This week our members share their
Reflections of 2017.
Hi
folks, Harper here. As I write this
post, I find it hard to believe we’re already looking back at the good, the
bad, and the ugly of everything that’s transpired within the last twelve
months. I couldn’t wait for 2016 to end. With multiple celebrity deaths (Prince
and George Michael in particular), I was thoroughly looking forward to wiping
my slate clean, moving on to brighter pastures, and ushering in 2017, but then
there was the election. After November 8, 2016, a good portion of the
population, myself included, had to take some time to adjust to this new
“normal.”
A
full year later and, almost daily, I still feel like the world is on fire. I
had to do something to keep me from losing my mind. Aside from donating to
charitable causes like Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties
Union, I chose to turn 2017 into a year of intention. I guess you could say my ah-ha
moment came when I realized my writing was suffering. I was internalizing all
of the negativity that came with our new normal, and because of it, I couldn’t
muster up the desire to create HEAs.
Being
selfish is usually considered a bad thing, but for me at least, 2017 became a
year where self-care was of the utmost importance. To deal with the madness, I
had to put myself first and do so without an ounce of guilt. So, here are three
things I did in 2017 to keep my positivity high:
I Tweeted for the Culture
Before the election of 2016, Twitter was a
social media platform I barely used. I would retweet articles I found
interesting and fell in line with my brand. I’d tweet inspirational quotes a
few mornings out of the week. But after November, I needed to find individuals
who felt as I did. People who knew black and brown folks were not the enemy and
that immigrants were not the enemy. Despite what the current administration in
the White House would have us believe, people of color and immigrants are
deserving of equality and respect.
On Twitter, I found my brethren! I’ve engaged
in discussions about inclusiveness. I shared threads to help others understand
why feminism needs to be intersectional and why white supremacy and Nazis are
detrimental to the message of equality no matter how they’re framed and why
Black Lives Matter isn’t a terrorist organization. I immersed myself in threads
and followed a lot more social justice activists who were asking some tough
questions, and it was cathartic.
Many authors are afraid of alienating readers
with their personal views, but the more I thought about what was at stake, the
more empowered I became.
Author me is not that different from everyday
me. Now, I tweet like it’s my job. Losing book sales is no longer a factor when
my integrity is at stake. I sleep better knowing I’m using my social media
platforms to engage in open and honest dialogue.
I Focused on Personal Transformation
I did it. I finally gave up dating. I had a
short-lived column for Keynotes where I wrote about my shenanigans as a single
black female writer in NYC. I wasn’t exactly leading the Sex and the City life,
and I’m certainly no Carrie Bradshaw, but I’ve come to the realization that
dating in NYC is a waste of my time. Technically dating in a major city should be
easier because of the abundance of people, but not so! The energy I spent
trying to make sense of why individuals were emotionally stunted, I could
channel into other things like living my best life and my writing.
The summer months of 2017 were spent on
becoming a better, healthier me. Before beginning my writing career, I was in
the gym at least six days a week. That changed mainly because I couldn’t fit in
time to work out and write and check off the bazillion other things on my to-do-list.
I retrained my brain and reprioritized my goals. Having a plan of action has
led to a significant increase in my productivity. I’m writing more, I’m working
out more, and I’m rewriting my narrative while riding a wave of goodness!
I Let Go of Toxicity
Saying goodbye can be hard, especially when
you’ve established communication with someone, be it online or offline. If
someone doesn’t bring you a little bit of joy, you shouldn’t feel any guilt
about needing to cut ties. I let go of people who were not looking to better
themselves or encouraging others in their respective journeys. This year, I’ve
tried to elevate my platform and amplify my voice, and I want to promote and
uplift others in their author journeys, as well.
I’ve learned a hard lesson in 2017: not
everyone’s heart matches mine. While I have good intentions in wanting the best
for everyone and hoping we all succeed in this author gig, not everyone feels
the same. I’m not interested in fueling dissent. We have enough on our plates trying
to survive in this new world. Why not contribute in the best ways possible?
This year has been a year filled with ups and
downs, but toward the latter half of the year, I’ve made some excellent
strides. Here’s hoping 2018 builds on that momentum.
I wish you all joy and prosperity for the
remainder of 2017 and may 2018 be filled with opportunities that push you
closer to your goals.♥
Harper
Miller is a thirty-something native New Yorker. She’s traveled the world and
lived in a variety of places but always finds her way back to the Big Apple. A
lackluster love life leaves time to explore new interests; for Harper it is
writing.
The Sweetest Taboo: An
Unconventional Romance is her debut novel. In her mind, the perfect
Alpha male possesses intellect, humor, and a kinky streak that rivals the size
of California. When she isn’t writing, Harper utilizes her graduate degree in
the field of medical research. She enjoys fitness-related activities, drinking
copious amounts of wine, and going on bad dates. Harper may have sworn off online dating, but
she loves writing about couples who connect via this medium. If you’re
interested in erotic short stories, give the Kinky Connect Chronicles a whirl.
All stories in the series are standalones. Stay up to date with Harper by
visiting her website:
www.authorharpermiller.com
READ
ROMANCE !
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