What ever happened to those Winter Solstice Wishes?
Last December, a few of us followed the trend from this Instagram reel by @ashley.waverly. Starting on the Winter Solstice, we wrote down 12 wishes for the new year. Then we burned them all until New Years Eve. The final unburnt paper was revealed as the wish that we would be responsible for that year.
The Universe would take care of the rest.
With the Summer Solstice just passed, I thought I’d pause to give the Universe her report card.
(And if you want to read more about my wishes, you can do that here: “12 Winter Solstice Wishes”)
1. Exercise 126 times
No idea.
A generous estimate would be that I’ve exercised 2x/week. With about 25 weeks behind us, that’s 50 workouts, leaving 76 for the rest of the year. That would require about 3 workouts per week.
I’m not sure that will happen and tbh I probably won’t track it too closely. But most importantly, I am feeling stronger.
2. Finish ROTA
On track.
My beta readers have shared their feedback and I’ve started revisions. I have an editor lined up and plans to independently publish by the end of the year.
I’m nervous about actually following through on all that, but so far so good. Ring of the Axe WILL be published. If not this year, then soon after.
3. Research trip to Chicago
DONE.
You can read all about it in my post “What Do Facts Have To Do with Fantasy?”
4. Grow leadership within MPT
Solid.
Middleton Players Theatre has more people excelling in more areas than ever before.
The one area where I still want more growth is to find a person who takes charge of recruiting new donations from both individuals & businesses. It’s hard work, but I’m sure there’s somebody out there who will thrive doing it!
5. Meditate 226 times
Meh.
My app says I’ve meditated 72 times, leaving 154 for the back half of the year. That would mean meditating 6x/week, which is well beyond my pace but…I don’t know. It’s more part of my routine lately so perhaps I’ll get there.
6. Publish 26 blog posts
On track!
I’ve published 13 blog posts so far this year, so I’m dead on track.
7. Find a writing mentor
Not yet.
A specific writing mentor has not appeared to me, but I have enriched my writing community.
I attended two writing seminars at the Arts & Literature Laboratory: Successfully Self-Publish with Louise Mayberry (January) and Plot to Finish with Jason Tanamor (April). The latter included a cohort of wonderful people who’ve kept up with each other <3
I’m also reading the Alliance for Independent Authors newsletter here on substack, and plan to become a member. It makes me feel grounded as an aspiring independent author—someone in a community of peers.
Know someone else looking for writing community or mentees/mentors?
8. Read 26 books
No problem.
I’ve read 18 so far (although if you’re doing the math, I’m well behind on documenting those reads in my Reading Gratitude Journal entries).
So this one should be a breeze.
9. Make a printed photo book
Questionable.
I’ve been taking plenty of pictures of our family life, but really neglecting doing anything with them. That’s a struggle with the phone camera: it’s easy to capture life, but much more work to memorialize it.
The Universe will just have to sit me down for a while to do that curation. AI could surely do this task for me, but I’m certainly not ready to outsource the process of choosing what’s meaningful to me.
10. Film ROTA beta readings
DONE.
I recorded myself reading the beta draft of Ring of the Axe and posted it (unlisted) to YouTube for my beta readers and a few other interested people.
It was an excellent learning experience that made me both slow down to read every word I had written AND get through it fast enough to deliver to beta readers. A brilliant combination. Would highly recommend.
11. Perform in a dance show
DONE.
In point of fact…I’ve done TWO!
Midterm Grade for the Universe…
COMPLETE: 3
On track: 4
Questionable: 4
How am I doing?
Along with the 11 wishes that the Universe is working on, I had one mission:
MY WISH: Host a garden party & a winter party
On track.
The garden party is inevitable. We have two occasions already the calendar: our niece’s “Barbe-CUTE” birthday and the Middleton Players season celebration.
The garden itself might not be in the most brilliant shape, but we should have a deck built and a new driveway poured. Just add people and “garden” party: achieved.
The winter party is intended for my book release party, and as mentioned above, the book is on track. I don’t foresee any issues getting this one done!
How about you?
Did you follow the Winter Solstice Wish trend? How are things going?