Tonight at work, job number 2, I got a very interesting call.
The gentleman who called was looking for an article that had been published in the paper earlier in the week. I said I would try to help him find it and I did. The conversation then turned to articles and writing and he asked me if I was a writer then what was I doing answering phones for the paper when I should be writing for them, or basically something to that effect.
As Jason DeRusha would say, "Good Question."
Then he asked if I really liked what I was doing and I said, "I love this job. I get to talk to really cool people and yes, there are those who complain, but they usually have a right to complain and I don't take it personally." He asked where I was a writer at and my stock answer was I wrote for my local paper.
He asked if I was making any money off of it and I said, "No, I don't get paid to do it, it's more of a nice way to feed my ego." Then the conversation took a turn.
"When you start believing you are good enough to make money at what you really love doing and are brave enough to take the risk, the money will follow."
I forwarded him the link, thanked him for the conversation and I logged off and went home.
On the way home, I couldn't help thinking about what this random stranger told me over the phone. I have been debating, like I always do, of whether I should just give up this writing dream and just make as much money as I can doing "real work" and just save up and do the writing when I retire, if I ever make it to retirement. I have been thinking of this quite a bit over the last few weeks, looking for some answer to my dilemma and hoping something would speak to me and clarify what I need to do.
I got the answer I wanted.
Through the last call of the night from a random stranger.
Thank you. I know what I have to do. And more importantly, I have to do now, not when I retire and not one day later. I have to take the risk and see what happens.
When I got home, the conversation I had with the love of my life, doubly clarified it for me. Ok. I got the messages, loud and clear.
Thanks again. And I'll keep you all updated with what happens next.
