When I set this blog up, one of the things I had in mind was writing everyday. It sounded like an achievable challenge, and I even made a nod to that idea in the URL for it: ale.today is the perfect address for a daily log.

I managed to do it for 7 days, but yesterday I broke my streak because I simply forgot I had a blog (weekends sometimes do that to people, don’t they?.)

I could’ve said “well, I’ll only write on work days, then”. But that’s just a recipe for disaster, because next time I’ll forget to write on a Tuesday, and then I’ll break my own rules for the second time.

I could be doing those things, and sabotaging my own happiness, but the truth is I couldn’t care less.

You see, I never promised myself (or anyone) I’d write every day. The only promise I made myself was that I would write more, and the real reason I’m doing this is because I want to improve my writing.

My long term goal is to become a better writer. In the great scheme of things, failing to take 1 or 2 of the hundreds of steps I need to take to get where I want is not a big deal.

Two steps forward, one step back

Progression is never linear when trying to achieve a (worthy) goal. There will always be an obstacle in the way, but you need to keep an eye on the trends and the net results. For me that means I’m writing (almost) every day, and I have a small collection of posts that I did not have before starting this adventure. I know I’ll eventually get there, because I’m in love with the long term goal, writing streaks be damned.

I know this is going to sound like a self-help book, but the only truth about most things worth pursuing is this:

You haven’t failed until you give up.

P.S: I plan on writing about progress and determination a bit more in the future. As someone who has quit smoking, lost 20 Kg, and gone from being a couch potato to running a half marathon, I know a trick or two about that.