I postmortem each month shortly after it ends, reflecting on what happened in general and, more specifically, in the context of my goals. Though I don’t share all my insights here, I have made it a practice to share at least one key highlight or insight. (To read previous months’ reviews, click here.)

I had to triage my goals in late October’s accounting, prioritizing the ones that I’d not yet quite completed that had the highest priority on my list for the year. (Hey, if I can get the lower priority ones done before year’s end, I’ll consider that a bonus.)

On the list of my remaining high-priority goals for 2021, I have a few writing-related objectives. I started the month strong and then ground to a complete halt for the bulk of November.

I had a good reason: After two years with an ocean between us, I got to see my family. We made the arduous voyage (even more so during COVID times) to Houston from Lausanne in early November and stayed until midmonth. The preparation leading up to the trip and the catch-up required afterward derailed my writing work—though, in this case, I feel no guilt whatsoever. I’d seen everyone via videoconference these past two years, yet the magic of Skype and FaceTime doesn’t compare to relaxing in the company of others.

Once I’d caught back up in other parts of my life after our return to Lausanne, I jumped back into the writing game. I managed to make decent progress by late November. I credit my motivation partly to knowing that I’d stare down my goals before the first of December and partly to my writing accountability partner, to whom I had to report and account for my dismal progress in a real-time conversation. After a poor showing, I always feel an urgency not to sing the same sad refrain when I speak to him next.

If I lean in hard in December, I might manage to make it to my 2021 writing targets—or close to them.

I hope the end-of-year season has you, too, getting closer to your annual goals and spending precious time with your family and friends.