On writing and jealousy at The Rumpus

At The Rumpus, there's a great answer to a letter writer who at 31 (!) is jealous because some of his/her friends/colleagues/acquaintances have big book deals. Here's part of Sugar's answer regarding fame vs. writing:
"Your cause is to write a great book and then to write another great book and to keep writing them for as long as you can. That is your only cause."
Later, "Sugar" (of the column) does a great critique of the jealous person's sense of entitlement:"A large part of your jealousy probably rises out of your outsized sense of entitlement. Privilege has a way of fucking with our heads the same way a lack of it does. There are a lot of people who'd never dream they could be a writer, let alone land, at the age of 31, a six figure book deal. You are not one of them. And you are not one of them because you've been given a tremendous amount of things that you did not earn or deserve, but rather that you received for the sole reason that you happen to be born into a family who had the money and wherewithal to fund your education at two colleges to which you feel compelled to attach the word "prestigious.""
If you ever feel twinges of jealousy toward other's successes, this is a must read. I have to add, as Sugar does, that that twisting bitter jealousy is self-destructive for yourself, doesn't help your writing, and can harm your relationships. Read the whole Q&A post here:http://therumpus.net/2011/03/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-69-we-are-all-savages-inside/