Comments on: Things We Choose

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:15:14 +0000

Karin, what I’ve learned from you is that you can have it all. Maybe it gets crazy, but at the core you’re available to your family and have an amazing career. And BTW, congrats on your fabulous sale too! Can’t wait to read that trilogy, I tell ya!

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:11:58 +0000

“The best we can do it keep the balance healthy.” ~Michelle~

Michelle, you nailed it girl! I so admire the way you love your children, yet keep that special part of You alive. It’s the best gift we can give our loved ones; happiness and balance.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:58:10 +0000

LaD, I’ve tried to embrace this last year of my son only being in school 2 days a week, and have tried to do things with him on the days we are together. Next year, he’s in school full time, and I didn’t want to waste this year. At the same time, my writing career kicked up a notch, and it has been a balancing act. The best we can do it keep the balance healthy.

By: Karin Tabke

Karin Tabke — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:59:55 +0000

Writing is important to me on so many levels. Sometimes I must sacrifice time with family and friends to meet deadlines. what i really need to do is manage my writing time better so i don’t have to sacrifice!

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:57:24 +0000

I totally agree with you, Liz! You must make your health a priority so you can fully heal. And I love seeing how many do put the family first. That’s my foundation that I navigate from too.

Good luck on finding that perfect work schedule. There’s always a way, I believe.

By: Liz Kreger

Liz Kreger — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:00:17 +0000

Writing isn’t my first priority. Unfortuntely health has to take presedence. It certainly makes you take stock of what’s important in life. Yes, I’ve managed to block out time to write but it isn’t easy. Family will always come first, the steady income of the day job has to be high on the list and friends will always be in the top five.

I hope to someday cut back on the day job to part time so as to eke out more writing time. But that’s something in the future. Probably not the near future.

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:56:05 +0000

Spy, I smile when I think of you! You’ve definitely found your bliss and it inspires us all. Your analogy is perfect too: “Writing is my first priority, and anything that makes that difficult gets cut.” ~Natasha~

By: Natasha Fondren

Natasha Fondren — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:37:52 +0000

This has totally been the story of my life this year. Writing is my first priority, and anything that makes that difficult gets cut.

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:37:23 +0000

“I’ve been there, quitting a job that I felt was killing pieces of my soul. And it wasn’t a horrible job. But it was hours I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do. I wanted to write. Now I am.” ~Edie~

Edie, exactly how I felt! And I remember writing with kids at home, and I agree about how it’s so much different now. I wrote in chaos some days, and probably why the sweet smell of solitude is so precious. And I hadn’t intended my blog to be so long, and added the work story later. I thought it reflected what I was saying so perfectly, and wanted to share.

By: Edie Ramer

Edie Ramer — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:04:19 +0000

Everything you said is so true about choosing our paths. I love your story about changing jobs. I’ve been there, quitting a job that I felt was killing pieces of my soul. And it wasn’t a horrible job. But it was hours I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do. I wanted to write. Now I am.

I stop writing for family, too. I have to admit that if I had my son at home, I might not stop every time he calls. It gets more precious when you don’t see them every day.