Yesterday, the week’s activities and a few sleepless nights caught me. Tiredness smashed my resolve to move, and a migraine wrecked my concentration. When I can’t complete my intended goals, I review my long To-Do list for simple tasks. They are typically mundane jobs—things I need to accomplish. But either they never make it to the top of the list, or they are just downright repugnant. Cleaning the basement bathroom, weeding the thistle-infested, thorn-filled rose garden, and sanitizing the sunbaked, reeking trash bin make the top, or rather, the bottom of my list. They are thankless jobs, and I always reward myself for my perseverance when I finish the chore. Besides, these hot and humid summer days demand a cool drink and an indulgent afternoon of reading.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 488 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The full-court press is underway to get current on my course homework. So, yesterday I pulled out my notes and wrote a piece to submit. I have several more modules and their associated exercises to complete, along with two more writing pieces before I am back on track. The end of next week is doable if I apply myself and avoid distractions. Let’s see if I am up for the task ahead.

Work continues on my mission to select and complete one small task from my House Remodel Project To-Do List each day. The most daunting task is unpacking, sorting, and either finding a new home, donating, or selling each item packed in the countless boxes stored in the basement. There are specific items I am searching for that I can’t locate. Lurking somewhere is a card table I want to use as my sorting space. Yep, it is MIA. Yesterday I discovered a missing bed sheet in a box of paperwork and a container of bathroom products mixed in with mismatched shoes. At least the mover appropriately labeled both boxes as “Miscellaneous.”

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 1,963 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Business, as usual, resumed yesterday. After the familiar 9 to 5 nonsense, I got to work on the fun stuff—homework. I’m behind on my online class, and I kicked butt and completed three modules along with the associated exercises. Yippee.

I felt a tremendous weight lift from my shoulders when we completed the major work on the house remodel. Plenty of smaller projects occupy my To-Do list waiting for me to finish them, but nothing urgent presses on my available time on a day-to-day basis. Every evening I devote about an hour to work on something minor. Yesterday I collected a box of items destined for donation, and an armload of garbage found its way to the curb. It isn’t earth-shattering progress, and nobody but me will even notice the change. But bit by bit, small steps eventually culminate in massive changes.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 525 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Once in a great while, my heart lets my body know it is time to defy the commands issued by my brain. You can bet Commandant Head Honcho takes exception to being countermanded by those in residence down below. Thankfully, Colonel Pre-Frontal Cortex has experienced similar situations in the past and intervenes. The Colonel questions Lieutenants Gut-Check and Intuition, and based on their responses, tells everyone to stand down.

After a fair bit of grumbling, the Colonel declares it is time for a little R and R, and the troops rejoice. Knowing when to rally the troops and push forward, and when a wiser decision is granting a reprieve, is more art than science. My feet took liberty and found an elevated position with a view. Colonel Pre-Frontal Cortex pointedly ignored my aching feet when they accidentally knocked a stack of papers off my desk. Even Commandant Head Honcho declined to acknowledge the infraction. Everyone knows tomorrow will be business as usual.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 252 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday, my 9 to 5 consumed my life. Fighting off a migraine, the only thing I wanted to do once the drama was finished, was close my laptop, and head to bed. I know I dreamed of better days.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 496 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday was Day 3 of my virtual writing retreat. I got off to a slow start because I indulged in one of Sunday’s special perks and slept late. Once I was awake and properly caffeinated, I dug into my project notes and got some writing done. That is when my best-laid plans went sideways.

A friend called and proposed an impromptu visit for the afternoon. I couldn’t decline the opportunity, and so I launched into an unscheduled flurry of activity. The prospect of company arriving on my doorstep triggers a whole-house tidy mission. The afternoon stretched into the dinner hour, prompting us to root around in the fridge and discover hamburgers and marinated veggies for the grill. Sometimes a wonderful surprise materializes, even though we have made other plans.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 455 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I participated in a virtual writing retreat with one of my online writing groups. I accomplished little writing per se, but it wasn’t my focus for the day. Instead, I completed several modules for my class and printed every worksheet for the course. I sometimes find handwriting the answers for these types of exercises yield better results than when I work with a word document.

I also reviewed many of my project notes and collected countless scribbles of errant thoughts jotted onto odd slips of paper, envelopes, and in various notebooks. Of course, my review kicked loose new Ideas I felt compelled to add. There are still so many things I want to tackle during my virtual retreat, and I have barely made a dent in my long laundry list.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 484 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I prepared for my weekend. One of my online writing groups is holding a virtual writing retreat, and lucky me, I’m going. While I won’t be writing per se, I plan to work on my outlines, character sheets, and I have a whole long laundry list of things I want to accomplish. From years of experience, I have learned a valuable lesson. I get so excited about trips that I overpack, over schedule, and try to squeeze every second of fun from my adventure. No one is surprised when I come home, more exhausted than when I left. It doesn’t matter. I always have an unforgettable experience, and I can’t wait to return so I can finish the activities I never even started.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 448 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday is a blur. I’m not sure what I did all day, but I know I was so busy it left me exhausted. Or maybe the entire week is catching up with me. I suspect the actual cause of my blurry memory is the consequence of a day consumed with a long line of tasks that did not fully engage my brain. Yep. The old gray matter got bored, and it zoned out on me. That can happen when you perform rote tasks—the body knows what to do, and it leaves the mind free to meander. I hesitate to admit one bright spot. I reached my word count goal during my writing session in record time.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 431 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I tackled an unpleasant task. I find the best way to complete a required chore you despise is to put your head down, focus your attention on the job and get it done. So, that is what I did. I read, dismissing almost everything else until I finished the entire 468 pages of a book of suggested reading for the course I am taking. There is nothing about this story that captures my attention. While other people rave, it leaves me underwhelmed. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if this book were on my “for fun” list, I would not have finished it. Now at least, I can discuss the story intelligently. Every book we read teaches us something, even if that something is a lesson on how you don’t want to write.

I always remember my number one priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 340 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer