Before I even start thinking about it, I know August 2017 was a great month. That’s quite a novelty after the last few difficult months. In the main, that’s because DB and I took a trip to Japan!
| Virtue | July | August | Notes |
| Beauty: Body
I enjoy exercising my lean, healthy 59 kg body several times a week. |
😐 66.1 kg |
🙂 65.7 kg |
It’s not much of a weight loss, but it’s something. Somewhat complicated by fascinating Japanese food and rediscovering Wagon Wheels during August, but given I couldn’t find a packet of one, I had no option but to eat eight. Thank goodness they were minis.
I also got a lot of exercise, and have slimmed a little, and feel healthier. Aside from the lingering cold, I took away with me. Must find a way to keep it up. And hope that my cold will give me some immunity from the current flu strain. |
| Beauty: Presence
I have thick glossy hair that compliments my beautiful clothes. |
🙂 | 🙂 | Still delighted with my hair and red cords!
I didn’t take many clothes to Japan, and I discovered that while my wardrobe is adequate for life at home, it’s not sufficient for daily public exposure. I want to buy more clothes, but I know that in the scheme of my life I don’t need to. And I’m not fond of shopping anyway. Wrote (and wore) a Gallery Outfit. |
| Beauty: Home
I live in a comfortable home that soothes my soul. |
🙂 | 🙂 | It’s taken a few weeks to slip back into my chore routine. Oddly enough, the dinner dishes are the hardest part to keep up with as I find myself exhausted at the end of the day.
Shared my revelation about giving your home a purpose. |
| Beauty: Garden
My garden is lush and abundant, providing habitats, weather protection and a mystical threshold. |
🙂 | 🙂 | It’s like we’ve come home to a different garden. There are masses of bulbs, and the larger shrubs are coming into flower as well. |
| Friendship: Friends
I love meeting new people, and as I am friendly and outgoing, I make friends easily. |
🙂 | 🙂 | Didn’t really catch up with anyone (aside from DB) during August. Not sure I could have dealt with all the extra excitement. |
| Friendship: Creatures
My creatures are happy and healthy and find my garden a haven. |
🙂 | 😐 | My poor dogs both lost weight while we were away – pretty boy lost 3 kg (6.6 lb) and is all bones! After a long sulky spell, I think we might be friends again. I hope so. I don’t think we’ll be going away without them again. |
| Friendship: Contribution
I share my knowledge, time, and money with those who need it. |
🙂 | 🙂 | I was chatting to a new “business” friend, who thanked me and told me I had improved her confidence and boosted her ability to get out there and make things happen.
Wrote a Wallace & Gromit Dinner Party. |
| Pleasure: Adventure
I am brave and adventurous not afraid to try new things. |
😐 | 🙂 | It’s funny how a couple of weeks in a foreign country changes everything. At least until you climb back into your daily rut anyway. |
| Pleasure: Recharge
I work hard and have the right to rest and recharge. |
😐 | 🙂 | Still napping, but I am also turning the computer off and getting back into reading books.
I enjoyed not having to think about the blog while I was away, and I love the Robert Haddon picture I posted to say I had gone walkabout. |
| Wisdom: Growth
I learn and grow every day. |
🙂 | 🙂 | My Annette Kellerman recommended daily long walks in high-quality supportive shoes.v
I didn’t think much of it at the time, but what she actually said, was to walk long enough to forget your worries and start appreciating the beauty around you.v As it turns out, there is a point where you have walked so much that nothing else matters. And if you keep walking, you get all sorts of interesting ideas. It’s a double edged sword. |
Wealth: Business Development
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😐 | 🙂 | Happily for me, the seminar on writing about place was so popular they have scheduled a second one. Less happily it’s on a Sunday, but perhaps DB and I can meet up for dinner.
During the process of catching up with my email, I got to bulk read one of my favourite sources of writing/publishing advice (Dean Wesley Smith). He advised me to focus on a 5 – 10 year time frame and let the next year take care of itself. There’s a lot to it, but the short version is to spend your time writing books not marketing them. There’s little point gaining a fan when you only have one book to sell them (particularly when you only get a couple of bucks per book). Make sure there are lots of books to buy. It’s like an author version of don’t sweat the small stuff (anything that;s not a book is small stuff). I’ve made a change in direction and have some ambitious goals for the next 12 months – less blogging, no marketing, and more book writing! |
| Wealth: Income
I am a successful author making at least $1,000 per month. |
🙂 | 🙂 | I have started collating my income, but it’s taking a great deal of time because I haven’t done it for a while. I’m selling a small but steady number of books and receiving a small but erratic income.
And at this point, I have received all my 2015-16 tax year royalties (yay!) but have a lot of 2016-17 outstanding. |
There aren’t many stickers in my August 2017 journal, but there are lots of tickets and stamps from Japan. And if you could decipher it (sorry biographer) there are the germs of ideas for books, business strategies, and changes in perspective.
How was August 2017 for you?
You can find more monthly reports at the Project Worthwhile Life page.