Course Correction

Photo by Nick Page on Unsplash

The last couple of weeks have been a lot. Elizabeth having surgery, Justin being sick, me being sick (which is extremely rare), and some other family stuff. In addition to stuff happening external to the family that has been frustrating, distracting, and disappointing.

I was reminded in the midst of all this that, while we may not be able to control or influence the things that happen to or around us, we can control how we react to those things. We can do our best to not take things personally. We can try not to make assumptions about what other people do or say - even when their words are hurtful and their actions seem inexplicable to us.

The last couple of weeks have also reminded me that we have a finite amount of time, and it is important to find the right balance between what needs to be done and what we want to do.

I am 50 years old. And I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. I have done lots of other things, but I have always been a writer of a sort. I have journaled. I have had a blog (in some form or another) since I first realized they could be a thing. TypePad, LiveJournal, Blogger, Wordpress, Medium, now Substack. And it’s been great. I can reasonably call myself kind of a writer.

But I don’t feel like I can really call myself a writer until I actually publish a book. Even if it is just one. I want to publish something before my brain finally gives up on me. I was reminded just last week in a conversation with a friend that it can come at any time.

I am shifting my focus. My primary work will be on my first book now. I am stepping back from other things in my life so that I can focus on writing it. I will still publish this newsletter, but it will only be 2-4 essays a month rather than 3 posts a week. No more book club. No more updates. Those take precious time I need to use writing and researching.

If you are a subscriber, I hope you will keep your subscription, even with the reduced publishing schedule. Your financial support makes the other work possible. If you are a free subscriber, I hope you will consider supporting me by purchasing a subscription. When the other work is ready, I will share some of it with my subscribers first.

No matter what, I appreciate your support. And I hope that when I finally finish the book, you will buy it and like it.

Be well y’all. Find your path.

And no matter what, keep pounding the rock.

See you soon.