It Has Begun!

Well, 2026 is now well underway. It is snowing quite a bit as I'm writing this, which is really pretty. My apartment, however, is obscenely hot, so I'm sitting at my computer with the windows thrown open. Every so often, a cold breeze breaks through the wall of tropical heat, and boy does it feel good.

Anyway, as I was saying, 2026 is now in full swing. And so am I... so far.

I was fortunate enough to have the days between the first and fifth with nothing to do buy my volunteer work, so I was able to get started on my goals. Actually, I started on the 28th, but carried it through.

As you know, unsatisfied with my performance in 2025, I resolved to do better this year. I had hoped to have The Bear completely written - at least the rough draft - by the beginning of the year. That did not happen, so that is the focus of my work. I set a goal of five thousand words a week. Granted, it's only been one week and two days, but I am on track.

I hit my first five thousand early last week, and so was able to begin this week well on track. I start my week Sundays, so on Sunday, I sat down before a scheduled meeting to write for an hour. I hit my word count forty-five minutes in.

The rest of the day was spent doing the volunteer work I need to get done.

Knowing that Monday evening (waves from that very time) would be spent writing blog posts and doing the volunteer work I need to do... and also sneak in a workout there somewhere, I woke up an hour earlier than I normally do in order to buy myself some time to write.

Last year, I tried to write during my lunch breaks. That proved a disaster, it seems. The kitchen is too loud, too busy and, since they removed the door for some reason, too damned cold for me to concentrate on writing. That, and the fact that I must divide my time between eating and writing, means that I actually have precious little time to actually do the writing. And this really impacts my flow.

Writing first thing in the morning, before I start getting ready for work, seems to be doing the trick. I can focus, and have roughly an hour of uninterrupted quiet to write. I managed to get well over my one thousand word goal. That started the day right. I felt happy walking to work... despite the fact that I had to go to work, which I'm still bitter about.

I don't know how long I'll be able to keep up with the early morning thing. It's earlier than I've been waking up, and I haven't had a good sleep in a bit. Hopefully I'll be able to do it on a continual basis, and I'll be at my word goal in another nine weeks.

I also lifted weights for the first time in many, many years last year. I'm supposed to do it three times a week, on the days when I don't have martial arts training (so, Monday, Wednesday and Friday). I managed Monday and Wednesday, but I was so incredibly sore on Friday, that I could barely move. Saturday saw some recovery, but not enough to make me think I could lift again, so I attempted pull-ups (hoy boy... that didn't go well. I got to three... alright, fine - two and half - band-assisted before my body gave up completely) and then did a half hour yoga session just to say I moved. With martial arts classes beginning again the evening of the 6th, I will hopefully be able to fall into a regular workout routine that will give me the strength I want by the end of the year. I will try lifting again when this post is done. Because priorities!

And lastly, because I'm so furious at myself for failing as hard last year as I did, it seems that I have lit my own butt on fire. I have begun to create the second book cover for The Timbercreek Incident. I started Monday at lunch (because I'm not writing at lunch), and I'm liking what I have so far. I have no idea when I'll finish. Soon, I hope. It was nice to sit and draw, actually. I think I'll bring my travel watercolour stuff to work and maybe work on a small painting every so often when I'm done the book cover.

I am currently full of beans. While I'm feeling good right now, I'm really hoping I don't burn out. I'm trying to be careful, and recognising when I need rest. But right now I'm energised (largely because I'm doing the things I love), and I'm going to try and use this while it lasts.

​I hope everyone's transition into 2026 was full of warmth and goodness. I have to go and torture my back muscles for a bit now.

Slán go foill!