by Tari Faris, @FarisTari

It is that time of year again. School supplies fill the shelves, everything feels new, and my kids are headed off to a new year of school and I set to tackle a new set of goals. One of my favorite quotes about the fall is from You’ve Got Mail.

 “Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” ~Joe Fox

At least that is what it is supposed to be right now. But let’s face it. . .

THAT ISN’T HAPPENING IN 2020

In fact, if I look at my goals I wrote at the start of 2020, I have failed at most of them. Some were out of my control like attending writing conferences. Some were not, like not meeting writing goals because I spent to much time binge-watching shows.

My favorite funny from the whole COVID time is this one:

So what do we do in the face of the backside of 2020? Well, there are three options. We can trash the goals and sleep until 2021. We can push on full steam with the goals we wrote in January even though many aren’t possible now. Or we could choose a balanced approach. Maybe get off the express train and settle for the engine that could. Chugging steadily toward the next year accomplishing what we can with what we have.

I choose balance. I will be the little engine that could.

I will do that in 6 steps

1. Evaluate your 2020 goals.
   • Group your goal into three categories. 1) Complete 2) Incomplete but possible 3) No longer possible because of COVID.
   • Now trash category number three. There is nothing you can do about it. One in this category for me was to travel to Costa Rica. Since I can no longer do that legally due to boarder closings it needs to be trashed. And although sad I won’t feel guilty that it will go unaccomplished.
   • Now celebrate all your accomplished goals. Seriously. It was a hard year and take time to celebrate all that you got done in the midst of COVID CRAZY.
   • For all the unaccomplished, move to step two.
2. Don’t beat yourself up.
   • What’s done is done.
   • You may have not always made the best choices with your time during COVID. Welcome to the club. Shake it off and let’s move forward to step three.
3. Start a new sheet of Goal.
   • Seriously. Get a new paper. A blank slate. Start over. Let’s make it a new day.
   • Now let’s make new goals.
   • You have heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals. Let’s make COVID S.M.A.R.T. goals.
     • Specific
     • Measurable
     • Attainable in the midst of COVID life.
     • Realistic in the midst of COVID life.
     • Timely
4. Pray over your goals.
   • Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.               Psalm 127:1a
     • I know want the career God has called me to. So I ask him for wisdom to make sure my goals are in alignment with His.
   • May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—  Psalm 90:17
     • Then I ask in to bless my work. Give me the wisdom and perseverance to accomplish these goals.
5. Make a plan for how you will accomplish it.
   • Time of day. – I choose morning but pick whatever time you feel most creative.
   • A spot – A specific location where you can write without distraction.
   • Deadlines – Write down firm deadlines.
   • Support – You have many people in your life and it helps when they are board for your goals.  I let people (both in the house and my family who might call) know I don’t answer the door or calls unless it is an emergency.
   • Accountability – Anyone n your life can work but other writers are great at this
   • Cheerleaders – These can often be the same people who hold you accountable or are your support.
6. Hold your plans loosely.
   • For as much as we want to anticipate the next several months, the past six months have taught us that isn’t possible. Keep that train moving forward but remember that it too could be derailed. But if God is the conductor then it will all be good because He isn’t surprised by anything. And He’s got your back.

What about you? Do you find the fall a time of restart in your life? How are you moving forward even in the midst of so much unknown?

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Until I Met You
(Now available for preorder)

I invite you back to the small town with a big heart in this second book in the Restoring Heritage series.

​When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.

All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?

Tari Faris has been writing fiction for thirteen years but has been creating fiction in her head as long as she can remember. She signed with Revell for her debut novel – You Belong with Me – which will be released in September 2019. She is represented by Wendy Lawton at Books & Such Literary Management and is a member of ACFW and My Book Therapy. She was the 2017 Genesis winner, 2016 Genesis finalist, and 2014 Genesis finalist. In addition to her writing, she also works for My Book Therapy as a special project manager and blog coordinator for LearnHowToWriteANovel.com . When she is not writing or working, she spends time with her amazing husband and kids. In her free time, she loves coffee, rockhounding with her husband and kids, and distracting herself from housework. You can connect with her at www.tarifaris.com