I have these big plans. Well, medium-sized plans but in a little life like mine they seem pretty big. There are all of these little steps to take me to these big plans because they are long-term big and I have to put in my time on the preparation front to make sure the plans materialize. And you know what? These preparation things sometimes seem pretty overwhelming and difficult.
One of my big plans has to do with the creative career that I want to build. Part of that plan has to do with the work to be a better writer and the other part has to do with building a professional platform.
My other big plan has to do with the material career that I want to build (i.e., $$$). Part of that plan is learning how to do things in the World of Business and the other part has to do with marketing myself professionally.
Basically they both come down to learning curves and marketing. Learning how to be better at things and figuring out how to sell myself/my work.
Because I’m always aiming ahead of where I am, sometimes I feel like I’m not getting anywhere, which is when I have to stop and take a minute to look at how far I’ve come and take a break from looking at how far I still have to go. Still, it’s hard.
This is one of my philosophies of life: Do it anyway. What the hell. Other people quit because it’s hard so sometimes just showing up is enough. You do the prep work, you do the leg work and eventually you’re in the right place at the right time.
Anyway. That’s what I’m thinking about today because it seems like on a number of fronts I’m almost where I want to be next. Which just reminds me of how far I have to go to get beyond that to the next stage. Too daunting. I need to put my head down and get back to work.
I have two kids and a delightfully odd husband, Brett. My children are Noah (born to us in 1997) and Madison (born to her first mom, Pennie, in 2004 and brought to our family through a domestic, open adoption). They are my inspiration and also the reason I don't get more done around here.
I'm a writer and sometimes I get published, which is a nice thing. I write for joy, I write for money and when I'm very lucky, both things happen at the same time. My work appears in national publications including Yoga Journal, Disney's Family.com, Utne, Wondertime, Brain Child and Salon. Currently I am working on a book about my daughter's adoption and seeking representation for the proposal. I also own Smart Cookie Communications with my husband.
Susana
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I fully appreciate this post! Love how you packed so much thought into such few words. I too ‘do it anyway’. I run marathons; slow and steady doesn’t win, but I do always end up crossing the finish line.
Look forward to chatting some more. Good luck Dawn!
Dawn
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Susana, you run marathons?!? You are my hero!!!