Dec
28
There’s a lot to be said for doing what you love. I have been happier in recent months than I have been in many, many years.
When I was in high school, wondering what I would do with my life, I knew one thing for sure: I would die inside if I had to spend my time in a corporate environment, in a cubicle. I dared say this out loud to my family, and rather than support me and my search for a job that would make me happy, that was outside the office environment, instead they got all huffy and took it personally (like it had anything to do with them). They said I insulted them and what they do and what they want to do. They said I should consider that the corporate world was where I’d make the most money. I didn’t discuss it with them again.
For awhile, I worked as a teacher. But eventually, I ended up in the world of cubicles and bizarre corporate politics. I hated it. I hated every single minute of it. But it made me lots of money, so I stuck with it. And I got more miserable as the years went on.
So, when I found myself without a job, I sat down and thought about what it was I wanted to do with my life. My husband has always wanted me to do what makes me happy. The only thing that has ever made me happy is to write. I was discouraged from writing as a career in the beginning because of so many reasons — writing won’t make me any money, I have no experience, what if I am not any good at it — but as I spent my time with no job, thinking of what to do, slowly my thoughts turned back to writing. BDH encouraged me to really consider it. And so, I faced the possibilities that scared me in the beginning. “I won’t make much money,” I said. “So what,” said BDH. “We’ll get by.” “I have no experience,” I countered. “So get some”, said BDH. “Just start writing, and see what happens.” “What if I am not any good?” I asked. This was a pretty big one. BDH said, “I enjoy what you write. People enjoy what you write. You’re good enough for them. You’re good enough.”
So I started to think it was possible. And now, I am a writer. I have blogs of my own. I blog for volleyball. I submit stories to online publishers. I am a writer.
I will be lucky if I make in a year even a fraction of the money I used to make in the corporate world. But on the other hand, I am luckier than I ever thought possible. I am doing what I love. I am happier than I have been in many, many years. I am enjoying what I do every single day. I am a writer.
