The Power Of Persistence

Everyone needs a cheerleader.

My husband, Eric, listened to me for three days. “I don’t know what to write for my blog. I can’t believe I don’t have any ideas.” He offers suggestions which I contemplate, “Meh.” He listens to me plan our evening which revolves around getting this blog post done. I disappear for two hours and return with, “I tried, but I’ve got nothing.” He tells me it’s okay, I’m a great writer, and I’ll think of something. I tell him maybe I’ll have an idea next week. He nods.

The next morning I ask if he minds if I disappear for a bit to work on a post. Eric laughs, “I knew that’s what you’d want to do.” “Really?” “Yeah, you’re not good at letting go.”

I knew what he meant. I’m persistent, and that quality is needed for writing as well as marriage. But it’s deeper meaning was also true.

Letting Go

When it comes to writing letting go is frightening. First, I must let go of my preconceived notions of what people may think of my writing and the longer I’ve been at it, the more writers, editors, and agents I meet the louder the:  it’s not good enough gets. Next, I have to let go of caring how many readers see my posts. If I reach a few people who connect with what I’ve written, that’s what I’ve set out to do. Some posts get many views some do not, and I can’t place my value as a writer on post likes and shares. My hope is that something I write will reach someone and help them in some way. My writing is an act of service. This blog is also a ten-year journal of my life that hopefully will be interesting to my grandchildren and great-grandchildren one day. No pressure Arielle and Kai.

Maybe when you’ve been doing something for so long, felt the excitement of success and the pain of failure, no longer having the naivety of a novice, fear becomes this dark cloud that sits within whispering give up. You gave it a good try now move on. Maybe that’s the time to be persistent in letting go.

I must let go of worries, step out from under the dark cloud of fear leaving behind all expectations and write from a place of joy. I have to stop the editor in my mind from stopping the writer in my heart. For it is freedom that allows my creativity to soar. Letting go leads to freedom which is the key that opens doors to connection. Connection to readers, to family, to my life’s purpose.