While on the way into work last week, the song “Distant Dreamer” by Duffy came on Pandora. I’d never heard the song before, but it spoke deeply into my soul and goals for my life.
It brings up a contrast to the idea of New Year’s Resolutions. While also about dreams, the song talks of them coming true in the distant future instead of the next year, as is the goal with resolutions. I love the beginning lines, “Although you think I cope/My head is filled with hope of some place other than here.” This reflects how I feel in two different ways. Both how I feel when I’m not writing, hoping for a future where I could write full-time and of how the mind of a writer works.
We’re constantly thinking of new ideas and people and places. Our heads are often elsewhere: in the worlds of our characters. There is a hope that they find and we try to find on those worlds.
While I don’t officially make New Year’s Resolutions, I do make goals and here are mine for this year:
1. Get Constricting Corset {my historical fiction novel based on Judy Garland} published.
2. Finish the next historical fiction book
3. The obligatory fitness goal of losing 30 lbs.
I would like to accomplish the majority of these in the first 6 months of the year, but I’ll see how it goes.
Another section of the song that resonates with me is “I’m a dreamer, a distant dreamer/Dreaming far away from today.” While this may mean thinking far ahead and into the future, it could also be letting your mind skip ahead. I know my mind does this sometimes. I skip ahead to book deals, movie deals, being more fit, and I forget that part of the rewards in these goals are the journeys it takes to get there. Completing large goals means hitting smaller ones along the way and trying to enjoy the process, which at many times can be painful. Goals made along the way can lead to your dreams coming true.
I do love that opening line! “Screaming on the Inside” by Far from Frail is also great like that. And you are totally going to rock those goals!!!!