Comments on: Keeping Up http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Yvonne Lindsay http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/comment-page-1/#comment-19928 Yvonne Lindsay Sun, 02 Sep 2007 02:43:39 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/#comment-19928 Chez, I think you've hit the nail on the head. I have a mood-maker flip thingy that has a saying 'true contentment is being appreciative for what you already have'. In many ways this is so true. In our lives today we can get so busy trying to do the best, be the best, make our kids the best--and all for everyone else. How often do we take the time to simply sit down and reflect on, and take pride in, the achievements we've made on the journey to where we are now? There's nothing wrong with competitive spirit, so long as the spirit itself isn't harmed in the process. For myself, I think I've actually reached a happy place in my life. I do things (most of the time) to please me and I rarely have to do anything anymore that doesn't. Does that make me selfish? No, I don't think so. I believe it has made me a better writer, a better wife, a better mother. There's no shame in teaching your kids, by example, to have perspective in their lives. Chez, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

I have a mood-maker flip thingy that has a saying ‘true contentment is being appreciative for what you already have’. In many ways this is so true. In our lives today we can get so busy trying to do the best, be the best, make our kids the best–and all for everyone else. How often do we take the time to simply sit down and reflect on, and take pride in, the achievements we’ve made on the journey to where we are now?

There’s nothing wrong with competitive spirit, so long as the spirit itself isn’t harmed in the process. For myself, I think I’ve actually reached a happy place in my life. I do things (most of the time) to please me and I rarely have to do anything anymore that doesn’t. Does that make me selfish? No, I don’t think so. I believe it has made me a better writer, a better wife, a better mother. There’s no shame in teaching your kids, by example, to have perspective in their lives.

]]> By: Chez http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/comment-page-1/#comment-19918 Chez Sun, 02 Sep 2007 01:01:00 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/#comment-19918 One day not too long ago I sat down and listed what I actually needed to make me happy. Not wanted, needed. It ended up being a very short simple list and included such things as hubby, kids, books, internet, comfy chair, good bed, chocolate. I looked at the list and wondered if that made me a pathetic person or just one who finally had realised that I was never going to be that person who lived the high life. In fact, if it was offered, could I even be bothered going to glitzy parties and stuff more than say .. once or twice a year. I do know that I loved the realisation that I didn't have to kill myself to achieve something I didn't even really want. Contentment and comfort were allowed to be goals and bloody well achievable ones too. Doesn't mean that I still don't get that hankering after the newest gadget or car occasionally, but I still have that list and I get it out frequently to remember. One day not too long ago I sat down and listed what I actually needed to make me happy. Not wanted, needed. It ended up being a very short simple list and included such things as hubby, kids, books, internet, comfy chair, good bed, chocolate. I looked at the list and wondered if that made me a pathetic person or just one who finally had realised that I was never going to be that person who lived the high life. In fact, if it was offered, could I even be bothered going to glitzy parties and stuff more than say .. once or twice a year. I do know that I loved the realisation that I didn’t have to kill myself to achieve something I didn’t even really want. Contentment and comfort were allowed to be goals and bloody well achievable ones too. Doesn’t mean that I still don’t get that hankering after the newest gadget or car occasionally, but I still have that list and I get it out frequently to remember.

]]> By: Dara Edmondson http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/comment-page-1/#comment-19898 Dara Edmondson Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:49:16 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/#comment-19898 I'm naturally competitive, but for some reason I'm only that way for certain things and with some people - like my husband. I'm a competitive word counter - I love making a huge word count and having it higher than anyone else's. That works well in the writing biz! I’m naturally competitive, but for some reason I’m only that way for certain things and with some people – like my husband. I’m a competitive word counter – I love making a huge word count and having it higher than anyone else’s. That works well in the writing biz!

]]> By: Ericka Scott http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/comment-page-1/#comment-19893 Ericka Scott Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:41:29 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/#comment-19893 Yep...I realized recently that I have to write at my own pace. But I do find that I compete against myself each time to write a better book. Yep…I realized recently that I have to write at my own pace. But I do find that I compete against myself each time to write a better book.

]]> By: Angie http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/comment-page-1/#comment-19879 Angie Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:16:49 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/#comment-19879 Competition is definitely a standard install with human nature, and I agree that it's perfectly healthy so long as you keep it in perspective. If competitiveness pushes me to do as much as I can of the best that I can, that's good. If it pushes me to obsess over what I <i>can't</i> do and get bitter or depressed because someone else <i>can,</i> that's a problem. Charlene -- I love the crashing-into-tree comparison. :) Definitely a good way of thinking about it, that you need to keep most of your focus on what you're doing and where you're going yourself and only a little on what the competition's doing. Angie Competition is definitely a standard install with human nature, and I agree that it’s perfectly healthy so long as you keep it in perspective. If competitiveness pushes me to do as much as I can of the best that I can, that’s good. If it pushes me to obsess over what I can’t do and get bitter or depressed because someone else can, that’s a problem.

Charlene — I love the crashing-into-tree comparison. :) Definitely a good way of thinking about it, that you need to keep most of your focus on what you’re doing and where you’re going yourself and only a little on what the competition’s doing.

Angie

]]> By: Kimber An http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/comment-page-1/#comment-19868 Kimber An Sat, 01 Sep 2007 12:46:18 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/#comment-19868 :grin:Fun story! We have bikes too. But, yanno, I really couldn't care less who comes in first. Personality thing, I guess. :grin: Fun story! We have bikes too. But, yanno, I really couldn’t care less who comes in first. Personality thing, I guess.

]]> By: Charlene Teglia http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/comment-page-1/#comment-19862 Charlene Teglia Sat, 01 Sep 2007 12:02:06 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/#comment-19862 Great column. And I love the analogy; getting distracted will crash you into a tree. :lol: Yep. Great column. And I love the analogy; getting distracted will crash you into a tree. :lol: Yep.

]]> By: Bettye Griffin http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/comment-page-1/#comment-19859 Bettye Griffin Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:22:08 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/09/01/keeping-up/#comment-19859 I agree. Ambition is a wonderful thing . . . taken in moderation. Bettye Griffin www.bettyegriffin.com I agree. Ambition is a wonderful thing . . . taken in moderation.

Bettye Griffin
http://www.bettyegriffin.com

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