In Others’ Words: Did You Forget Something?

I am living my writing dream — and for that, I am so, so thankful.

But I also know “living the dream” means “doing the work.” Fast drafts. Rewrites. Deadlines. Copyedits. And repeat, repeat, repeat until I’m holding a “real book” in my hands.

There are days I’m just treading water, trying to keep my head above the waves as I try to get it all done. And yes, sometimes I forget, truly forget, how much I’ve always loved to swim . . . I mean, write.

I know not everyone reading this post is a writer like me. You are living — or pursuing — some other kind of dream. Maybe you’re another type of creative — a painter or a singer. Maybe you’re a teacher or an accountant or someone in the military. Maybe your dream is to be a mom or dad.

No matter what the dream, living it or working toward it can become nothing more than treading water. Exhaustion beats the passion right out of our souls. We’re trying to keep our heads above the waves that keep smacking us in the face, one after the other. It’s survival, pure and simple … and disheartening.

The question becomes: How do you remember what you’ve forgotten? How do you stop treading and start swimming again — not for survival but because you remembered you love to swim?

Yes, there’s work involved in every dream, but when a dream becomes all work and no joy, it’s time to stop. To remember. To dive deep into the heart of your dream again.

In Your Words: How do you balance living the dream and doing the work? Was there a time in your life when you realized you were (figuratively) treading water and that you’d forgotten how much you loved to swim? What did you do to dive back into your dream again?

In Others’ Words: Did You Forget Something? #InOthersWords #lifequotes #livingthedream
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Treading water vs. swimming: Have you forgotten what you #love? #quote by @tylerknott
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Check out Howard Books’ The Best Fiction Sampler Ever 2016 and read the first chapter of my second destination wedding novel, Almost Like Being in Love, which releases in June! You can also enjoy sample chapters of some other upcoming releases.

Get @Howard_Books Best Fiction Sampler Ever 2016 to look at @bethvogt’s June release Almost Like…
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