Tremendously Interested

By Lisa Congdon

I saw this pretty little quote on my sister-in-law's blog today, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

I think it's because it perfectly expresses something I've been experiencing lately but couldn't find the words for. Over the last little while, when I haven't been busy taking care of my girls and I've had a minute to myself, I've hardly thought about anything but writing. I come up with story ideas for my next UtahValley360.com post; I brainstorm children's book ideas; I wonder how my book evaluations are coming along (no word yet). I've thought of all the publications I could send my writing to. I think about this little blog and itch to get over here.

I've always liked writing, but it's clear to me now I'll never be able to get it out of my system. If there's ever been a time in my life when I could stop, it's now when I'm building a little family and building a life for us in a new state, far away from everything we know. But it's like a bad habit I just can't kick. If I go a day without writing, I'm up bright and early to remedy the problem the next day.

I even found a bunch of writing organizations to Like on Facebook. I started following the news again and have made a point to read at least a little bit every day.

Image from my Pinterest board, no working link. :(

But here's the thing about "find[ing] something you're passionate about and stay[ing] tremendously interested in it"—once you admit you're passionate, and once you're in so deep that your Facebook feed is bleeding that certain something, you're in it. You're committed. And if you fail, you no longer have the excuse that you weren't really trying.

I was on the phone with my dad tonight and I said something like, "Dad, I'm trying really hard at this. I really like writing."

He said, "I know you do." And suddenly I felt incredibly vulnerable. It's easier not to care.

But I still love writing, and I'm going to keep writing and submitting books and articles to anyone who will take them. And as scary as it is, I'm not afraid to tell myself and my dad and all of you this: I'm trying my very hardest.