Dear fellow stenographers and Phoenix Theorists,
It has been several weeks -- nay, months -- since I have last redacted a blog post. This was not out of sheer laziness, as I assure you I enjoy sharing my thoughts with you. But rather, I have been deeply immersed in the gargantuan-yet-exciting task of shortening my writing. In the last month or two, I have made almost 400 entries in my CaseCAT update area. Is this not fantastic? I say yes.
Well, at least it WAS 400 entries until they all magically vanished today.
My heart sunk, and despite the trauma, I could not help but smile, for I had recently learned how to back up my dictionaries and had done nothing about it. It is the natural order of things that one should lose all one's data after having learned how to protect it and to have not done so. So yes, everything did seem normal and natural to me.
I have learned that you should not leave anything until later. Simple statement -- tricky to apply. I was already tackling issues with my writing and taking charge of my difficulties, yet I managed to let this one slip past me by assuring myself I would deal with it later "when it was worth it". When exactly was I expecting it to become "worth it"? Why, it was worth it from the beginning when I decided to start drastically shortening my writing.
What we all need to retain from my blunder is to always remember that what you are doing is valuable. There is potential in every moment of practice to become a better reporter. If one doesn't seize that moment, one loses that potential to be the best they can be.
I want you to make some firm decisions today: I will be focused. I will face my fears. I will venture out of my comfort zone. I will not let others distract me from my valuable practice time. I will not put things off. I WILL BACK UP MY DICTIONARY EVERY DAY.
In stenodarity,
The Steno Duchess
