We have to be brave enough to sacrifice to reach our goals.
Wait... what? I'm pretty sure it doesn't take a whole lot of bravery to skip watching Bones or to not play a game of Bejeweled!
Except that's not really all there is to it. Yes, as writers we sacrifice a LOT of things. But we're not just sacrificing tv and games and time spent not thinking about our next scene and sleep. With every minute we spend on writing and learning about writing, we sacrifice the same amount of time we could spend on learning and practicing something else. There's some other talent out there that we are choosing NOT to develop by choosing to develop our writing talent.
That's pretty huge! It takes sheer bravery to say that we believe in our talent and raw determination enough to spend all the countless hours we spend on this. To say that it will someday pay off. To say that every bit of the journey made it all worthwhile, regardless of outcome.
By choosing one door, we are in reality NOT choosing the other door. Maybe not forever. But there are only so many hours in a day. (DARN IT!) Until we either figure out how to stop time, or live without sleep, choosing which talents to develop is the reality.
I don't know about you, but I'm kinda okay with that. I like the door I've chosen. This writing thing is HARD. But it's also SO WORTH IT.
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16 comments:
Agreed! And I love Bones BTW it us a huge sacrifice! Lol.
so true. great post..
Ooo what an interesting way to view it! The door not taken... the talent not developed. My word. I hope I have chosen correctly!
Totally in love with Bones. That is NOT one of the things I am sacrificing. (Well, maybe I'll sacrifice the box DVD marathons...)
So true though. I decided to give up singing in a band to pursue this. I still give concerts in my car ;)
Hopefully the chance to perform for others will come back around.
Great post!
Thank you for this post! Sacrifice comes in big and small pieces, some are easier to set aside than others.
Excellent post. I sometimes feel guilty when my little girl is pulling at me for the fiftieth time to come play Barbies, but it also makes me feel like if I'm going to do this, I better put my heart and soul in; anything less would mean I was wasting time when I could be playing with my kid. So much guilt!
I have an award for you, Peggy!
http://readywritego.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-awards-and-memesoh-my.html
Hey Peggy, I found you through Jessie Humphries. We're fellow recipients of the Liebster. She's says you're a great friend to have around so I thought I'd follow you.
You are so right about making sacrifices to pursue writing. I'm new to the game, or relatively so. I'm so dedicated that, with the exception of my family and friends, I put everything else to the side to follow my dream to publication.
I feel a little guilty at times, but this is the first dream I've had only for myself. And I'm no spring chicken, so that's saying something.
I know, I am totally sacrificing my million dollar recording artist deal for this writing gig. Call me crazy! (More like sacrificing my sanity).
I hadn't really thought of it that way. Now I'm kind of freaking out. What else might I be learning to do? LOL Seriously though, this is so true.
I do miss playing bejeweled. :D
Great post, Peggy! I love the "two doors" comment. Of course, now I just need to decide. Is it the lady or the tiger behind the door I've opened?
Sometimes my writing is a lady, euphoria that sends me to heights never before attained. At other times, it is the tiger, a predator unparalleled by any of my fears.
Either way, it's the door I chose. No regrets.
Jen-- It IS a huge sacrifice!
Cristina-- Thanks!
Jayne-- Okay, now I feel all kinds of guilty for pointing it out. Can I make it better by saying YES! You totally chose right!!
Kelley-- It's totally okay to not sacrifice Bones. :) And wow! Singing in a band! That's a pretty huge sacrifice.
E.R.-- So very true.
Elizabeth-- Your comment is exactly what the post I have scheduled for tomorrow talks about! When you're working on writing, if you don't give it your all, you are just wasting all that you sacrificed.
Cherie-- Aw! Thanks! You're so sweet!
Nancy-- That's awesome! Thanks! Jessie rocks. Best of luck on your dream! And in your picture, you totally look like a spring chicken.
Jessie-- If you're sacrificing your sanity, that means we can actually call you crazy then, right? :) And I could totally picture you having a million dollar recording artist deal.
CherylAnne-- Sigh. Bejeweled was a fabulous time waster.
Bryce-- Thanks! And I love that both of your doors are writing doors! (Even if one is scary.) I guess it just shows how thoroughly you chose writing!!
i dont mind sacrificing housework to write, but my family isnt so thrilled about it...
maybe i need to sacrifice more and suffer for my writing, then i'll get published, eh?
=)
I do like the doors too and I'll keep following my dream as a writer--no matter what...
Tara-- Your comment made me laugh out loud! Bathtub. You should definitely sacrifice cleaning the bathtub for the sake of getting published. :)
Peaches-- I LOVE hearing about that strong of dedication!
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