If I had to summarize 2024 in one word it would be PATIENCE. I had the whole year planned out—yep, pretty crazy. I thought my book would be published in May just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month. Nope, not even close. It was just the tip of the proverbial ice berg of publishing. I learned I knew nothing about the editing process or publishing.
Luckily I learned a lot about editing through my writing coach—em dashes, serial commas… never mind. I don’t need to go there. I also learned I had little patience when I know something is going to happen, or should happen, or might happen… you understand what I am saying.
My lack of patience caused me to make some stupid mistakes, some financial mistakes, and I wasted a lot of time waiting and wondering. I will take it as a learning experience on how to do things better and different for my next book(s).
In the end though, it is all about trusting the process and the Universe. They say everything happens for a reason and maybe in the new year I will learn the reason. Or not. It may be as simple as learning patience and understanding the process. And to be honest, I think I will be a little disappointed if that is all it is!
I think my anxiety has played a little role in this too—it helped feed my impatience. Maybe this is the reason? Learning how to navigate the fine line between anxiety and patience, or impatience?
Happy New Year to everyone! I’m curious of what word would summarize your year?