I’ve been told that if I want to make it as a writer, I have to make sacrifices. I have to be willing to cut out friends, hobbies, rest. I have to put in the work, lose sleep, sacrifice it all for the possibility of success. I have to give up things that other people aren’t willing to give up and put my art first. No matter what.
But down this path lies ruin. One day, after I’ve given up everything for the delusions of grandeur hustle culture tries to sell, I’ll wake to find my world drained of vibrant color and joy. I’ll wake a dried husk of a person, having worked myself to death to try and stay relevant.
The longer I make art, the less I care about relevance or going viral or what’s trending. I want to chase my whimsy, make meaning from these moments, capture an essence, slow time. I want to grow.
So in the spirit of building a sustainable creative life, here are things I’m no longer willing to sacrifice on the altar of art:
early morning summer walks when the roads are quiet and the bunny rabbits are colluding
late evening walks when the sunset burns pink and my husband holds my hand
making a farro salad with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, spinach, olives, white beans, zucchini, and a slice of homemade bread
saving money for my future
weekend adventures in the mountains chasing wildflowers
curling up under a blanket with a book that makes me connect more deeply with my own humanity
watching snow drift past my window
sipping tea as rain dances on the roof
falling asleep beside the person I love
laughing until I cry
listening to my friends tell me stories about their lives
making plans with my favorite people
calling someone I miss
experimenting with new forms of art and storytelling
going to the doctor
learning how to be a better partner and person in the world
Don’t worry. There is plenty left to sacrifice, plenty of things I don’t even need and rarely want, and so here is what I will be cutting out of my life to make space for art:
making content for the sake of making content
scrolling social media
worrying about the future
reading books I don’t enjoy
staying up late without a plan
drinking just to feel numb
negative self-talk
trying to keep up with the Joneses
spinning my wheels to make the whole world happy
binge watching television shows
judging my art
chasing trends
setting unhealthy goals
comparing myself to other people
feeling guilty when I decide that today is a good day to do nothing
Love this so much🥰
I won’t give up long talks in the middle of the day with my husband. I won’t give up spontaneous trips to anywhere to do anything. I won’t give up taking my time to drink my meals, truly savor the flavors and focus on my posture. I won’t give up doing my hair or putting on glitter or designing new outfits that make me feel pretty.
I will give up the need to produce two books a year. I will give up focusing on other’s opinions. I will give up expectations on what I write, how long it is, and the genre it is. I will give up the idea that I must be one thing. I will give up trying to be perfect.