Passion & Paying Bills

My writing view

The other day Dane and I were talking and out of sheer curiosity, I asked him “What do you tell people when they ask you what I do?” He looked at me quizzically and said, “We’ve already had this conversation.”

That’s really nothing out of the ordinary, and to his credit–we probably already have–but I have a terrible memory issue and just to appease me because he knows this, he continued on. “I tell them you are a social media consultant and public relations aficionado. You like to help companies excel by figuring out their strengths and weaknesses.”

For some odd reason on this particular day, his answer wasn’t good enough for me. I immediately quipped, “Can’t you just tell them I’m a writer?” To which he joked, “Why would I tell them you’re a writer? Writers don’t make money.” We both had a laugh, but it got me to thinking.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if what we loved doing most fulfilled us in all aspects of our life?

The writers of the world rejoice in knowing there is no way Carrie Bradshaw lived her posh lifestyle on a columnist’s income–TV is good like that. But they also rejoice in knowing how much joy their life’s work and passion brings them, regardless of whether it pays their bills or not.

We can’t all be Jodi Picoult’s or Stephen King’s–but is there anything wrong with that? I hate to use the comparison of Anne Frank, but she is the quintessential example of a passionate writer who was writing just to write. Just to express thoughts. Just to escape from reality. Writing without boundaries or with intention to publish. She wasn’t writing on a deadline or for anyone but herself.

Sometimes I get so caught up in wanting my writing to come across right, to be heard and acknowledged, that I lose sight of what is really important–the craft.

The bottom line is that I love writing, the entire process of it. It lends itself to me in times of frustration and happiness (and a handful of other emotions!) and serves as an outlet to let my sometimes-overactive mind run free and escape. At the moment, it doesn’t pay my bill, but it does bring me happiness and that’s something you can’t put a price on.

What passion of yours makes you happiest?