Change is part of life. So are set-backs. So are re-directions, mis-directions, and forgetting to ask for directions. No matter what your pursuit, you will, at times, feel like your legs are being swept out from under you or you're being kicked in the gut.
That's why it's so important to embrace your passion and do you what you love.
When you're standing at the bottom of the hill, looking at the boulder rolling your way...
When you're laying on the floor, watching the boot come down...
When you're just sitting alone at a table in the corner of a dark room, staring into your eighth cup of coffee with a squirt of lime juice and a pinch of salt...
You want to be able to look back and say...
"Yeah, but it's been worth it."
"You can knock me down, but you can't knock me out."
"I'll be fighting my way right back."
Not...
"Wow, was that worth this?"
"Why did I invest so much of my self?"
"So now what?"
You will fail. You will be set back. You will get knocked around.
Make sure you fail doing what you love, so that when it happens, it's all part of the game.
.Nevets.
I remember when I finally made the decision to give writing - and getting published - a real shot, and one of my best friends asked me, "How will you feel if you don't get published?"
ReplyDeleteAnd I said, "I'd rather fail at this than succeed at anything else."
It's a hard business, this writing thing. So much self-doubt, so much work, so much stress, and what we produce generates so many different opinions it's hard to know whether we're "succeeding". If I didn't love it, it wouldn't be worth it. Love, for me, is the great equalizer.
So true. That's why there's no such thing as a writer who doesn't like writing. :-)
ReplyDelete@Jennifer - "I'd rather fail at this than succeed at anything else." This is an awesome sentiment. I love this.
ReplyDelete@Bru - And amen.
@Misha - There is, but they're miserable and not very good. :)