It is time for the annual Word of The Year Post. You can look back at my 2020 word of the year to re-read how I felt about last year, before 2020 HAPPENED at us (albeit at the slowest possible pace):
So here’s to 2020: A year of creating a substantial amount of meaningful content in a state of content–ment.
Me, One Year Ago
Now, many of you know that for me 2019 was, as they say, no picnic. I have to admit, 2020 provided entirely unexpected bunkers of content-ment that protected me all year long.
They were strong enough to weather the grief over cultural conflict and pandemic, which means I had a better 2020 than most people I know. I did not expect to feel peaceful and happy with the world going to hell. But my inner self was unnervingly content to stay home, hide behind a video screen, and be with my beloved spouse 24/7.
So emotionally I feel more content after 2020, but what about making the content?
Last year I wanted to have a finished draft of my book by summer and a publishing contract or self-published book by fall.
I made progress, but the book isn’t done.
I wanted to record 3-5 audiobooks.
I recorded ONE. (To get the release announcement, sign up here.)
I wanted to finalize the travel plans for my Forty-Two Places Tour and take friends and fans on an amazing literary tourism circuit of the UK.
Nope.
What I did a lot of was art. Grieving in a graphical way for the year I had planned to have. I went deep inside myself to come to terms with how humbling it is to be helpless in the face of mother nature and father time.
But I’m not dead yet! So 2021, what will we make this year?
The book goal rolls forward.
Organizing the tour is also rolling forward, though I’m not planning to take anyone traveling until 2022. The good news is that the itinerary proposals we received from three UK tour companies in December of 2019 haven’t changed, and all three companies are still in business—WHEW! (If you want to be notified and get on the list to join the tour, sign up here.)
…the predominant activity of 2020 for me is the business of publishing and preparing to celebrate the 42nd Anniversary of the publication of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Me, One Year Ago
The Universe is on my side on this one, because publishing and celebrating the 42nd Anniversary of the publication of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a three-year window.
“How does a three-year anniversary work, exactly?” You may well ask.
The Original Radio Series first aired in March 1978. So 2020 was the 42 year anniversary for the Radio Plays.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy novel was commissioned and published in the UK in October 1979. So 2021 is 42 years for the UK publication.
And lucky for me, I’m an American, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy wasn’t published where I live until October 1980, giving me another year to celebrate!
But even with two more years ahead of me I feel pressured to finish up this project ASAP. I’m choosing one main word and two shoulder words for 2021: Intention. Roll. Momentum.
Intention is the place to start. Get clear, know what you want, I tell myself. Use the momentum from the content you created last year to speed up the finishing off of projects you’ve started. And lastly, be ready to roll. Roll with the ups and downs, roll out of the way if necessary.
I’m all too aware that control is an illusion…even perfect intention is not guaranteed to survive flawed interpretation. With ‘roll’ on my side, I’m prepared to ride any tidal waves, ski any avalanches, and hang glide any tornadoes 2021 may have in store for me.
What do you think?