It’s intriguing how simple lessons you learn from one area in your life you can carry into other areas. Here are some lessons I’ve learned from my Weight Watcher leader that I can use in my writing but you can use these great tips
in your parenting life, too.
1. Show up I know my leader will be there every week. She’s there to do business and get the job done.
I need to not make excuses and just show up. Put my fingers on the keys and type.
2. Be non-judgmental My leader always surprises me when she talks to the group without any condemnation in her voice. We eat well and we eat poorly. Deep down somewhere I expect to be chastised for struggling with my hot fudge obsession. But oh no, she talks about how we all mess up in our diet and we just need to move on. Some how that takes off the added pressure I put on myself, and I want to do better.
Writing is always a learning curve. I’ve learned so much in the last two years but I have to remind myself, I’m still learning. I need to do my best and not compare myself with any of my writing friends. And I need to remember to encourage my writer friends with their projects.
3. Work at it Losing weight is work. I didn’t put on the extra pounds in one day so losing it is not going to happen over night.
Writing is work…I love saying I’m published but it takes work to get published. Butt-in-the chair work.
4 Don’t let other’s attitude affect yours I would love to speak publicly but this lesson is one reason I’m scared to. I am in awe of someone that can get up in front of 20 or 30 people and be enthusiastic when the crowd isn’t. Blank faces. Now some of it has to do with I attend the early morning WW session, but she’ll get in front a bunch of quiet people and be excited. By the end of the half in hour, all the members are talking and sharing with each other.
If I’m excited about an article, I need to stay excited. If I share the topic with a friend or family member, and they don’t react with great enthusiasm, I need to stop sharing. It’s my thing and I’m finally beginning to realize not everybody has to be excited about what “I’m” doing. 🙂
5. Start where I am today It’s so easy to compare ourselves with other’s appearance but that doesn’t get you anywhere. I need to start with where I’m at today.
If I have to work on more social media or get more queries out, then they will go on my To-Do list. Getting overwhelmed never helped me so I need to take a few deep breaths and move on.
Which of these five lessons rang true to you? Can you relate?
photo by Jonny Goldstein
Very practical and encouraging lessons, Jan. Thanks for sharing how they flesh out in your writing. I love it!
A great post. “Work at it” speaks the most to me. I need to work on weight (and my sugar addiction) and keeping the focus on writing. Thanks for the reminder. Glad I popped over.
Hope you & your family had a lovely Labor Day weekend.
Great thoughts, Jan. I love it when our minds apply one area of our life to another. I often just need to show up. I sit at the computer and tell the kids I’m working, but the writing is minimal because my mind isn’t there. Guess I need to work at it, too.
Loved this! Number 2 would be my choice. I’m always practicing. With innkeeping, you meet all types of people.
#2 and #4 are the ones I can relate most too when it comes to my family situation – yes we all mess up, lets move on and learn from our mistakes! And I also wish I didn’t put such importance in what they think… I am working on that though 🙂
Thanks for this post!
What a great concept: applying Weight Watchers lessons to other parts of our lives! I think you could add to your list, *budgeting & prioritization. Do I want to “spend” those points now, or use them on something better that will be more meaningful?
Great post, Jan!
{Popping over from Cascadia Connect}