Wednesday Wisdom: Removing Mountains
Don’t you hate the midweek slump? It’s a time when a lot of us tend to get overwhelmed. I’ve got some quick words of wisdom to share with you that I hope will help.
The following quote has been attributed to a number of people, including Confucius, William Faulkner, Michelangelo, and Robert Louis Stevenson. It goes like this:
“The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Consider this when you’re sure your To-Do list has become long enough to use as a wallpaper border in your bedroom. When you’ve got a goal in mind that you’re worried you might never reach. Or when you’re confronted by a challenge that seems insurmountable —sort of like that mountain.
My challenge at the moment is paperwork that needs to be filed. Trust me, right now, those piles feel like an entire mountain range!
After reading the quote above, I decided my game plan is to start carrying each piece of paper away as though it were a small stone and to put it in its proper place. I’m betting that by the time I’m done, I’m going to feel a whole lot lighter.
How about you? Have any mountains you’d like to remove? Feel free to share them here.
And good luck getting started, one stone at a time.
All my best to you,
Hi Barbara!
That’s how I handle revisions, one scene at a time. It’s important to break things down into doable pieces, otherwise, five pages of revision notes from your editor can be extremely daunting!!!
Barbara, Few people know that in my “former life” I did professional organizing. Offices, garages, closets, wine cellars–you name it. And you’ve hit on the key. Don’t look at the forest. Focus on each individual tree. We used to say “divide and conquer,” also “like goes with like.” Good luck with your papers. My office is always a disaster by the end of summer!
Barbara, I love that quote. It is applicable in so many aspects of our lives. Very nice blog.
Great advice!
Wendy – that makes so much sense–especially when a revision needs to be threaded through the manuscript. Get one scene done, then move on to the next.
Thanks for sharing.
Barbara
Amy – yes, that’s how I ran into trouble this time. I’d been home all summer but focused on other things (a new website and blog, for example LOL).
Am now scrambling to catch up. But I’ll get there… eventually.
Barbara
Donnell – that really is an all-purpose quote, isn’t it?
I say, whatever works!
Barbara
Mary – thanks, and good luck with any mountains you might have.
Barbara
My ms. has become a mountain. LOL It’s taking longer than I thought. Soon, I hope. Soon.
Edie – LOL I understand the feeling.
But you’re working to make it better before you send it out there into the world. That requires a little extra time.
But it will be worth it!
Barbara
I know the feeling. Often. The biggest problem for me is that moving one stone, or even two, doesn’t make things seem any better. I have to dig in and do a bunch before I can see a light inthe tunnel. Oh well, let me get back to that next little rock.
Oh, dear, I’m thinking about my closet…maybe it WOULD be easier to clean out just one garment at a time instead of postponing a massive sweep!
B.A. – I’m so with you!
It *is* very discouraging to feel there’s no end in sight.
Since we think alike, I’ll tell you what I’m trying to keep in mind: maybe the FIRST time we tackle a new mountain, the best plan is just to accept that there’s no end–and shoot for it, anyway.
Whatever success we have can only make it easier for us to stay on top of things next time around. Right? (Please say yes; I could use the positive reinforcement. LOL)
If that doesn’t work, we go back to Wendy’s comment (#1 above). If we’ve written books a scene at a time, we can handle those other mountains, too.
Good luck!
Barbara
Laurie – the closet’s on my list, too. (sigh)
The massive sweep is a GREAT idea. It’s getting to it that “hangs” us up. LOL
Why don’t you try for one piece of clothing a day, and I’ll do the same.
Let me know how it goes.
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Hubby has been after me for a year to get my office cleaned up. I don’t have a desk, just a long table and every inch is covered with paper. Just because of this blog I’m going to do something about it. lol
Thanks a bunch.
Sandy – that’s great news! I’m glad the blog post was able to help.
Please keep me posted on Operation: Office.
Barbara
Mountains, stones, or pebbles, nothing gets it done around here like a good old positive stick-to-the-job plan. Now, if I can find my glue stick.
Paperwork is a huge problem here also, and my closet.
Thanks for the reminder. My Plan A – Set Started.
Good luck to everyone.
Carol – yes, sticking to it *is* a valuable part of the plan.
Carrying one stone away will do the trick, if you do that over and over again.
Good luck getting started!
Barbara
Could I use your site as a source in my paper please? We need to get permission before we use it. Thx!