Motivation From Children's Stories

I certainly find motivation and inspiration in the Word of God, but sometimes I'm sitting at my desk or heading somewhere, and a line or theme from a story I enjoyed as a child will pop into my head:

I think I can, I think I can...  (The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper)

Slow and steady wins the race. (The Tortoise and the Hare by Aesop)

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop. (Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll)

I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am!  (Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss)

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum)

Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.  (Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

All of the above apply to this year's, "Eat Less, Move More, Write" journey in some way.

On Eating Less (I'm down 10 lbs on the year!)

Watching what--and how much--I eat makes a difference.  Especially how much.  If I keep below my target calories, I lose weight.  Even if it's only half a pound.

I think I can reach my goal of losing 50 lbs.  I think I can.  But it will definitely be slow and steady.  I've tried to many "fast weight loss" programs to consider going that route again.  Like Sam I Am, I may have to consider eating some things I'm not particularly fond of, but usually it's because I've never tried them. And I definitely will have to stop eating some things I love, like potato chips and gobs and gobs of peanut butter.

On Moving More (Hampered a bit by a nerve/muscle problem on my left side, but doctor says it's fixable)

Enjoying weekend walks with Hubby, when he's open to walking a little slower and I'm up for all but jogging, due to the difference in our leg lengths.  (He's 6'7" and I'm 5'2".)

Back to "I think I can, I think I can..."  I do not like exercise, I do not like it (most of the time, at least when I'm thinking about doing it although usually once I start, it feels pretty good and I'm glad I did it), Pat I Am.  But it is important to reaching my goal so that little wo-man behind the curtain (inside my head) who tries to convince me not to do it must be ignored.

On Writing (Wrote and submitted one short story and have been working on wip)

Another slow and steady undertaking, for sure.  Except there's something to be said for writing fast.  Just get the story out, then worry about whether it's any good later.  Which definitely will require ignoring the man behind the curtain (again, my head) who worries about whether the writing is good enough, the story is good enough, pretty much everything and whether it's good enough.

So I begin and go until I can't go anymore, then I stop.  Only to begin again.  Sometimes in short spurts, sometimes in long sessions.  The important thing is to write.

And regarding all three, the celebration I'm looking forward to at the end of this year won't be quite the same if I don't gift myself with the effort it takes to reach my goals.  Way too early in the year to anticipate anything other than the present of success.

Do you recall any lines from favorite children's stories?  Where do you find motivation for the journey?