

Because I have learned, no matter how strong and hard the winds may blow, we can — and we must – still do our best to try and spread our wings. Only we can give ourselves a real chance to fly.

The year 2012 gave me what I asked for, and more. Some great learning experiences, finally enrolling in a grad school of my dreams, learning to make decisions, completing drafts, starting new projects, and a biggie — a first book deal with a small new publisher!!!

But even more important than all that, this year was incredible for the gifts I have given myself.

Sure, I was working hard on my craft before. Writing, revising, deep into the night, early in the morning. But 2012 was the year I learned to balance things better than I ever have before. This was the year I learned to listen — truly listen to my own desires – by setting realistic-but-not-lazy goals and then reaching them.

And what was the single biggest, most important action I took to make that possible?

Working every day.

I keep wracking my brain trying to remember the actual date — or a month, or even a season — when I started doing it, not even necessarily writing, but working on my craft every single day. I started with fifteen minutes a day, I think. Then, before I knew it, it became 30 minutes, and now it’s at least 31. By now daily writing has become an inseparable part of me.

And that is why I am bringing the 31-minute challenge to those of you who are interested.  Because I have learned that the best thing we can do for ourselves in the new year — every year –  is to make sure we’re worthy of our dreams by putting in the work.

(Of course, half an hour a day is only a beginning. Writing half an hour plus one minute every day won’t complete 500-page novels in a month. But it will get things off to a surprisingly effective start. Before you know it, 31 minutes will seem like a pittance, especially if you’re writing full-time. No matter what, 31 minutes will always be a lovely present you can give yourself on weekends and during holidays or if you work demanding hours.)

According to the Chinese horoscope (which I faithfully check on an annual basis), 2013 is the year of the snake – and it happens to be my year. I hope it means more great things!

Here are my goals and wishes for 2013, new and old: to learn, to love and to create. To have fun with it all. To take care of myself and my health. To complete books new and old, to pursue new publishing opportunities, to keep growing this wonderful community that the Magic Mirror is becoming, to make great new friends, and to enjoy all the friends, love and wonders I already possess.

And most of all, to keep on writing, keep on growing, every single day, for the rest of the year, for the rest of my life.

Here comes 2013. Are you ready? 

Happy New Year, everyone! Good luck to you if you’ve signed up for the 31-minute challenge — there are 40 of you, as of the most recent counting, and I couldn’t be more proud. Please stick it out with me and don’t give up. And for everyone else, I am wishing you fun, success, love, health and happiness. I am wishing you hard, satisfying work in the year ahead — the kind of work that makes you glad to be alive.

Ready, set, go!!!

P.S. The absolutely latest someone can sign up is January 1st, I guess, as long as they complete the 31-minute work for that day. If you feel like talking about your progress with others on social media during the month of January (just to brag! ), the twitter hashtag for the challenge is #31minsfordreams.

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