I made a promise to myself to keep these long diatribes about who I am and my so-called humble beginnings wandering the Earth in search of the unknown – wait, that wasn’t me. Anyway, I’m much happier to talk about anything other than myself, a little habit I’m trying to break with you here.
I mentioned on the wonderfully created About Lou page the genius of eight year old me with my first opus tucked away. But where was the second? And why am I, a thirty-something so-and-so just getting my crap together?
This little endeavor of mine started in late 2013, with just about the greatest trigger known to man:
DADHOOD.
I quit my job, never to miss cubicle walls again, and prepared myself for poopy diapers and a seemingly endless supply of drool. It was no big thing – leaving my job I mean. A decade of tolerable professions had left me cold inside – desperate for a new start.
Babies are magic that way.
It wasn’t to say I hadn’t been writing in the decade since college. There were countless scripts, false starts, misshapen messes and even the occasional treasure in my personal slush pile. Writing, however integral in my happiness, had been a hobby instead of the dream to end all dreams.
It was time to change that.
Since 2013 I’ve produced more content in the scant hours available (praise be to nap time) than the decade previously. And while I will unfortunately always miss a regular paycheck, or binging on Supernatural while eating dinner on the couch, I am more fulfilled with thirty minutes of solid writing time than an eight hour shift doing something less than meaningful.
I’m not special in this regard. Jeff Goins (an insanely inspirational fellow that I recommend following – not down the street) can tell you the same tale. Except he was much faster and much smarter about it. Family changes things. But that’s me.
I look at my lost decade and I cringe. How much more could I have done, should have done during that time?
What’s keeping you from writing?
What’s holding you back from your goals?
How can you overcome them, reposition them, shift the schedule to make writing, reading, and whatever your passion is take the top spot it deserves?
Make it happen. Make it work. Tell yourself that there is nothing else going on in the world. It is just you and your goal. You and your dream.
At least until nap time is over.
Thanks for reading.
