Have you ever gone on a guilt trip? Have you ever given one? You must be nice if you give trips. I have never seen guilt trips show up on all those ads you see here, there, and everywhere though. Maybe it should just be guilt since you go nowhere. Actually, you could be going many places, which causes the guilt. I should just go jump off the dock above now, huh?
Thanks. but no thanks. Too cold. Plus, fish poop there. Seagulls do as well. People probably have too. Let's not feel guilty about avoiding pink eye, okay?
What am I going on about? Haven't I guilted you into it yet? I guess I should feel guilty that I didn't do my job. Pfffft to that. I'll just double down and beat it into the ground. No guilt here.
Do you ever let yourself feel guilty because you are doing other things instead of writing? Do you spiral afterwards? Does that rabbit hole need a flashlight?
Nah. It needs a shovel. Fill in the hole and leave the guilt there. There is no reason to feel guilty about not writing enough if life is in the way. It doesn't matter whether it is in the way because you have work or are out enjoying it. It just doesn't matter.
You need to eat and pay the bills. You need to feed the kids, dogs, cats, etc. You need to do such things. So unless you are a millionaire author, there is nothing to feel guilty about when you are doing what needs to be done.
When it comes to enjoyment, you are doing such things to gain experience and because you enjoy them. I know. Imagine that. Joy from enjoyment. You can't spend all your time behind a computer. You are only able to do such things at certain times, ages, etc. So do them without guilt.
The writing will be there. You'll get to it when you get to it. No need for a guilt trip that literally goes nowhere. That is unless you are sitting in your underwear 24/7 for months on end and literally doing nothing or going nowhere. You can feel a little guilty in that case. You may also want to seek professional help.
Do you feel guilty when not writing? Do you realize it isn't something you need to feel guilty about? Ever taken a guilt trip? Where did you end up? Timbuktu? Was it cheap? I don't feel guilty asking.
Let's bury the guilt in that rabbit hole with a shovel because when you are the one buried you won't feel guilty about nothing. You'll be dead. Harsh, but true. I have no guilt saying it.
Write when you can and kick the guilt to the curb.
The IWSG has a guest article at the My Story Doctor site! Quite the honor. We talk about dealing with negative, so please check it out.
7 comments:
Well said, Pat. Just leave the guilt in the hole.
No, I don't feel guilty when I'm not writing. I'm more focused on doing what I enjoy guilt-free these days.
Thank you for this post, Pat! I don't remember ever taking a guilt trip. I have enough reasons for taking trips. 😂 I do feel guilty about not writing enough, although I write in my journal daily and consider my blog writing (which I work on very hard). I'm doing the best I can while I take care of business, health, and doing things I love when I have the opportunity. I'm not going to bother getting a shovel and digging a hole to bury it. I'm going to throw my guilt off the lanai and let the winds carry it to the Ala Wai Canal which will wash it out into the Pacific. 😄. Have a great week, my friend!
I'm not writing right now and I certainly don't feel guilty!
I don't need to go on a trip, I feel guilt right here at home ;)
You write like you're on a lark! Thanks for the antidote to the frequent admonition to "keep your butt in the chair"!
Hi Pat - yes we can have guilt trips that perhaps haunt us later in life - and whenever I'm not writing ... I want to be writing - such is life, so no guilt ... we need to live, and write when we can. Cheers Hilary
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