Feeling Discouraged? Do Not Entertain Thoughts of Quitting
Well, it was Munro’s the magic bookstore to the rescue again.
I cannot tell you the number of times I have gone into my favourite bookstore, Munro’s (in Victoria, British Columbia), and come across a book I had never heard of before but knew, without a doubt, it was exactly what I needed to read. I have learned to listen to my gut on this…if I am holding a book at Munro’s and pondering whether or not to read it, if my intuitive voice whispers, “Buy it!” I will do so.
Case in point was a few weeks ago when I came across a book entitled, “The Obstacle is the Way; The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph,” by Ryan Holiday.
Truth be told, I suspect this book was the Universe’s way of throwing me a life preserver when I didn’t even realize I was close to drowning. I knew I had been struggling with doubt — but I don’t think I fully grasped the dangerous waters I had entered by starting to entertain the possibility of giving up…throwing in the towel on my Big Writing Dreams.
Because let’s face it: from the outside looking in on my work life, after twenty-two years of steady writing, I don’t have a heck of a lot of external material (published books, produced plays and films, etc) to show for my extensive efforts.
