Never A Compromise

Doug mentioned in class on Tuesday that there are things that we absolutely cannot give up—things that aren’t even on the table for compromise—and our writing has to be one of them. When I was thinking about what things in my life aren’t even up for discussion or compromise, the first thing that came to mind is my career goals and my future’s success.

I’ll start by saying that I have an obsessive personality…at least, that is what I have self diagnosed it to be, for lack of better words, for what this strange quirk of mine is. Its not an addictive personality trait—not OCD, though I do find myself in fits of washing my hands (germs are icky!), and it doesn’t relate to substances whatsoever…not that I don’t enjoy a good round or two of cocktails with friends. I am obsessive in my goals for life—not the worst thing ever. I find myself determined beyond all things to achieve my career goals, once I have discovered them (and let’s just say that it took a while for me to find them…). I come from a long line of woman just like me, and all of them have proved to be very successful in their life times. But how do I harness this obsessive quality of mine into other aspects of my life? How do I become obsessed with writing?

As we were sitting in class discussing our writing advents, I was thinking to myself, why am I the worst at getting writing done when I am making my own timeline? Similar to, it seems, every writer ever. And then my brain and I had a moment: I should find a way to make myself as obsessive about my writing as I am about other things in my life.

Wouldn’t that be nice.

And as I was sifting through how that might be possible, I thought about what has made me obsessive about certain things and not others. The common denominators I have come to find are that the things that I obsess over have become a routine of mine in one form or another. I am in school every day, so I am surrounded by people with like minds and goals; I am surrounded by professors that I look up to who have already achieved these goals and who inspire me that these goals of mine are within my grasp; I work in a restaurant where I know that if I don’t achieve these goals of mine, I will remain until I am crispy and spotted and grey (if that’s not enough of an incentive, I don’t know what is…). So I find myself existing in a world where these goals of mine are A) not uncommon B) achievable C) mandatory. And that right there, ladies and gentleman, is my answer to how to getting writing done.

I have to believe that my goals in writing (oh, let’s say a 25-30 page research paper for this one professor’s class…) are A) not uncommon B) achievable C) mandatory. It’s getting into the routine of writing and doing every day that is going to get me there.

When I am trying to get skinny or healthy again, I drink Isagenix meal replacements. They’re super healthy and jam-packed with nutrients, and make me feel awesome. When I start my Isagenix, I am determined and become obsessive. Consequentially, I achieve my goals on time. But if I take a ONE day break or forget to order them, I’m screwed. I fall out of my routine and it isn’t after another couple of months and fat jeans until I pick them up again. And the same goes for going to the gym. I can’t let myself fall out of my routine if I want to be successful. I know that I have to plan for when I might run out or may not have enough time to dedicate to my routine. Likewise, this is how I have to plan my writing if I want to be successful at it.

In order to be successful in my writing, I have to put myself in the position to become obsessive, and I have to plan around possible failures. I have to make my writing something that cannot be compromised.  

And you know what’s funny about all this? I have found that I am actually happier when I am writing regularly. Imagine that.

~Grace