Recently, one of my friends told
me she admires me for my drive. While I took this as the compliment it was, I feel
undeserving in the sense that I don’t see myself as going above and beyond, or
necessarily doing more than anyone else. I simply do what has to get done.
As a work-from-home mother of
three children, one of them on the Autism spectrum, as well as a new inductee into
the Sandwich
Generation, I’ve got a lot on my plate: helping the teen figure out what classes
to take next year in high school; steering a pre-adolescent through the daily
drama of school and fair-weather friendships; dealing with the constant
headaches of IEP meetings and the home-school vs integrate debate; making sure
my mother, who now lives with us, gets what she needs in order to maintain some
sense of independence and dignity; etc. The list goes on, and nothing ever
really gets checked off.
I am just as busy in my
professional life, too. As a self-published author I am currently working on
four novels, three of which are on tap for a 2013 publication date. I often
hear questions like “How do you do it?” and “Don’t you ever get confused?” Well,
I do it because I have to, both for the creative release and for financial
gain. As far as getting confused . . . I guess I can’t be any more confused
than I already am! All joking aside, working on multiple projects at once keeps
my writing fresh and interesting. At least to me.
But there’s also another reason
for this so-called drive of mine, and it’s because I live and labor under the eternally
optimistic, and maybe a little bit narcissistic, belief that I’m destined for
something great. What that “something” is, I do not know. Maybe I’ll be one of
those self-published authors who gets discovered and signs a six-figure deal
with a major publishing house. Perhaps my husband and I will start that
much-needed school for special needs kids we keep talking about. Or quite
possibly the greatest achievement of my life will simply be helping my children
live up to their potential and reach their own dreams.
What I know is this: Whatever
that something great is, it won’t just come to me. Or to you, either. We have to go out there and get
it ourselves.
~Melissa Luznicky Garrett
An author of adult and young adult novels. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, three children, and numerous animals. Look for THE PROPHECY, the much-anticipated conclusion to THE SPIRIT KEEPER, coming May 2013. In the meantime, connect with Melissa on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MLGarrettwrites
An author of adult and young adult novels. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, three children, and numerous animals. Look for THE PROPHECY, the much-anticipated conclusion to THE SPIRIT KEEPER, coming May 2013. In the meantime, connect with Melissa on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MLGarrettwrites
I agree. Attempting to reach a goal or see a dream come true, one has to go for it, be driven to achieve it. Here's hoping ALL of the ones you mentioned can and will come to fruition :-)
ReplyDeleteBravo to you girl! I love that attitude. In fact, I may jot that last part down and post it near my computer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me Heather!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Lis, and some good advice there too!
ReplyDelete