Do you ever feel like quitting? Whether it’s learning to cook a fancy meal, brewing the perfect cup of tea, promoting a project, or maintaining a friendship, many things we value take work, and it’s not always rewarded as quickly as we’d like.
When I was starting out as a writer, I read craft articles and books and attended workshops. I learned a lot, made many good writer friends, and eventually began to see my work published in some well-known venues. And that was good.
But writer friends who started later are getting published far more often, in more famous places. I could blame myself for that. I choose to go for a walk, read a good book, sew a new quilt, or meet friends for lunch, rather than write for hours every day.
I don’t want to work that hard anymore. I’m oldish. Sort of. It’s hard to admit. I don’t want to learn how to make an Instagram reel. I don’t want to engage hundreds of followers, because then I’d have to give them something new to read more often. The successful writers I know hustle, and they are younger. They are trying to make a living, while my full time working days are over.
Now, I do take my writing seriously. It’s not a hobby. It’s my life work. So is teaching others to write their personal stories. Besides watching my kids grow up to be wonderful men, it’s the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done. Readers have enjoyed my stories. Students have enjoyed my classes. And that’s actually enough.
It’s taken my whole life to understand this. I am good enough. What I do is good enough. And because I don’t need to work for a salary anymore, where I’m published is good enough.
What about you? Is there something you like to do that you don’t do perfectly? Do you still enjoy it, regardless of what the world thinks? I’d love to know.
