Dear Sixteen-Year-Old Self,

You’re only sixteen now, and it seems like time is going by so slowly. You wish it would hurry up so you can be out on your own, living life the way you want. I remember the feeling all too well, and as I look back now on the you I used to be, I want to share a few things with you. You’ll learn them eventually, but maybe knowing them in advance will prepare you for what lies ahead.
1.       You’re nursing a heartache now, and as difficult as it is to say, you will get your heart broken again. And again. But it’s an amazing organ. It’s resilient, and so are you.
2.       Don’t waste time on people who clearly don’t want you in their lives. Before you know it, you’ll have spent twenty years trying to convince them they love you when, in the end, there’s no evidence of it.
3.       Don’t wait until your late twenties to get serious about writing. You already love it so start focusing now.
4.       Don’t get engaged at twenty-one to the first guy who tells you you’re beautiful. He’s not your knight in shining armor. No man is. Learn to love yourself so you don’t have to rely on others to convince you that you’re worthy of love.
5.       Forgive those people who have harmed you and don’t spend the next twenty-five years trying to change them. It won’t work, and you can use the effort on something much more productive…like your next book.
6.       Sometimes you need help in life. Don’t be so independent that you refuse to ask for it.
7.       You’ll make some pretty big mistakes over the next fifteen years or so. Be ready to forgive yourself. Those mistakes will make you a stronger person.
8.       Know that whatever lies ahead, you are strong enough to handle it.
Life isn’t easy, but it’s worth living every day. So reach for those dreams. Plan for the day when you will wrap your hand around the brass ring.
And one thing to remember, bitterness hurts more the vessel in which it’s stored than where it’s poured. If you can learn that now, your twenties will be a lot easier. Trust me on this one. I’ve been there.

So we're almost at the end of the month, and I'm looking back at my goal list while muttering to myself. A few things I've accomplished, but others have already fallen by the wayside. But I'm not disappointed. Trying is the hardest part. So now I pick myself back up and give it another go. 
On the plus side, the things I have accomplished have made me feel very good. I like to see those check marks in my calendar! 

I have decided to start doing a few fun things here and on my Facebook page. Have you liked me there yet? It's www.facebook.com/authorrachelcarrington if you want to look me up. I've always got stuff to give away because I'm a shopping addict! So join me there and here so I can fulfill another one of my goals for 2014!

A New Year always begins with new goals for me. i don't call them resolutions because it sounds too rigid. I keep them easy, simple, and doable. 

I want to read more (this is already made easier by the purchase of several of Julia Quinn's books). 

I want to send out more manuscripts to publishers. Write more shorts stories and articles because I enjoy the challenge. 

Saving money is also on my list of goals. This will be made easier by the 52 week savings challenge. Read more about it here. 

Exercising is on the list. Not a surprise. I'm limited so I chose to do Coach Nicole's chair exercises. Here's one. They're not easy even if you are sitting down.

I think my biggest goal of this year is to change my eating in a revolutionary way. Have you heard of Granny's Vital Vittles?  It's all about eating real food, not processed stuff. I'm starting slow as the plan allows, but I'm determined to eliminate a lot of the chemicals from my diet, even the "good for you" stuff. 

I have some separate private goals, but that's all the ones I'll share publicly. What about you? Any goals you'll share? We can cheer each other on!