It's your baby

You've dreamed it, nurtured it, groomed, and coddled it, and now at long last you're sent your darling creation out into the world! Your not only excited (ecstatic really) and proud, but that pretty baby is all you think about. You've put yourself out there at enormous risk of all you hold precious, simply because it's so important -- so essential to your heart and soul. And just as you've hoped, your family and friends tell you how happy they are, how proud of your accomplishment. They know you've worked hard and aimed high. They've seen the struggle and applaud your achievement! You glow like a perpetual firefly...basking in the light of a dream achieved. But then something shocking, terrible, and truly dreadful happens. These very people who just a moment ago were popping the corks and toasting your perfect and beautiful novel, do the unthinkable - they set down their glasses, wave goodbye, and just like that, return to their own lives. And it is altogether startling to turn and see that just as you've been throughout the writing process that carried you here, you are once more alone -still celebrating, still obsessively thinking over your baby. Disappointed, admittedly maybe even a little horrified, that the world has not stopped revolving on it's axis so that you might bask in the perfection of all you've accomplished.

And therein lies the truth -- the truth that your writing milestones and achievements will never be as important or consuming to any other person as they are to you. If you're honest you'll know that of course that's the only way it can be -- that it would be more then ridiculous for such consuming love to come from anyone other then yourself. It's a truth we claim to know and understand, but which disappoints regardless. And this is where you need to stop and remind yourself that while determination, stamina, and perseverance are essential ingredients for reaching the goal of creativity fulfilled, this glorious prize of dreams obtained is really a solo trophy; one that will occupy a place on your mantel once the fabulous party is over and everyone else has gone home to continue dreaming their own dreams.