The Forest and The Trees

These days, writers are being called upon to juggle more and more things. We need to be able to do more and more things. Websites, blogs, social media, self promotion, and so much more in addition to actually – you know – writing.

This can be a handful for the full time writer. Now add in a day job, family, friends, other interests, reading, that pesky thing called “Sleep”, getting outside in the sun*, and you can see how easy it could be to get overwhelmed by it all.**

For all of us, at one time or another, we can feel like we’re walking in a forest that goes on forever in all directions. Sometimes there’s a path, sometimes not. Sometimes there are others walking with you, sometimes not.

What it all boils down to is that some days, you look at your life and it’s like:

 

 

 

 

 

When times like these come, I try*** to remember two things:

  1. This forest is amazing, and huge, and full of potential, and there is a lot of stuff going on in here.
  2. This forest is made of individual trees. If I’m not paying attention to where I’m going, I could walk into one.

Sure, the trees may grow close together in spots which would make it seem like you’ve got two, or three, or more trees in front of you, but at some point, you’ve got to choose a direction, which will point you toward a single tree.

All you have to do is not walk into it. Nobody really wants to get a facefull of bark. So you can move around the tree, climb it and see what there is to see up there. You can stop and watch it before moving on, or just pass it on by without a backward glance. Deal with this one tree in your way and move onto the next.

And, while the trees are something that you’ve got to deal with, they are also pretty awesome in their own right****and you never can tell when, while dealing with your trees, a new opportunity arises that you never expected to find that takes you in an entirely new direction.

 

 

 

 

 

(Ok, maybe not as literally as this, but you get the idea)

So, the next time you’re feeling lost in the forest, try and remember that the forest is awesome, and that there are a lot of things both cool, and not so cool, going on in there, but don’t try to look at the whole thing all at once. Focus on the tree in front of you. Linger and enjoy it, or skirt around it as quick as you can and move on to a better, more interesting tree. Or hop up on the tree’s shoulders and ride it for a while.

See where they take you.

 

Time: 1:20 pm-ish

Music: None.  It’s been a weird day…

 

 

*No, seriously, you need to get outside once in a while.

**This is not to say that full time writers don’t have these things as well.

***Not always successfully.

****Something I also, sometimes, forget.