My wife was less than pleased when I gently told her 10 years ago that I was quitting my full-time job to start a writing and editing business. Our oldest son, Christian, was 7. Jackson, our youngest, was only 2. Meanwhile, she was getting back into the flow of working again.
Don't misunderstand–Leslie has always been my biggest fan. She believes in me.
That said, she couldn't help but wonder if quitting my job at that point in our lives to chase a passion we weren't sure would lead to a decent income was the best idea.
She was right to be worried. The idea reeked of failure.
But the decision wasn't just about me. It was about her.
Furthermore, it was about Christian and Jackson. I wanted more for them and us!
I wanted to be a better husband.
I wanted us to have more freedom.
I yearned for us to be together more as a family.
I wanted my kids to see their dad smile more.
I needed to chase the career I was passionate about.
My kids needed to see firsthand that you can be whatever you want to be in life if you believe it's possible and take a leap of faith.
I wanted them to know just how much they inspired me in life and writing.
I want to speak on that last bullet item for a second because even before I started Edit This® and was writing on the side, my family was the inspiration behind my writing. It didn't matter what the topic was ... they were at the heart of everything I did. They were the unspoken muse behind those stories. To this day, they fuel the passion behind the words I write.
They are the meaning behind my work.
And because of that, I fought incredibly hard to ensure everything worked out fine!
So ... What's My Point Here?
For starters, I love my family. I know you know that, but I needed to repeat it. Furthermore, thumbing through old pictures like the one above from our beach trip to Florida several years ago is one of my favorite things to do.
Sometimes, I look through these and other photos to get myself in the groove of writing. Other times, these photos and memories are the perfect reminders to slow down and not get too caught up in the hustle and bustle of work life. Remember why you're here.
That may be the lesson for my fellow writers reading this blog entry.
The next time you sit down to write, take a deep breath, thumb through a few family photos, and draw from the real inspiration behind your passion ... FAMILY!
Thanks for reading!
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If it involves the written word and quality storytelling, we've probably worked with it.
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STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This®, a writing and editing services company in Denton, TX. He is also a consultant, writing coach, and the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion for the Written Word. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.