Writer John Scalzi has a great post on finding the time to write: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/09/16/writing-find-the-time-or-dont/
It is written with his usual sharp pointed wit, and right on the money. Here are some of my favorite bits:
“So will you please just shut the fuck up about how hard it is for you to find the time and inspiration to write, and just do it or not.”
“Being a writer isn’t some grand, mystical state of being, it just means you put words together to amuse people, most of all yourself.”
“And if you need inspiration, think of yourself on your deathbed saying ‘well, at least I watched a lot of TV.'”
The thing is, his advise rings true for all of our don’t-have-the-time-for dreams. Life is unpredictable and is always presenting us with the unexpected, but let’s face it: if you really are passionate about something you find time for it. To do something you are not doing, you have to give something else up. Period. We only have so many minutes in a day.
If you’re not (insert you dream here) what are you willing to give up to do it? Because you are going to have to give something up. Whether its down time, or bad habits, or facebook, or tv, or sleep, or a previously cherished dream–something’s got to go. If you aren’t willing to give something up, do you really want it? (Maybe, but not enough.)
I’ve spent much of my life wishing I was doing/learning something I wasn’t doing/learning. Better to go for the dream or just let it go.
