24

 

Sorry to disappoint the Kiefer Sutherland fans (not a fan per se but I do appreciate his work), but this episode of 'the Cosmos' has nothing to do with the scintillating action series with the same numerical title. 

It has to do with a random goal, motivation, and finding your arc. 

24 is just simple math. 

12 months. 

2 blogs a month. 

= 24. 

That's my arbitrary goal for writing now. 24 blogs a year. 

This morning, I woke up not knowing where the hell number 24 was going to come from this time around. I found it here...

Season 4, Episode 8. 'The Summer Man' Mad Men. 

Don finds himself (after losing himself in bottles and vaginas), and reinvents. 

Can't start over, but you can write the next chapter. 

This episode is a critical step in Don's life arc. 

And introducing...

Character arcs. 

Every character, every person...

Fiction or non. 

Goes through a character arc. 

In its most simplistic terms, a character arc goes through this cycle; 

• Defined. 
• Conundrum. 
• Direction. 
• Re-defined. 

For example, Mr. Incredible's character arc...

He's A Super Hero and alone. 

He's no longer a Super Hero. 

He needs a team. 

He's a Super Hero again, but now, part of a team. 

To close...

1.) Set realistic goals. Sometimes you have to push through to accomplish them. But, sometimes, you need to walk away from them to seal the deal. 

2.) Reinvent, and do what helps you do that. 

3.) We all have many character arcs. Can't pass go until you pay your dues. 

In the next 365...

Set Goals. 

Reinvent. 

Follow your Arc. 

And, I almost forgot...

Happy New Year!