Rhys Bowen: Only two more days until the end of the year–a year I won’t be sorry to see disappear. So I’m thinking what I might have learned, or accepted this year.
Things that have been hard to accept:
1: That the world does not come to an end if I forget to do Wordle for one day and thus spoil my winning streak of 89.
2: That I do not have control over my universe, that plans will be altered or canceled and I just have to make the best of it.
And what do I have to work on next year?
1. That my writing is not how I define myself. That in the long run bestseller lists, numbers sold, fan bases are not what I should be obsessing about. I should be able to slow down, not check numbers so often and walk away if I want to.
2. That I should enjoy every moment for what it is, even if it’s cooking in my kitchen with my husband who is currently being annoying at the way I’ve sliced the onions. It might be a precious memory one day.
Now it’s your turn, Reds. What have you learned this year? Come to accept? Been able to walk away from?
LUCY BURDETTE: Ha ha, for me it would be that the world doesn’t come to an end if I don’t keep up with every twist and turn of the news. It only freezes me. I will know when I need to reconnect and reactivate.
I need to work on spending less time on Facebook and more on reading!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: HA! I love you so much, Rhys–I was crushed at the end of my 44 day streak on Wordle. SO unhappy! But then I thought, great, the pressure is off. I do have a good streak on Connections, though.
Hard to accept: That the harder I work does not necessarily result in a better outcome. But sometimes it does, and you never know.
2. That it’s not my responsibility to try to make everyone totally happy all the time. But sometimes it is, and you never know.
Working on: Realizing that everything WILL get accomplished, at least the things that really need to be, so stop fretting about it. And yes, Rhys, the precious memories. SO wise.
HALLIE EPHRON:
LEARNED. That I’m mortal… and the best thing about staying in my house is having enough beds for visitors.
COME TO ACCEPT: That I still have no idea how to cook for more than 4 people. And that finding the (often) elusive main character arc is crucial to writing a good story.
BEEN ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM: Deadlines. The ones I set for myself and that others set for me.
(RHYS: HALLIE, I've just been hosting 15 people for a week. I was found staring at stalks of Brussels Sprouts murmuring how many sprouts per person? I just can't visualize food for that many people. However it did work out brilliantly and nobody starved.)
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I’ve been reminded that I do not have control over so many things! Not in the wider world, and not in my own little universe. Life can smack you upside the head when you least expect it!
But along with that I’ve been reminded that you should enjoy all the little moments, and that people can be so kind! I’ve also been reminded of how much I LOVE writing, what an amazing, rapturous thing it can be (except for those days when it feels like trudging through a bog, of course, but that is okay, too…)
And I’m thrilled to learn that Hallie has never learned to cook for more than four people, because I thought I was the only one. So maybe that is one ambition I can walk away from.
JENN McKINLAY: LEARNED: That happiness is a choice–no matter the circumstance–and that joy is an act of resistance.
COME TO ACCEPT: That my mom was right and I quote “This, too, shall pass” no matter what “this” is. Everything has a season and all seasons end.
BEEN ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM: Unreasonable expectations of myself. The world will not end if I write one less book per year.
RHYS: You're looking at a list from over-achievers! All stressed about meeting our deadlines, living up to expectations. We all need to learn to chill, obviously! Another thing that haunts me is letting fans down. How silly. I do my best and if it's not enough, it's not enough.
Having watched Love Actually again I've now decided that my mantra will be "ENOUGH." It need not be more!
And we should have added what we're grateful for. Here is my family Christmas pic.
So REDDIES: your turn:
