A Day in the Life

Since I’ve retired from my W2 job, I’ve had countless people look at me like they’re trying to figure out the most complex problem. Until they finally ask me what I’ve come to expect, “What do you do all day?”

I used to feel a teensy-weensy bit irritated with this question, as if they thought I sat around bored, binging Netflix, spending endless hours doom-scrolling on the computer, aimlessly wandering without a purpose. Now I smile and ask, “How much time do you have to listen?” Because my days are filled with the things I love and care deeply about. The things that truly give my life meaning and bring me so much joy.

When I tell them I’m an author, so I have no shortage of things to do, most get dreamy-eyed and want to know all about the romanticized author life we’ve all seen in movies and on TV. Most have the impression that I sit in coffee shops or cafes every day (maybe once every week or two I go to a coffee shop), or I’m at my desk with a glass of scotch or wine (I don’t drink), I’m rolling in the dough (the term ‘starving artist’ is real, folks, unless you’re in the one percentile, of which I am not), and that I live a lavish lifestyle sitting on a veranda with my characters in my fictional worlds. To be fair, though not on a veranda, I do spend my days with my characters in the fictional worlds I create. But not in the glamorous way others visualize an author lives.

But to be completely honest, there’s nothing else in the world I want to do. Writing is hard work, lots of rejections, lots of unflattering–and sometimes downright mean–criticisms, hours of staring out the window working out a plot hole or creating that “perfect” character (though, to be fair, I love that part!). But creating, both the glamorous and not-so-glamorous parts, is what brings me joy no other occupation has ever come close to. I set my own hours (yes, I still have a schedule even though I work for myself), my days are filled with all the things most important to me (like family, reading, working out), and when I want to attend a grandchild’s school or sporting event, I go. I’m not at the mercy of someone else’s approval. When I’m sick, I don’t have to call in to explain the situation to anyone else. I sleep a little longer, rest throughout the day, and work on low-energy tasks. And all of this “fun” results in something I can share that brings others joy.

More times than I can count, I’ve had people tell me, “I wish I had time to write a book.”

To those, I say, “We all have 24 hours in a day. We fill them with what’s most important to us.” I have chosen to say no to many things throughout the years because writing was a priority to me.

And many have said, “When I retire, I’m going to write a book.”

To those, I say, “Why wait? Writing is a skill that takes a lot of practice. One doesn’t just start playing a musical instrument when they retire. I wrote my first 10 books while I worked a full-time job. The sacrifice of saying no to other things (though never family events), in order to write was fully worth it. It’s that concept of filling our given 24 hours with what’s important to us.

For those who dream of writing, I encourage you to go for it! It’s an avocation that has brought me so much joy, new friendships, freedom, and endless learning opportunities. If it’s what you truly want to do, don’t wait. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow, much less making it to retirement.

Figure out what brings you the most joy, and fill your 24 hours with it.