A good reminder for those days when I grumble too much to myself. I am also grateful that, in my 70s, I can still express myself pretty well in writing. Not everyone is so lucky.
Great piece (as usual). It reminded me of how back in my teenage years I used to dream of making it rich as a writer where now I only dream of making enough to pay rent. Funny though that as my financial ambitions dwindled, my literary aspirations have actually risen. I suppose there's a moral in there somewhere...
Thanks, Alison! I've been lucky to be given some really cool things this week. Two caps and a hat from Aotearoa New Zealand. Plus, wild bears tooth and chanterelle mushrooms ($25 a pound at Wholefoods!) I've been playing thank you songs. Alanis Morrissette, Ariana Grande... and want to thank you for all your help with my thesis, and for these generous and informative posts. We are unfortunately conditioned to crave more, and not be satisfied with what we have, mostly because that's how capitalism works. I loved how in MAD MEN the rise of advertising was all about making people anxious and jealous. Anxious that they didn't have enough, weren't complete, needed more material things. And also to be jealous of what others had, and how you weren't really a success unless you were keeping up with the Joneses. The result is... tons of garbage. Closets full of clothes and shoes we don't wear. Sorry, I'm sounding curmudgeonly, but we really need a Less is More approach to save this world... Meanwhile, the sun shines and I'm thankful for that, so time to go out into it. cheers DG
"I can spend hours alone—the writer in me has to be more than okay with that."
I was reflecting on this feeling the other day, about how much time alone writers truly spend. Not only even just while writing, but while reading, while listening to music through headphones, while doing other solitary creative activities when they need a break from the screen or the page but don't want to turn their brain off outright (mine is cross stitching). As an introvert, I'm truly blessed that I have such fruitful solitary pursuits.
This punched me in the gut a little. I had to pause, because, up until recently, every time I thought about "becoming a writer," I thought that meant finishing my novel and getting published.
I'm in the trenches of that pre-published writer life. I'm still navigating where I fit in as a writer–and, I'll be vulnerable here for a second, DEEP in the trenches of figuring out the next chapter of my life. I asked myself this evening: what would my life look like if I said YES to the writer in me? Your line above made me realize that getting published isn't the destination. Heck, finishing this book isn't the destination. It's one stop on a long train ride, where the tracks are made of volumes of work–all different kinds of work. My dream is to build a life around my writing and to find joy, opportunity and gratitude in the making of that dream. I want to write everything. I want to journal, to write stories and blog posts, to share insights and wisdom as you do with this newsletter. More than anything, I want to tap the vein of my writing potential and see how deep it goes.
I am so grateful to have my imagination and the ability to express myself through words; to have something that I can be so passionate about. I simply do not want to waste this gift and I think the best way to show my gratitude for it, is to explore it, quit setting limits and most of all, share it with others.
Happy Thanksgiving Alison! I love the quotes you included. All food for thought. There is always much to be thankful for. ❤
A good reminder for those days when I grumble too much to myself. I am also grateful that, in my 70s, I can still express myself pretty well in writing. Not everyone is so lucky.
Great piece (as usual). It reminded me of how back in my teenage years I used to dream of making it rich as a writer where now I only dream of making enough to pay rent. Funny though that as my financial ambitions dwindled, my literary aspirations have actually risen. I suppose there's a moral in there somewhere...
All so true. Thank you for taking the time to make me take the time to ponder.
Thanks, Alison! I've been lucky to be given some really cool things this week. Two caps and a hat from Aotearoa New Zealand. Plus, wild bears tooth and chanterelle mushrooms ($25 a pound at Wholefoods!) I've been playing thank you songs. Alanis Morrissette, Ariana Grande... and want to thank you for all your help with my thesis, and for these generous and informative posts. We are unfortunately conditioned to crave more, and not be satisfied with what we have, mostly because that's how capitalism works. I loved how in MAD MEN the rise of advertising was all about making people anxious and jealous. Anxious that they didn't have enough, weren't complete, needed more material things. And also to be jealous of what others had, and how you weren't really a success unless you were keeping up with the Joneses. The result is... tons of garbage. Closets full of clothes and shoes we don't wear. Sorry, I'm sounding curmudgeonly, but we really need a Less is More approach to save this world... Meanwhile, the sun shines and I'm thankful for that, so time to go out into it. cheers DG
"I can spend hours alone—the writer in me has to be more than okay with that."
I was reflecting on this feeling the other day, about how much time alone writers truly spend. Not only even just while writing, but while reading, while listening to music through headphones, while doing other solitary creative activities when they need a break from the screen or the page but don't want to turn their brain off outright (mine is cross stitching). As an introvert, I'm truly blessed that I have such fruitful solitary pursuits.
Happy Thanksgiving!
"Then I was published."
This punched me in the gut a little. I had to pause, because, up until recently, every time I thought about "becoming a writer," I thought that meant finishing my novel and getting published.
I'm in the trenches of that pre-published writer life. I'm still navigating where I fit in as a writer–and, I'll be vulnerable here for a second, DEEP in the trenches of figuring out the next chapter of my life. I asked myself this evening: what would my life look like if I said YES to the writer in me? Your line above made me realize that getting published isn't the destination. Heck, finishing this book isn't the destination. It's one stop on a long train ride, where the tracks are made of volumes of work–all different kinds of work. My dream is to build a life around my writing and to find joy, opportunity and gratitude in the making of that dream. I want to write everything. I want to journal, to write stories and blog posts, to share insights and wisdom as you do with this newsletter. More than anything, I want to tap the vein of my writing potential and see how deep it goes.
I am so grateful to have my imagination and the ability to express myself through words; to have something that I can be so passionate about. I simply do not want to waste this gift and I think the best way to show my gratitude for it, is to explore it, quit setting limits and most of all, share it with others.
As always, thank you for the insight <3
This post was very timely. I wasn't able to log in when I first read it, but it resonated. Off to enjoy the little things. Thank you, Alison!
I loved this Alison and will reread it often. Thank you for this and thank you for being you!