Lead Us Not Into Temptation

The word Temptation is defined as allure, bait, enticement.

Every day we face temptation in different forms. We readily rationalize why we need to cut corners to reach that goal. Often, our frustration, sense of entitlement, or let's call it as it is, greed get us in trouble with our vices.

All around us, we see the effects from the person who extends the temptation and by the person who acts upon the bait. At the end of the day, you have to ask-- Was it worth it?

In the writing life, you get tempted to take the short cut to publishing by hooking up with shoddy people. They recognize the hunger in your eye and will mix up a batch of their potion to lure you in where you sign away your rights, write for next to nothing, or bind you into a terrible contract. My suggestion is to do your homework, check references, sleep on it. Because that mud will feel awfully deep once you've taken that first step.

My writing career started as a hobby. I enjoyed creating stories, but had no real desire or dream to be a career author. By the time, the bug hit me, I was among many friends who were being published for the first time. I witnessed the realization of their hard work and dreams to get to that point. I buckled down and learned. There were false starts, wrong turns, and near misses. But I'm not the type to quit. Instead, I worked harder. When I finally sold in 2002, I was ready for the hard work necessary to keep on writing and being published.

As I eye the next level, there are temptations out there to sway you from your journey. New sub-genres are popping up. The temptation is to run toward the new thing. Publishers, good and bad, are keeping their eyes on up and coming authors. But that's where a good agent can step in and do the vetting that an eager author may choose to ignore. Hardwork got me here and hardwork will keep me here. No short cuts.

On Jenny Craig, each week, I face a myriad of temptations. Someone may innocently suggest that I partake of food because they don't want it to go to waste. Or I head to a party where booze and rich treats are definite attendees. Then there are the moments of stress, which you can't seem to avoid in a day, much less a week. Stress = Food.

Again, hard work comes through for me. I have to exercise every day, with a goal of 5-7 days a week. 30 mins as a minimum goal. No two days are alike. Back in the day, I wanted to be a bodybuilder, so I know how to exercise and I know my body.

I stick with the menu. If I'm going off the menu, I already have a back-up plan. I don't wait until I'm in the situation (if I'm aware in advance) to figure out what to eat. Fruits, vegetables, and water have bailed me out when I think that I need more food.

Staying focused. Staying positive. Your mind can be the worst saboteur. I don't waste time beating myself over past mistakes. Every day is a good day. I look in the mirror and fight against being critical about the obvious, instead, I celebrate the roominess of my pants, the lightness of my body, the smile that erupts at the end of weigh-in.

Temptation won't disappear. But I'm slowly building up my defenses.

Michelle

Goal: 80 pounds to be kicked to the curb
12 pounds lost