I try to keep life simple.

Sure, I have my ambitions, but even they’re pretty simple. Mostly, they focus around family and friends. Keeping my health is a big one. And, obviously work is important – it doesn’t define me but I do want to do well at my professional activities – partly for personal pride and also because in this day and age, keeping a job is a non-trivial activity.

Then, of course, I have my writing goals. But even those I try to keep simple. Keep the writing moving forward. Try to sell a few more books. Things are pretty slow with both of these at the moment, but I’m hoping to address that shortly.

So the goals are kept simple, but even then life isn’t always easy. Sometimes, I feel like I need to throw all of those goals to the side, and focus on one, even more pressing goal.

I feel like I just have to try to breathe.

Wake up in the morning. Shower, get dressed, eat breakfast. Try to breathe.

Jump in the car and battle the traffic to get to work on time. Try to breathe.

Spend the day at work. Try to get everything done while at the same time wrestling the mix of processes and personalities. Try to breathe.

Back in the car. Fight the evening traffic. Arriving home is a big relief. Try to breathe.

Lot’s of stuff to do at home. Will I have some time to write? Do I have the energy to write? Is there enough space left in my brain for the ideas to flow? Maybe. Maybe not. Try to breathe.

As you can see, it’s never easy. So many things to get through. So many jobs and deadlines and responsibilities to negotiate. Amidst all of this flurry, just trying to breathe becomes a goal in itself. Trying to feel like I’m alive. Trying not to be overwhelmed by all the pressures of the world. Trying to grasp for that moment of inner calm, without which creativity is impossible.

When reality forces me to cast away my other goals, at least temporarily, trying to breathe becomes my number one objective. It’s my strategy to get through the difficult times, so when the pressure eases up, I can bring those other goals back into focus. Easier said than done, but we always continue to do our best.

So now, I’m ready to take a deep breath and go out to face the world.