Julia Devlin

Flirty Author Bitches talking about failure and the road to success.  I included some quotes in my blog but here are some other ones I like.

I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.  ~Bill Cosby

Try again.  Fail again.  Fail better.  ~Samuel Beckett

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.  ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

It is a mistake to suppose that people succeed through success; they often succeed through failures.  ~Author Unknown

I hope you’ll stop by and leave me a comment.

~Julia

I can’t believe 2011 is over!

Like most everyone I have my list of resolutions and things I want to accomplish in 2012 but instead of giving you that list I’d rather start this new year with the things I’m most grateful for.

My 2012 Gratitude List

1. My health– the last 2 years in a row have ended with people dying unexpectedly and it’s really made me realize how very important health is.  Without it, not much else matters.
2. My husband– After 18 years together he’s still awesome.  I really couldn’t ask for a better husband or a more understanding one. He’s supported every crazy idea I’ve ever had and there’s not many people who would do that.
3. My kids– I have 2 of the best kids out there.  They’re happy, healthy, and teach me new things every day.
4. My mom– She lives next door to me and is my biggest supporter.  She’s been nothing but enthusiastic about my writing, even when I know sometimes she’s um…. surprised… at my subject matter.  She also helps me whenever she can and is the best grandma ever!
5. The rest of my family– No list would be complete without mentioning this crazy bunch.  I love them all and am so thankful to have such a close knit group to call my own.
6. Writing– I spent a lot of years not sure what I wanted to do with my life.  Sure I had a good job, but I wasn’t really fulfilled.  I still don’t really know what made me open that 1st word document 5 years ago and start a story but I’m very grateful I did.
7. My readers– Thank you so much for all the support and kindness you’ve shown my work over the last couple years.  I am truly grateful to you for reading and liking my stories.
8. My BFF’s– I have the best friends a women could ask for.  They are all different from each other, and give me different things, but I couldn’t ask for a more supportive group of women.  It’s nice to be understood.
9. My creativity– I do believe that everyone is creative and I’m so grateful I’ve been able to get in touch with and cultivate mine.
10. My analytical side– I believe that writing is equally creative and analytical. Without this side of my personality I wouldn’t be able to produce polished stories, spot problems areas, develop believable character arcs, fix plot holes, etc.  Being analytical is a much over looked yet equally important component of writing and I’m grateful for my active, logical (albeit sometimes overly) brain.

So there you have it, the things I’m most grateful for… sure there are others, but this is the top ten.  What are you most grateful for going into this upcoming year?

~Julia~