Ever feel like a duck on a pond? 2019 was my ‘Duck on a Pond’ year…

This year I feel like I’ve been the proverbial duck on the pond. On the surface everything has looked pretty calm, but beneath the water my feet have been churning a mile a minute. Like many people, as another a year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on my output and achievements and weighing up if they match the vision I held at the start of the year.

While at times I’ve felt I haven’t been doing much in the way of personal or professional development, perhaps the surface-level static belies the legwork beneath. 2019 might not have been the greatest when it comes to tangible ‘writerly wins’, but success comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s the time you invest back into yourself, your craft, and your networks that can pay dividends downstream. That’s why I’m calling 2019 my ‘Duck on a Pond’ year.

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‘Beautiful Pond’ by Ayla Bouvette

I went through my diary this week and it seems, in spite of my inner critic telling me otherwise, I’ve actually been up to duckloads! If you’re reflecting on your 2019 and feel you haven’t met your own standards, chances are you’ve possibly (if you’re anything like

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Jasper and Darcy (aka The Damn Cats)

me) set yourself a nigh impossible target of productivity and achievement while trying to juggle a semblance of work-life-family balance … and feed the damn cats!

Keep on ducking, and don’t be so hard on yourself. Writing can already be an emotionally tough gig, without the stress of meeting your own high standards. Whatever you’ve done this year, it is enough. And so are you