No Time Like The Present

A friend of mine recently lost his father—a sad, sad thing to hear about. I don’t consider myself particularly elderly, but when your friends start losing parents, reality sets in and you begin to look at priorities.

Deaths of friends and family members always leave me empty for a period, and make me wonder how well I’m spending my time here—unguaranteed time.

Motherhood and family are the priorities that come to mind for me right now, and this sort of news makes me want to spend as much time as I can with my loved ones. I already spend too much time on the computer writing and blogging. I only have so many open slots, so I often spend “me time” writing and revising and plotting when my little one goes to bed. This could be quality time with my husband, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel selfish and guilty about it every now and then.

After all, dreams are dreams and, as such, come secondary to “real life” by necessity.

But then again, if I’m not putting any effort into my own dreams, then what example am I setting for my children, and for my husband for that matter?

He plays golf a lot, and that’s time he could be spending with me…but I don’t begrudge him that because it brings him joy. And I love that he has something that makes him feel good. His smiles upon returning home after a round of 18 become my smiles, his relaxation becomes my relaxation.

I know that I am loved too, and that writing brings me joy. So if I’m going to spend time doing it (at the expense of family time), I’m going to honor those that care about me by giving it everything I’ve got.

By pursuing your writing dreams with vigor and persistence, you ARE doing something for your loved ones.

Plus, how long can you afford to put things off because they live in your dream drawer? You never know how long you’ve got.

“No time like the present” is equally relevant when working on laundry or working on those writing goals you keep setting aside for next week, next month, or next year. “No time like the present” means sending a card to a friend or sending a query letter to an agent.

My point, fellow bloggers, is to not be afraid. Hit that send button on your query letter, write that next book, tell your loved ones how loved they are, and go for the 6-scoop-eat-it-all-and-win-a-t-shirt-and-your-picture-on-the-wall Challenge at your local ice cream shop this summer :)

Live.