Last week I posted L.A.’s article, My Journey As A Lesson/Inspiration/Gift. What I didn’t mention, was that last week’s article was written as the bio for this article, Retire? What are you talking about? When I read it, I felt that her journey needed to stand alone, to provide a lesson, inspiration, and gift to us all. If you missed that article, it’s worth checking out.
Retire? What Are You Talking About?
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a neighbor and telling him about my latest book when he interrupted me.
“You retired from one job, when are you going to retire from this one?”
I was absolutely flabbergasted and speechless – which is a rare occasion for me. Thinking for a minute as I was trying to decide if he was telling me something like I should consider retiring because I wasn’t getting rich from this, or gulp, that I was getting older.
Finally, I asked him what he meant.
“Why are you working so hard at this point in your life?”
“Because I love it and frankly hope to write until I can’t think of another story,” I replied without hesitation.
We chit-chatted a few more minutes and he went back to his yard, probably not giving another moment’s thought to the conversation. While I, on the other hand, thought about it for days. Then I recalled a conversation we’d had a few years ago when he mentioned that once he’d retired, he wasn’t using his brain much and his body seemed to be falling apart.
It dawned on me that I was doing what I loved, and he was bored out of his mind. Was he jealous? Maybe. Not of my income certainly, as he was wealthy already, but that I was engaged, constantly learning new things since I indie publish, and wear all the hats associated with creating and publishing a book.
And most of all I have something to look forward to every morning.
So there is a lesson in this conversation that stays with me. Find something to do that you love. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it and when you’re done with that love, find another.
Prince Of Granola is my 7th book, and I have so many ideas and series that I want to write, I can’t imagine retiring.
I have a favorite saying, it’s not mine, but it summarizes my thinking perfectly.
To Be Happy You Need Three Things
Someone To Love
Something To Do
And Something To Look Forward To
And I truly believe in what it says.
L.A. Sartor is a bestselling, award-winning author. She began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at L.A.’s insistence, wrote them down and L.A. illustrated them. As an adult, she writes suspense and action-adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she’s had a contracted adaptation! She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date. L.A. loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey. She has a blog and a mailing list.
(C) 2018 L.A. Sartor
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Well said, L.A. Like any healthy body of water, we must always be taking in the water from above, and releasing it to those below. Keep writing and let the adventure continue!
Thanks, Brad, errr, Roulf. I agree. Karen was so gracious to post two articles, back to back. That in itself is an adventure.
Nice to see you here,
Hugs, L.A.
Karen, thank you for hosting me twice in a row. It’s a pleasure to share my thoughts and musings on your blog. Walt Disney said it best, “we keep moving foward.” (The entire quote is too long, but a great one.)
Hugs, L.A.
It is my pleasure L.A.! You have so much to offer, I look forward to having you back!!
LA, this was a grand and insightful blog. I was nodding my head in agreement with your points all the way through. Thanks for sharing it with us. Cheers
LA, like you, I can’t imagine retiring from writing. I was shocked when I learned that a NYT bestselling author retired and told others that she must have been one of those people for whom writing is what they do rather than what they are. It’s a huge difference, but for those of us who write because it’s who we are, retirement isn’t part of the lexicon.
I couldn’t agree more Amanda.