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Goal-Setting and The Lake of Dreams

4/21/2017

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If you've read my About Me page, you'll know it has been my life-long desire to write children's books. For almost 50 years I secretly wished for it and thought about it often, but I never took action.

"I could never be a real author," I told myself.

When I started teaching more growth mindset and goal-setting lessons, I realized how hypocritical that was. 

So two years ago, I dipped a pinky toe in the Lake of Dreams and joined a local writers' networking group. That led to me wading in up to my waist and joining a critique group. Then I ducked my head under and started writing instead of only saying I was going to write "some day." Now I have three polished picture book manuscripts (all of which will be excellent for counseling lessons for grades 2-6).

I'm ready to jump from the high dive.

Super George and the Invisible Shield is with the illustrator, and should be a real-live book by the end of the summer. I'm beside myself with excitement but more than that, I'm proud of myself. I'm proud that I stopped listening to my negative self-talk, set a goal for myself, and achieved it. I hope that Super George will help lots of kids in the future, but for me he'll always be the thing I can point to and tell kids, "See? Believe in yourself. You can do it!"

Next up: a pet monkey.
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Picture
Pre-order either a hardcover copy or a PDF with accompanying counseling lesson via my Kickstarter campaign through May 19.
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    Author
    Laurie P. Mendoza, 
    MA, CAGS

    I've been an elementary school counselor in Massachusetts for almost 20 years, so have a lot of opinions on everything!

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© 2013-2018    Laurie P. Mendoza   The School Counseling Files
  • Program Planning
  • Counseling Activities
    • Activities for Kids on the Autism Spectrum
    • Anger Management Activities
    • Activities for Anxious Kids
    • Girl Power
    • Zones of Regulation/Emotional Regulation Activities
    • Social Superheroes
    • Individual Counseling
    • General Counseling Activities
    • Mindfulness Activities
  • DATA COLLECTION
  • Communicate
  • Share/Connect
  • Blog