A Summer of Change
This summer has been a bit crazy for me, full of changes, upsets, life-altering events and milestones. Some have been good like finishing my second novel, attending AgentFest, moving to a new and improved apartment and graduating from Graduate School. Some have been bad like the passing of a close relative, a knee injury and now…becoming unemployed.
I wasn’t sure how much to share about my latest crazy summer event, but I couldn’t find any reasons against sharing. My company had a layoff yesterday, and I was one of the employees affected. It was a bit of a shock, and I felt a little dazed yesterday, but I’m pretty confident I can find something else soon.
The point of this post wasn’t to dwell on yesterday’s event but to reflect on how crazy life can get sometimes. How much things can change in a short period of time. And I think it can really bring your focus to what really matters to you and your true goals in life.
What matters most to me? My family. My friends. My writing.
It’s funny how change can bring such clarity of dreams and aspirations. I was focused on writing before. I knew it’s what I want to do. But for some reason, this has intensified over the past few months. I know without a doubt that this is what I want. I know without a doubt it’s what I will do for the rest of my life even if I never get a book on the shelves. And I will never stop trying. I’m going to keep writing the books I love, and I’m going to keep querying. It’s a long shot. It has always been a long shot. But what greater satisfaction can there be from accomplishing something that is such a long shot?
My favorite quote:
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
So, when life gets you down, focus on your dreams. Throw your energy into something you love. Honestly, I think it’s the best therapy there is. And if you don’t make it, at least you know you tried. You gave it your all. And that right there is an accomplishment in itself.
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Comments
You can do it. And we’re all pulling for you.
It will happen. I have so much faith in you.
Dan is right. We’re behind you all the way.
*hugs*
Damn. Sorry to hear about your job. I’ll send positive thoughts your way for you to find a new one, and meanwhile, you have extra writing time you weren’t expecting. =o)
I think you’ve got what it takes, Jen. Keep plugging away and you’ll make it. After all, you have the right attitude and that’s half the battle.
Thanks guys. I was feeling kind of sappy yesterday, but things are looking better today!
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