Enjoy 2017! by Tara Randel



We finally ushered 2016 out and I would say most of us are ready to start a new 2017. There’s always an excitement in the air when the new year rolls around. Lots of resolutions and promises and plans. So how many of them do we actually accomplish?

Instead of making a list of things we should change or improve, because let’s face it, we usually don’t need a list of the things we know we need to change in our lives. Let’s focus on the fun things we sometimes let slip by in our busy lives. Wouldn’t that be a lot more appealing? 

Things to do this year:

 

1. How about taking a trip some place new? It doesn’t have to be a long trip, maybe just a town in the next county that has an antique shop you’ve always wanted to visit but never made the time.  I live minutes from the beach, yet I can’t tell you the last time I went to watch the sunset or sink my toes in the sand. Maybe there’s a cute little restaurant you and your friends have been talking about going to for lunch. Or a romantic place you might want to slip off to with your husband. Maybe hit the outlet mall with your daughter or attend a hockey game with your son. Let’s vow not to let this new year pass before we go places we’ve only talked about.



2. Read new authors. I bet everyone one of you reading this blog has a list of authors you love to read. You wait impatiently for their next release, eager to get your hands on a new book. In the meantime, there are so many new authors out there! I belong to a couple of services that offer books at a reduced prices and in different genres, every day. I’ve taken a chance on a new author when a story idea struck my fancy and I have to say, I’ve rarely been disappointed. And since we have four Heartwarming books released every month, there might even be a new author to you in that bunch. If you love to read, taking a chance on a good story is never a waste of time. 


3. Time. Oh, if only we could add a few more hours to a day, a few more days in a week. I admit that with deadlines coming up, new stories to create and working on a project in process, I let time spent with family and friends slip away. My reasoning is that I’ve worked long and hard to get into publishing, a career I love, and I don’t want any writing opportunities to slip by. Yet I might turn down my husband’s request to go on a car trip with him to pick up a part he ordered or a race car to check out. I used to jump at the chance, now...not so much. When my daughter passed away a few years ago, I started looking at life differently. Made sure to spend quality time with those I love. But I’ve let daily responsibilities creep up on me. Last year, my youngest daughter and I got annual passes to a local theme park. We’ll take an impromptu day off here and there and spend hours in a place we love. With the people we love. It doesn’t get any better than that!

My suggestion to you today is, be creative with the time and activities in your life. You probably have some great ideas to add, so leave them in the comments below. We can all use a push to get out and live life more.
Happy 2017!
 
Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of fourteen novels. She is currently working on new stories for Harlequin Heartwarming, The Business of Weddings series. Look for The Wedding March, a March 2017 Heartwarming release. Visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at Tara Randel Books

Comments

  1. Happy New Year! I agree with all your suggestions, but time is a big goal (and the toughest) for me this year....managing/balancing writing and family so that neither is deprived! I still have school aged kids at home and their needs have to come first, which often means less sleep for me if I need to get writing done, but as you pointed out, it's so important to cherish every moment with loved ones.

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    1. I know things get hectic with school aged children. It gets better as they get older and can take care of themselves more. Then they leave and you wish they'd come back! Happy New Year!

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  2. Happy New Year, Tara! I agree, making special time for our loved ones is most important, and I feel it makes us more productive in the end. I'm truly sorry to learn about the loss of your daughter, Tara. God bless you and your family.

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  3. Tara, I am also very sorry to learn about the loss of your daughter. I agree that making time for loved ones should be a top priority. With how busy everyone is, I think it's also important to every once in a while make quality time for ourselves.

    I am looking forward to sharing a release day with you in March.

    Happy New Year!

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  4. A great post, Tara. Thank you for it, and Happy New Year!

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  5. Thank you Tara, for your reminders that a new year should really be seen as an opportunity to improve our lives in ways we might not have considered - expanding our minds through travel and reading different books. Most of all, taking time to savour every moment with loved ones. Carpe diem, right? All the best in 2017!

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  6. Tara, I'm so very sorry about the loss of your daughter. There is no greater pain than the loss of a child. I will keep you and all your family in my prayers.

    All the best to you in 2017. A lovely post.

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  7. Dreaded Time...
    My family does number 1 in spades. We love to travel and no so many hidden aspects of Arizona landscape.
    I love number 2. I read.
    3, though, is what keeps my blood pressure high.
    I, too, am sorry to hear about your daughter. If Mike wasn't in school, I'd hug him and he'd go "Mooooom, not again."

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    1. LOL. Hug Mike all you can! I don't care what they say, they're never to old for us to love on them!

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  8. Tara, great post! I think there can be kind of a negative feel to resolutions sometimes, like you you're doing things wrong and you need to "better" your life or yourself. I like how you put a positive spin on the concept by making it about "living" (and loving) more. Coincidentally, one of my goals for 2017 is to travel to someplace I've never been. Like you mentioned, it doesn't have to involve breaking out my dusty passport, there are lots of places within driving distance I've never seen. And another is to reach out to someone once a month, someone I know I need to connect with (via text or phone call or lunch date.

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    1. Sounds like a very reasonable plan. I'd rather be positive about my goals than setting myself up to fail. And speaking about traveling, if you're ever headed to Florida...

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  9. Tara - your posts are always so fun and positive, I forget that you've endured such an enormous loss. I recall you mentioning it once before. How strong you must be to be able to write romance, of all things, around the grief. But what a cool thing to do with your other daughter. We lived never a theme park when I was a child and the excitement of going there was beyond anything. I'm going to take everything on that piece of artwork you've inserted in your post as my plan for 2017. It's perfect. Good beginning to the day. Thank you.

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    1. Thanks so much, Muriel! Here's to a very happy and successful 2017!

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  10. Terrific post, Tara--and wonderful things to aspire to this year. I didn't know about your daughter. So sorry to hear that. Sending hugs. All the best to you and yours for 2017!

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  11. Inspirational post! I love to travel and haven't done it in a while, so I will happily comply. I'm always looking for new authors so I can't wait to accomplish that one and as for number three, I need to find a better balance. I'm very sorry to hear about your daughter. It reminds me to hug my loved ones. Have a great 2017!

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  12. I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter, but thankful that you have such a wonderful attitude about life. You're an inspiration.

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    1. Having a good attitude makes a big difference! Happy New Year!

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  13. Great post and wonderful suggestions. Sometimes we get so regimented in our lives that we avoid taking advantage of priceless opportunities. Thanks for reminding us to do so. And, as others have said, so sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter.

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    1. It was a good reminder to myself! We all need a little push to get out of our comfort zone. Thanks!

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