I have, at 72, released all my childhood dreams and ambitions for my writing. They brought me only frustration, envy and disappointment. Now I write for the pleasure of it, with no expectations. It is wonderful how freeing it is. Ambition is a hunger that is never satisfied, a journey where you never arrive.
Wise words, Marianne. Thank you for sharing! The literal translation of ambition in my language (Finnish) is "lust for honour". I feel it is very telling.
I like your honesty. Your honesty about others and your honesty about yourself. Then there are the struggles and anxieties with creation which seem to go back to even before the written word (I can't prove that, but that is my hunch). We create something new and original and who knows if it is any good or if anyone can relate to it which is something all hunans need, a connection.
Kati, this hit home for me on many levels. I am in the throes of self-publishing my first nonfiction book - good because it bypasses the publishing industry, bad because I have to be my own marketing team. The ego/envy question remains unresolved for now.
Like you, I'm not sure how I feel about the Glennon Doyle thing. We have so much divisiveness going on already--in publishing, too--that I hate to have yet another category where we are or are not welcome. A good and thoughtful post, Kati.
I have, at 72, released all my childhood dreams and ambitions for my writing. They brought me only frustration, envy and disappointment. Now I write for the pleasure of it, with no expectations. It is wonderful how freeing it is. Ambition is a hunger that is never satisfied, a journey where you never arrive.
Wise words, Marianne. Thank you for sharing! The literal translation of ambition in my language (Finnish) is "lust for honour". I feel it is very telling.
Very true. BTW, I'm half Finn on my mom's side.
I like your honesty. Your honesty about others and your honesty about yourself. Then there are the struggles and anxieties with creation which seem to go back to even before the written word (I can't prove that, but that is my hunch). We create something new and original and who knows if it is any good or if anyone can relate to it which is something all hunans need, a connection.
Kati, this hit home for me on many levels. I am in the throes of self-publishing my first nonfiction book - good because it bypasses the publishing industry, bad because I have to be my own marketing team. The ego/envy question remains unresolved for now.
Like you, I'm not sure how I feel about the Glennon Doyle thing. We have so much divisiveness going on already--in publishing, too--that I hate to have yet another category where we are or are not welcome. A good and thoughtful post, Kati.