I just surprised the hell out of myself, so I thought I’d share. In case someone else out there is working up to the same epiphany, maybe a little unexpected support will push them over the edge.
I don’t want to delay my plans to edit the witch story until tomorrow just because today will be partly sunny and tomorrow it’s supposed to rain all day.
Back up a little: I’m in Day Two of a four-day weekend. My first stretch of more than three days off since last June (I think so anyway—it sure feels like it!), and part of my birthday present to myself. Yesterday was for errands & etc., and today was supposed to be for going to Saturday Market and Powell’s and anywhere else I felt like going—just for fun.
But I’m going to crawl into the editing cave and finish. And while I’m at it, I’m going to write a couple of blog posts about this cool story. I’m still not quite sure where it came from, because it’s not like anything I’ve ever written—hey, there’s a post! 🙂
This is huge for me. I grew up being told I was lazy because I spent every free moment reading. You know, just sitting around doing nothing. So I grew up thinking I was lazy.
My home life was scary and violent when I was a child, so whenever I could I’d retreat to my room or the library or to school…anywhere but home. So another message I heard all the time was that I never finish anything, that I’m a quitter. While obviously not true, that voice is still there insisting it knows me better than I know myself, telling me—you won’t finish that, you’ll bail the moment it’s not easy.
But I’m not bailing. I’m editing. And I honestly don’t care whether it’s sunny or rainy or what’s in my bank account or how much fun I could have bopping around Portland today. Because I have a deadline, and I will meet it or beat it, but I won’t ask for an extension. Because that’s who I am. I’m a writer. Writers write. Readers read. Reading isn’t lazy, it’s amazing and wonderful, and reading just might save your life or your sanity. Maybe both.
A line from Fight Club just popped into my head: “You’re not your fucking khakis.”
I’m not the messages I heard as a child.
I’m not lazy.
If you’ve overcome a negative message from your childhood (or young adulthood, or anytime), I’d love to hear about it in the comments. We can all appreciate our current selves together! 🙂
Happy Caturday everyone!
Charley Descoteaux 
Good for you! That sounds like a great way to spend your time, because it is what you want to do. Nothing more luxurious than having the freedom to do exactly what you want, whatever that may be.
I was always told I was “aimless”, my dad used it like a nickname for me actually. They also said I was a “space shot” and a flake, mainly because I was always daydreaming. I’d like to say I have overcome those messages, but I think I have lived up to them rather accurately. I am 40 years old and still have no real idea what I want to be when I grow up, and I still daydream.
Oh, well. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, I guess – now I own my title of “flake” and happily spend my time daydreaming up stories 🙂
I hope you enjoy the rest of your mini vacation!