Mr. Cinderella!

While surfing the Internet this past weekend for stories of inspiration, I stumbled across a fascinating article about a man who was determined to become a published author, hence the title for this post. Now, some of you may feel a bit nauseous at the idea of writing a 400 page novel, but hopefully somewhere in your inner soul there is a life-long dream that you wish to become a reality.

Before I go any further, I want to share the link to this amazing article in hopes you'll become as enthusiastic about chasing your dreams as I have: From Rejection Notes to the Pulitzer! http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/books/19harding.html?hpw



Okay! If you didn't follow the link, then you're really going to be clueless with the final portion of my post. So. Please. Follow. It. Now. :)

As a former elementary school teacher, and now, the mother to four young children, I rely heavily on my education background (Organizational skills are a fundamental necessity for being an effective school teacher!) in order to keep our motley crew on schedule and out of harm's way. So, yes! Goals and accomplishments are of major significance in my daily routine; whether I'm counting heads around the bathroom sink to make certain each child has brushed his/her teeth, or on all fours in the living room in search of a missing polka-dot flip-flop, the goal is usually the same: DO NOT lose sight of the main objective or everything else will dissipate like a sandcastle in a windstorm.

As you can see, my belief in goal setting is extremely important to how I work through the obstacles and uncertainties in my day. And just as Mr. Harding believed in himself and the stories he created, his journey to publication has given me confidence to know that what I do is more than just wishful thinking. Being able to use my talents in order to create stories that will hopefully brighten the lives of young readers is what motivates and inspires me. It helps me strive to be the best mother, friend, daughter, sister, wife, and person that I can truly be.

I believe Mr. Harding's journey is a true testament for anyone hoping to fulfill their dreams. What about you? Perhaps you'd like to share something about goal setting in the comment section below.

In closing, I'd like to leave you with a quote of inspiration:

“The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.” Earl Nightingale,(US motivational writer and author, 1921-1989)

Have a great evening, everyone! Tory