"Mediocrity is the best camouflage known to man." Bryce Courtenay
As a teacher I heard a lot of parents tell me that all they wanted for their children was for them to be happy. And I applaud them. Really. After all, what I want for myself is happiness. Writing makes me happy, water skiing makes me happy, boxing makes me happy, running makes me happy, being with my family makes me happy... but I am wondering if that is enough?
Happiness is a wonderful thing, I could use a bottle of it tucked in my back pocket some days just so I could take a swig every now and then, but ultimately what's going to make me happy is being more than a walking smile. I want to be the best I am able to be under the might hand of God. I am not shooting for 'middle of the road' or 'enough to get by in life.' I want more. I ache for more.
I want to know that I did everything I could with the strengths and weakness I found in my life. Maybe that's a bit of the perfectionist coming out in me, and I am sure I could do with letting up on myself occasionally, especially when I really am doing all I can. But I don't want to fall in a rut. Easy Street has lots of hidden heartbreaks. Not in the least the real big one 'regret'. What if? I wonder? I want to minimise regret in my life.
I think those writers that 'made it' had to make a decision somewhere along the way, that whether they got published or not they were going to keep writing and perfecting their craft for as long as they were going to call themselves serious writers. I don't think being published is the mark of success. I think knowing you are giving your writing your utmost and following your heart is a better bench mark. I think that's a pretty damned good bench mark for most things in life.
Every time I put a word on a page I risk failing, but I am hopeful that the person I am underneath my words eventually shines through to be all she can be.
Now that WOULD make me happy!
Awesome post Tabitha! I hadn't thought about happiness that way but you're absolutely right. And you know, I don't think I could be happy if I wasn't always striving.
ReplyDeleteI personally get the same wonderful endorphins a person gets from falling in love by striving for something new and succeeding a little bit along the way. Each of those little successes is like falling in love, just a little bit.
I think having a goal and achieving it a little at a time is the ultimate in happiness. I think no matter what you ever achieve, being able to keep striving is the thing that will keep you happy in the end, not the success.
Thanks Wendy. You have wrapped up what I was saying very well. I love your last sentence, "no matter what you ever achieve, being able to keep striving is the thing that will keep you happy in the end, not the success."
ReplyDeleteI have always believed that the journey is the point. Maybe not the whole point, but a good part of it. I guess if you can't enjoy where you are on the way to where you're going then there isn't much point at all...
Wonderful post Tabitha. I love that quote too. IN school I made great grades, but not the best, and I think I blended in. Teachers didn't notice me because I was neither awesome nor bad.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about happiness. The bible says we're supposed to have contentment with Godliness, but it also says we're running a race. I agree with you that "happiness" is not what our lives should be about.
:-) Cute pic!
Amen. What you said.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica. Blending has it advantages sometimes. But it might be to our disadvantage in the long run.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne- you make me laugh girl. I can just hear you saying that :)
Oh, yes!!! You preach it, sistah! This is full of wisdom and insight. Thank you, especially for the line: Being published does not equal sucess.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the path God has for us equals success.
You are a blessing!
Jen
Audience of ONE
Tabitha, what a great post. There's definitely a place for happiness but I think a lot of that comes from following the right path. And being the best we're meant to be will lead to the reward of happiness in our lives and others lives.
ReplyDeleteAs far as writing, I agree with your opinion about being published. Being published is one success in writing, but it's not an on-going success if we do nothing more with it.
Beautifully said, Tabitha. I agree. And want to strive for that same thing. By God's grace, I will continue to grow every day and He will continue to bless me with the passion and inspiration to put words on a page.
ReplyDeleteWell said!! My husband and I tell our kids they will be successful if they do 3 things...Do what's right. Do their best. Treat others the way they want to be treated. If they do those things, they are a success in our eyes. They may not have the best grades or excel like others, but in our eyes they are successful.
ReplyDeleteMy blog is labeled A Writer Wannabe, because I am on the first leg of this writing journey. I have often wondered when/if I will ever change it, for I can see that I will never really feel like I have arrived. I will aways be growing as a writer, striving to get better at the craft. It's what we do, right?
Thanks for sharing!!!
This might sound weird, but I don't want to be happy. I mean, of course I want to be happy, but I want to know peace so much more that being happy gets swept under that. I loved what you wrote about being published not being the mark of success but giving your writing the utmost as a bench mark!
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
Ahhh well put. I think the difference between a writer who makes it and a writer who doesn't is perseverance. In all the time I've been writing, the only ones who aren't around anymore are those who gave up.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for the comments!
ReplyDeleteSherrinda- I think you are right, we will always be growing as writers. And I love the name of your blog. I 'wannbe' too!
Wendy- So true. Peace would be fantastic too. Let me know if you ever find that in a bottle :) Wouldn't that be great?!
ReplyDeleteStephanie- AMEN to perseverance :) I think those who make it in any area have that in massive doses! I agree with ya totally.
Katie- I can't wait to read you in print one day. I have peaked at your 'sneak peaks' on your blog. Man I wish I could read those books! I especially love the one about the 12yr old girl from Peaks Iowa. When is that coming out???!!!
Welcome to all the new people who joined my blog. You have no idea how blessed that makes me feel :) And thanks for reading my blabberings and commenting on them :) Very Happy Now! :) VERY HAPPY.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to go check your blogs out. As soon as I have done the school run I am so back here to read your stuff. :)