Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Don't Wait

A writer friend is losing her battle with cancer. All through her chemo treatments, she has been working on a book project, determination moving her from chapter to chapter. I've critiqued nearly all of those chapters and have been thankful that I could do this one small thing to help. The book is so near to being completed but my friend is too sick to see it through to final publication. I can only hope someone else in the group she has written about will pick up the ball and see that the book is published.

My heart became heavy when I read my friend's message to our writing group earlier today. After reading the letter again, I couldn't help but think of the many times I, and myriad other writers, have delayed a writing project. We shouldn't for our own time may be shorter than we think.

If you have a story or book in mind, get started now. Don't wait! It's human nature to put things off, but suddenly I am of the mind that we must get those stories we've only thought about under way immediately.

I have several writing projects on the back burner. Maybe it's time to bring them to the front and work on them til they are ready to submit. Every morning when we wake up, we are given a gift. The day ahead is ours to do whatever we want to, and we need to use it to the fullest.

I am thankful for the lesson taught by my friend. She has made the most of the time she had left after her diagnosis. She's looked at life with a new perspective and she's been a beacon of love and light to those around her. She's taught me to do as much as I can each day. Best of all, she's reached a point of feeling total peace thanks to many people who have entered her life and those who have been part of her life for many years.

So, please don't wait. Do the things you want to now, whether it be writing projects or any other part of your life.

1 comment:

  1. This a very touching post. Thank you for sharing it. A much needed wake up call for me. I have several things I keep putting off...mostly due to lack of confidence in myself and my writing abilities. Time to stop waiting and make good of everyday. My thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family.

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