This week I learned that Shadowed by Grace finaled in Christian Retailing’s BEST Awards in the historical category. This is quite a thrill because there was a journey to Shadowed by Grace getting published. As any author can tell you, each story has it’s own road filled with twists and turns.
There are so many twists and turns to publishing. Really to chasing any dream. Here’s a list of four things they don’t tell you as you chase your dream.
1) You will have to make sacrifices. At the time, those sacrifices will feel excruciating. But dreams rarely happen without something being given up in the meantime. For me, it was TV. Silly I know, but it was one way I could capture time that was otherwise being frittered away. So I watch Castle and Agent Carter. That and a few college football games. Oh, and the Olympics but since those are every 2 years, I’m good.
2) Caffeine will become your best friend! Seriously. Last night I was working on a list (more on that in a moment), so I fired up the French press, pulled out my favorite creamer, applied butt-to-chair, and settled in for hours of (mostly) uninterrupted work. Coffee and water are my friends. Coffee helps me going through the long hours I work, while water helps me stay hydrated and healthy (well, healthier). Many writers swear by chocolate — but, I’m not one of them (says the writers as she’s enjoying a part of Snoopy’s Crunch bar ear).
3) To do Lists are Your Friends — just not your best friend. This is my to-do list from last night. I’m in a particularly crazy time: my last module of MBA classes, grading tests for a class I teach, working on projects for legal clients, writing blog posts, and writing books and proposals. I am so grateful this is a season — but it’s not the first time or the last time I’ve juggled a lot. Or my husband would argue — too much. When we recognize the seasons of our lives, it makes a bit easier to buckle down and complete what needs to be completed in this moment.
4) Don’t forget the important things. Yesterday, in the midst of all the craziness, my 4 year old read half of that book to me. Yes, read it. With little prompting. And it’s not a book that I’ve read to him before. Exciting and terrifying and a great reminder that these days are fleeting. I don’t know what will fill them, but I do know I want to spend most of my times on the things that matter. Investing in my kiddos. Investing in speaking and writing. Helping a family adopt a child. These are things that matter for eternity. When I focus on the to-do list, I can very easily forget the most important in light of the urgent.
What have you learned while chasing your dreams?
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Great post, Cara. I especially appreciate the reminder to remember what’s important.
Thanks, Lynn. I’m so not good at remembering that!
Congratulations on having a book final in the BEST Award! Way to go, Cara. Like you, my dreams have required sacrifice, caffeine, lists, and refocus on the most important things. Here here!
It’s amazing how when it’s important we’ll reorder our lives.
By the way, all but one thing on the list are checked off — and I’m tired. What a trade off LOL
While chasing dreams don’t be a quitter. Don’t give up. Hang in there. UNLESS… you discover that God has other plans for your future. God comes first. His will may change your dream a little or a lot.
Great advice, Shirley. Don’t give up — it’s so easy to do exactly that!
Cara, congratulations on your son learning to read! Being a tutor, that’s the thing that jumped out the most to me. But I appreciate each part of this list you gave us. On my life journey, I’m learning that God’s plans are the best ones, and that I must tweak my habits and hobbies to His plan instead of Him tweaking His plan to me.
I also enjoy Castle and Agent Carter! And Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and 19 Kids and Counting, and Dallas Mavs/Stars games (NBA/NHL teams for my area of Texas).
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea, we have so much in common 🙂 I’ve never gotten into Agents of SHIELD — and now I’m so far behind I doubt I could catch up with my kids!
Congratulations!
I guess the thing that I have learned by trial and error is that our dreams don’t look exactly like we think they will. We have an idea about the way they will look, but the final outcome is not all we thought it would be. Some parts of it are better, and some parts of it are not quite as good. Not that we would want a do-over. It’s just that we had a drawing and not a photo, so the final image is not exact.
Shirley, such a good point. Our dreams never do look exactly like what we expect. One key I’ve learned is to hold them as loosely as I can, giving God plenty of room to change them and me.
…”hold them as loosely as I can, giving God plenty of room to change them and me.”
That is SUCH a great philosophy. I’m trying to make that my goal with all things. Great post, Cara, and congratulations on the final!
Thank you, Deb. And while I try to live by it, God keeps asking if I’m really doing it 🙂
Congratulations! I try to keep my focus on what really matters and pay attention to God’s direction and gentle nudging 🙂