I am not at all in a humor for writing. I must write on till I am.

Jane Austen

I love this quote by English writer Jane Austen.  I appreciate this glimpse into what must often have been her frame of mind.  I read somewhere that writing only when you feel inspired would be wonderful, but you probably wouldn’t get much writing done.  If you want to be a writer, you have to write regularly.  Butt in the chair, etc.

I think Ms. Austen’s quote is also excellent guidance for life.  Want to be a writer, write. Want to have a satisfying relationship, tend to it.  Want to have a beautiful home, take care of it.  I don’t know anyone who achieved their goals by wishing.  A few years back when my sister was going through a challenging time, I found a card that said, “I find I get further in life with backbone than wishbone.”  We are both of that mind and agree that the best gift we received from our mother is a backbone.  

There have been many difficult and trying days, weeks, even months in our decades on earth.  Times when we just dreamed of swaying quietly in a tree swing on top of a wildflower covered hill or relaxing on a warm sunny beach with a tall umbrellaed drink and a vista that never ends.  Those are the silent dreams tucked behind all the constant demands of living our day to day lives and tackling our day to day challenges. 

To create an existence that we find fulfilling, we must do the work and answer the challenges.  We can dream about the future, but then we have to put one foot in front of the other towards that future.  So, thanks Jane Austen.  I am not at all in a humor to write today, but I will sit and do the work.

Libby will be back on Sunday.

C’est la vie.