Note: This is not the final cover.
Well, folx. There’s a reason I call it (Mostly) Weekly Update. And this one is a doozy of a post. Let’s start with the big news:
🥳🥳🥳ZODIAC RISING IS COMING IN 2022 TO A BOOKSTORE NEAR YOU!! 🥳🥳🥳
Somehow, someway, Shadow Spark Publishing (more about them here) accepted my manuscript and I am now the proud owner of my first published book. If you know me, you know this is a milestone that I never thought I’d reach. Even if you don’t know me, I repeat, never thought I’d reach. I was convinced my work was unworthy. But fortunately, someone saw its (and my) worth.
I don’t want to brag and go on and on about my achievements, but the past couple of months have been pretty big for me. I graduated from my MFA program and have plans to re-enroll and get another MA (because I have a penchant for self-destruction). I say all of this with a point.
Being uplifting and encouraging is not something I’m good at. If you’ve ever seen the Debbie Downer SNL skits, that’s me. I find the negative in everything I do, even these two accomplishments. But through all this, I have been reminded that my worth and my value does not come from how others perceive me, but from how I perceive myself. I can sit here all day long and neg on my achievements, but at the end of the day, they’re still there waiting for me to celebrate them. And I think that’s something that people forget. Even if your achievements are small, they’ll still be there when you close your eyes at night. They’re waiting to celebrate with you; you just have to let yourself celebrate them.
I know (gods, I know) that it isn’t easy. Allowing yourself to be happy, PROUD no less, for and of yourself can seem impossible. Still, do yourself a kindness, be proud of all you did today. If all you did was wake up, you know what? You still did something! If you managed to #bossbabe your way through your day, that’s great! If you laid in bed and binged NCIS like I do, also great! Being kind to yourself is free.
As my husband tells me: the rest of the world will tear you down enough. You don’t need to add your voice to it.
Live well. Be kind. As for me, I’m gonna celebrate.
xoxo
Victoria Gross 