November 14, 2014 • 18

being STRONG…is HARD (sometimes)

IMG_6214

Some days you feel like you’re on top of the world. Like anything you do or say is pure gold. Other days…well…you feel like nothing could go right. And I mean nothing. But, through it all – the ups and downs, rivers and valleys – you have to muster that inner strength. That part of your core, which provides you with courage and determination.

But…

It’s not easy sometimes. Because your brain and heart like to play combat. Your common sense tells you “hey man, suck it up. you’ll get up again. this won’t last.” And then your heart is telling your brain to shut up. Because it’s suffered too much. And it just wants to recoil into a shell…and rest for a moment. Maybe for a few moments.

But we don’t have time for that. This world we live in moves at such speed. Such intensity. That we can’t let our guards down for a second. Because if we do – someone or something will pounce on our weakness. Listen. I firmly believe that most of us are good and decent people. But, even good and decent people act a little “off” every once and awhile, and they do or say things that are way out of character.

So, you truly have to ready for anything in this world. You have to be…Strong.

Two years ago, my wife and I moved to Los Angeles from NYC. It was an exciting move. But it came with plenty of anxiety. Where was I going to work? Was I going to make enough money to support us? Will I float off into the ocean after the “great earthquake” strikes California? Will the California sun burn my Irish skin into oblivion?  All sorts of stuff running through my brain.

Luckily, I found work. Good work (mostly). I started doing stand-up comedy, taking screenwriting classes at UCLA, and networking. Trying to meet people in the “industry” (that’s LA speak for the entertainment industry.) But I couldn’t dedicate enough time to doing all that.

Because our family grew — our first and only child – for now 🙂 – was born in July 2013. My priorities completely shifted. My family was THE priority. Holding that little girl in my arms melted my heart, and I knew going from that day forward, taking care of my daughter was my life’s purpose.

My emotions and brain were running wild with thoughts and feelings. All of which can be boiled down to one central question – “Oh man, how do I raise a kid?” … And do it well.

It’s almost a year and a half later, and it’s going awesome. Better than I could have ever imagined. But, I am still torn with my work world. I have this goal of writing for the rest of my life. I still want to be a lawyer too… but I really want to focus on doing both. And doing them both well.

And I want to write everything – stories, web content, blogs, screenplays, cartoons, TV shows. All of it. I love doing it all. I’ve been getting hired lately to actually do some writing. That – in itself – makes me elated. But, it’s not enough at this point to sustain a lifestyle that my family and I have been accustomed.

So I still have to continue doing my regular “day job” as an attorney. But by doing that. It drastically cuts into my writing time. And writing is a skill you have to do all the time.

And, I mean. All. The. Time.

So, today, I had this moment where I felt beaten down. I’ve been putting all this work into my writing, yet, I am still so far from my goal. But, I can’t give up. Got to be strong. And push through the self-doubt.

Life is funny. You can feel like you have it all figured out one day. Then, the next day, you realize you don’t have anything figured out. But, regardless of the fluctuations in your viewpoint, you have to stay committed to your goal. Whatever that goal may be.

Dig deep inside. Find that confidence. Find that character. And find that strength. Because you know it’s there.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Categories: Ideas

Tagged as: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

18 replies »

  2. Thank you for liking “Space Battle.” Great post! 🙂 I can relate to this post because I too am interested in many things and never seem to have enough time and energy to focus on them all. Establishing top-priority tasks to do each day is somewhat helpful, but I try not to get upset if I don’t finish all of them or can’t do more after I finish them. Like you, I just tell myself to keep trying and not give up on achieving my goals, which include taking care of myself and getting more sleep. 🙂

    I don’t have any children of my own, but I can understand how challenging it is to be a parent through secondhand observation of my brother and his family. He has a wife and four children as well as four dogs and fish in a tank. He gets some help from his in-laws, but my brother and my sister-in-law certainly have their hands full with all those children. And now a fifth kid is on the way!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. I’m just starting out with the whole “writing while you work” lifestyle. It’s been hard finding that balance between your priorities and what you love and want. Do you have any tips on how one can write creatively everyday while keeping a full-time or part-time job? 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hi Camille, I looked around your blog. You are a very good writer. And it appears you also have the passion to be even better. Good for you!! My only advice would be to make “writing” a priority. Which means that you’ll have to sacrifice less important things in your life to make room for writing. If you can do that…the sky is the limit. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Thanks so much, Kevin! Making writing a priority has been a struggle, but I’m working on it every day. It can get disorienting when you shift your lifestyle to something really different, so it’s been a process. I hope you continue with your writing as well! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Pingback: being STRONG…is HARD (sometimes) – LawFuel Buzz

  7. Strength comes from within! Always remember to succeed one must have self confidence and the ability to know when it is time to continue and when it is time to retreat. Always remain true to yourself and your beliefs and realize that the world is quite a complicated place. While we struggle in our everyday lives the world continues to spin and in order not to get dizzy, we must slow down, regroup and ponder each day for the gift that it is…….Your family is growing and the love that surrounds you will undoubtedly let you know how successful you already have become!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. i like the article. true to be and i like the personal touch.. As i told my daughter when she learned to walk and fall, ¨get up, we fall so you can get up again, why else would we fall?¨ Balance between family, work, partner and self is hard to manage, but we have to do it. if you don´t equally distribute your time, you will negatively affect one of the four. and you can´t ignore yourself, cause if you do, you will be frustrated and anger and eventually take it out on the other 3. so find the balance!
    take care bro

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.