There are writers and there are dabblers. There are those who say they are writers but never sit down at the computer to string words together. If you ask them why, they will tell you they are writing in their head. I believe that is true occasionally, but the overwhelming amount of time, they simply are not taking advantage of what they have right in front of them: today.
I’ve learned a lot about life, time and myself on my writing journey. It’s all about now. Takes these principles and apply them to your own life and you’ll have no regrets.
You’re not in a dress rehearsal. You have today. That’s it. Yesterday is gone forever and tomorrow is yet a hope and dream. Time is short. In fact, life is sort of like toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. Seize today. That’s all you have. Write today.
Each day is unique. I pity the person who thinks every day is just like the thousands that came and went before this one. It’s simply not true. God created this day unlike any other and it is chocked full of incredible truth and wisdom. Your body chemistry is different today. It’s building a memory that tomorrow will be stored in your brain as history.
How you write today is different. You will never be able to write tomorrow the same way you write today. You will not be able to put the “today” spin on your story. You may be able to construct a better story tomorrow but will only be able to write today’s story during these set of twenty-four hours.
Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. Ever get to bedtime and realize you didn’t really accomplish anything of virtue today? That is my most depressing moment, to realize I squandered away my gift of life that day without pouring myself out into the lives of others. The feeling of loss is overwhelming. I can’t get it back. Neither can you.
To be a successful writer, you must seize the day. Get the most out of it. No, I’m not saying you should pack up the family and the pooch and head for Hawaii. . . necessarily. What I am saying is live your life of a writer in such a way, when that tired head hits the pillow at the end of today, your last waking thought is of you thanking God for having allowed you to get all the goody out of today.
You are destined to help make the world a better place with your writing. No doubt about it. But you must do it today. Live today. Help others today. Create wonderful plots and characters today. If you do that, you will be successful.
Reba J. Hoffman Member Care Coach
clinical counseling and is the founder and president of New Hope Institute of Counseling. Reba uses her gift of encouragement to help writers overcome negative emotions so they can live their dream of being a writer. Her works appear in publications such as Running for the Woman’s Soul by Road Runner Sports and The Good Fight by Donna Hicken. She is the author of My Book Therapy’s Dare to Dream, a Writer’s Journal. Contact her at reba@mybooktherapy.com.
Are you seizing the day and squeezing all the goody out of it? Do you need help changing your life patterns so you can? Email me at reba@mybooktherapy.com.