Savannah Watson

I recently watched a Ted Talk about how 30 is not the new 20. It was very informative, and I enjoyed the perspective that the presenter brought to the table. What I didn’t love was that she suggested that 20-somethings needed a sense of urgency so they didn’t feel like they had wasted their 20s.

This got me thinking (and thought-spiraling a bit): “I’m a 20-something. I have little urgency towards life. I mean, yes, I have goals, dreams, and aspirations – both for my personal life and writing career. I have things I know I want to do, but I accept that things happen when they are supposed to happen. So, why try to force a time frame? Does this mean I am doing something wrong? Am I wasting my “golden” foundational adult years?”

Pause. Hold up.

STOP.

I had to slam on the breaks and take a breath here.

Yes, some people – especially young people – really do need that sense of urgency to get things done. That feeling of “not enough time” is often a strong motivator to accomplish things… and a deterrent against procrastination. But I am NOT one of those people. I used to be – I used to have my entire life planned by the months or years. I would have a bachelor’s by 21 (which I did), then my career would be well established, I’d be married, have children, be a successful writer, and on and on – all before some set age. But it wasn’t until I STOPPED planning my life like that that I started truly living and loving my life. Because I started to love the PROCESS of my life – not just the end goals.

Just like with writing.

I used to be very controlling about my writing. I had to have X number of words written in a day to call it a “successful” writing day. And in order to be a “successful” author, I would have to have X number of books published before I hit a set age. Otherwise… I was a failure?

Obviously not.

When I stopped trying to plan my writing career down to the millisecond and started just going with the creative flow and enjoying every moment of the entire process, I started to be truly and utterly present in my writing. In every facet of my writing. Without the dread of failure or the urgency that I was running out of time to be successful.

Some people need urgency. Some people do not. In my opinion, it’s all a matter of finding what gives you the most satisfaction in not only the results but also the process.

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