Take It or Leave It is a weekly highlight series for paid subscribers. Pretty much every Friday, I share a quick hit of things I’m loving.
Most of my writing is long-form and requires time for research between essays. Hopefully, this helps fill in the gaps for you with new finds (or things you want to revisit).
If not, all good. Take it or leave it ✌️
Earlier this week, a friend asked me if I had any goals for my writing. I told him my goals are to keep doing it and enjoying it.
As I shared on the What You Don’t Hear podcast, I’ve written throughout my life. It’s been one of my few constants.
Even when I’ve drifted away from writing, it’s always let me return home. Arms wide open. Meeting me before I could set foot inside.
I’ve seen how burnout can cause our passions to wither, and I don’t want to lose a good thing. I want writing to be a part of my life as long as it will have me.
So, even though I can hear my inner achiever pushing for more, one of the things that has brought me to where I am now is staying consistent. Not forcing myself to work according to other people’s expectations, but going at the pace of my own pleasure.
As I’ve written and shared my work, I’ve found like-minded writers who have become friends and collaborators. I’ve helped organize different writing communities, moved my people to tears, interviewed musicians, seen my words in magazines, talked about my writing on podcasts, and made a book of my essays for my grandma.
I’ve already exceeded my dreams. And here’s what’s beautiful: as I write and stay committed to writing things I enjoy, new playground equipment appears that I wouldn’t have had the confidence to step foot on before.
I refer to opportunities as “new playground equipment” instead of “open doors” because this is fun for me, and I want to keep having fun with other writers who approach this work from a playful place.
We can all play on the playground. A door only lets one of us through at a time.
On the playground, we stay and play. Doors are meant for us to walk through without enjoying the process of getting where we’re going.
There’s nowhere to get to on the playground. You want to enjoy all it has to offer for as long as you can.
That’s where I want to remain: writing and giggling at all the new ideas as they come. Seeing what comes next, and knowing my people will be there to greet me when I arrive.
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