Priorities by Diane Burton

How many times have you heard someone say, “I want to xxx (write a book, learn to dance, go to Paris . . .)” and they don’t. We all have reasons why we don’t do what we want to do. Not enough time (or money), other plans or obligations, whatever.

I’ve always believed that if you want something badly enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. Or, at least try. You have to know what you’re getting yourself into first. Cost in terms of time and money, education, the requirements. Can someone do it for you (e.g., set up a trip to Paris or a website)? Or is this a DIY project?

At many book events, people stop by the booth and say with a sigh, “I don’t have time to read.” I find that so sad. That person is missing out on a world beyond their doorstep. Reading takes us to places we’ll never visit. For me, it’s space and other planets. Same for Australia or China. Too far, too expensive. But, I can read about those places and vicariously visit.

Or, they’ll say, “I always wanted to write a book.” In high school, my girlfriend and I wrote stories (now called Fan Fiction, only we didn’t know it at the time) in which we wrote ourselves into a current TV show and, of course, the hero fell in love with us. We never considered that would be the end of the show. LOL

Like many adults, I put away childish things (like writing), got a job, married, had a family. I still read like crazy, though. When my kids headed off to college, I decided it was My Time. And I decided to write a book. That was over twenty-five years ago. With the exception of a couple of years’ hiatus, I haven’t stopped. Writing is a priority.

I just mentioned a hiatus. My priorities changed. As much as I wanted to write, family obligations came first.

Ghandi’s quote makes so much sense. What we do, says what our priorities are. That’s the difference between what we say we want and what we actually do.

I came across that quote after I missed another posting date. I don’t like what that says about my priorities.