Life has a way of weighing down on you. And I, as many do, always find ways to add onto that, whether it be through school, drama with friends and loved ones, extracurriculars or even everyday acts like picking up a gallon of milk from the store.
For the second year in a row, I’ve decided to write 50,000 words, aka a novel, in the month of November as part of the National Novel Writing Month Challenge.
I’m not doing this because I love to play 8,000 word catch up in one weekend and turn my brain to mush. I do it because I like the results, and I actually finish something, even if it’s shitty.
Halfway through last November, I told myself, “You can quit right now, and no one would stop you. Your friends already think you’re insane for trying this.” I was tired; struggling to find time to write almost 2,000 words a day, finish homework assignments, search for an internship and complete a million other daily requirements.
I really had to step back and ask myself, “Why couldn’t I just quit?”
I thought about it, walking along the sidewalk toward campus. A voice spoke up, usually the one who forces you out of bed in the mornings: “Do you want to be a quitter for the rest of your life?”
It’s harsh, but that part of yourself often has to be. Waking up in the morning is hard.
I’m going through the same routine this year, questioning and eventually affirming my decisions over and over. It takes perseverance and certainly some measure of stubbornness.
Be warned: this isn’t a foolproof plan, and failures are just as important as victories. My first, what I call my unofficial year, I only succeeded in writing for one day. I learned from that experience and joined a writing club.
It is important to get out there and try, even if you fall down along the way.
Often times, I wish we could all just wiggle our noses and find the work done. But the work, the struggle, is an important part of the process. It’s what shapes us. We become who we are by what we do, and it is these trials that define us.
So don’t be afraid of hard work. Embrace the change to challenge yourself in completing those so-called “unattainable” goals.
Decide what you think is worth it, and stick to it. Silence that inner critic, let yourself have some fun, and get working.
