Time To Grow Or Die

The year is 2000.  I'm working in the finance department of an international corporation and I have been there for about 12 years.  I have gone as high in the company as I will be allowed to go and it's time for me to make a decision.  I can either step out into the world and meet new challenges to continue to grow as a person or I can stay where I am comfortable and slowly die from inertia.  For me the choice is quite clear.  If you're not growing, you're dying and I'm not ready to stop growing.  I leave the comfort and cushion of a routine I am familiar with and step into the world of martial arts.  I'm nervous and unsure of my future but know in my heart it is the right decision for me.

I come to the same conclusion in my writing life.  I come back to writing with the intention of being able to grow.  The challenges I come across this past year are hard.  If forces me to be open to the possibility of change...changes within myself, changes in my writing style, changes in how I see the world around me.  When I have doubts about my ability to make this writing thing work I remember that I can either grow as an author or I can die as one.  The choice is mine.

An amazing thing happens as I give myself permission to grow.  I get stronger.  I gather more writer friends around me.  I ride on the wave of positive encouragment from this writing community.  And my stories continue to grow.  If I'm lucky, one day I might even be rewarded for my efforts...