Creating Joy
Gaining perspective and living intentionally
Perspective is a funny thing. Sometimes, a little distance helps you see things clearly.
Other times, that distance makes you forget.
This is particularly true when it comes to accomplishments and, often, experiences. For example, a few weeks ago I told my husband I hadn’t traveled as much this year. HA! After I counted, I realized I’d traveled 84 days in 2024. It’s not as much as 2022, when I was on the road for 93 (or something like that), but it’s still a lot.
I also didn’t realize how much I’d spoken. This year, I presented at four Travel and Adventure Shows, spoke on SEO at the Midwest Travel Network annual conference, gave five presentations at libraries, and another twenty-three at retirement facilities. That’s thirty-three speaking engagements in one year and doesn’t include the 15 hours of instruction I provided for my writing workshop in Sheboygan.
Mom always said I like to talk a lot.
Most of my travel was for work, including a ten-day research trip to Geary County, Kansas, but we also celebrated Mom’s 75th birthday in Kentucky and my in-laws’ 70th wedding anniversary in Washington - with a quick jaunt to Canada, because we could.
I took a few local jaunts, to Lake Geneva, to Elgin, and a few to Chicago, and I went on a fun Christkindlventure with two of my favorite people.
One of my biggest adventures was a visit to North Carolina, for two reasons. Hurricane Helene did a number on my parents’ house. I’d always planned to visit them before attending a conference in Chapel Hill in October. That visit became a short getaway with the two of them in Winston-Salem. It was nice for them to escape from the chaos - they wouldn’t have potable water for another couple of weeks, and wouldn’t get a new roof for another month and a half - and it was good for me to see them and hug them and know they were OK. Rattled. Upset. Frankly, traumatized, but OK. So many people weren’t, and I’m thankful every day that the only thing damaged was their home.
The other reason that visit was an adventure was because of the conference. Back in December of 2023, I decided 2024 would be the year I commit to my author career, and part of that was registering for an author conference. As of last December, I’d already published over ten books, but I’d never attended an event just for authors.
Self-Publishing Live didn’t teach me tactics and strategies. It taught me mindset. And I made connections with people who also have a drive to string words together. I left invigorated and even more determined to be a successful and joyful author.
This past Sunday, I wrote The End on my sixth novel and my fourteenth book. In the next few weeks, I’m starting a whole new series. I’ve got plans for more nonfiction, too. Yes, I’m still travel writing, but I’m skipping the listicles and the “things to do in…” and focusing on the type of lyrical prose that feeds my soul, and, hopefully, your wanderlust.
I’ll be speaking even more in 2025. I’ve already got more library presentations scheduled by May than I did in all of 2024. I’ll also be at the Travel and Adventure Shows again: Atlanta next week (get your free ticket!), and Chicago and Los Angeles in February.
I’m not sure how much travel I’ll do. I’ve got so many stories waiting I could stay home for five years and not plumb the depths. Of course, we know that’s not going to happen! Travel is in my blood. It fills my well. And since so many of my friends and family are scattered here and there, if I want to see them, travel is a necessity.
Yes. For me, travel is a necessity.
On the 366th day of this year, I’ll also admit it was challenging. In June I received a diabetes diagnosis. We immediately changed our diets and, as of October, I’d already gone back to pre-diabetic. Yay! And, well, November… I’m still in shock and, yes, very concerned, but I’m choosing to focus on what I can do to bring happiness and joy to the world.
It’s only been the last few years that I’ve chosen a word of the year. In 2024, it was Joy, and I experienced more of that emotion, despite the challenges, than at any other time in my life.
In 2025? It’s Create.
Create stories. Create art. Create beauty. Create love. Create connections. And yes, Create joy.
I didn’t think I was creative until recently. And now I know I am, and I’m owning it, and I’m living it intentionally.
I hope that whatever brings you joy, you’re able to celebrate it. And I hope you’re able to Create a life you love.
Thank you for being part of mine.
Until next year…
Love and Wanderlust,
Theresa Goodrich
p.s. If you’ve always wanted to publish a book, I’m giving a free webinar this Thursday! I’ll walk you through the steps that take you from words on the screen to book on the shelf. It’s at 1pm CST and there’ll be a replay if you can’t make it.