It's interesting to observe that what was once frightening and/or marginal has become an accepted … mainstream… activity.

It used to be that writing was reserved for an elite group of people. The writers were considered a kind of artist. And, though they still are, writing has become more accessible to many people. These days, anyone who believes they can write can learn to write better… and/or more easily. That is, without anxiety. Anyone who does not believe they can write can learn to believe they can write. Both are challenges of different sorts.

I was struck by the elderly couple sitting next to me at lunch today. She was editing his writing. They were sitting close enough that I could make out some of what they were saying. I could make out enough to know he was in a learning curve with respect to his writing. Easily, they were in their 80s. It was inspiring to me to see their work together.

It's never too late to do something new, or re-engage something old. And, if writing is something that's been on the back burner, it's never too late to bring it forward.

Bode Miller had considered giving up Olympic skiing at least once that was reported in the news.
"Four years after failing amid lofty expectations at the Karin
Games and a year after practically walking away from the
sport, Miller won the super-combined for his third medal
in as many events at Vancouver." (AP, Andrew Dempf, 2/22)

Joannie Rochette lost her 55 year old mother and major supporter of her Olympic skating yesterday in a sudden heart attack. Joannie is on the ice today. Many say they believe that Joannie is keeping on because she and her mom were so close and the Olympics was a goal they had together. And so Joannie was honoring it. Psychologically, carrying on is a way to keep her mom alive.

Of late I've written a great deal about taking writing breaks. Nor would I back off from the importance of doing that. But, as these two stories indicate, it's necessary as well to not give up. We many never know the true motivation that kept Bode Miller and Joannie Rochette in action. But, whatever it is, it is deeply inside of them. And, our writing runs deeply inside of us writers. It is evidenced if not in our writing, then in our thoughts about writing. I have never taken a writing break where I had not been thinking about writing. And, I have found that to be the case for writers I know and writers I've worked with.

We can stop and question our motivation. It's natural. And, at these times, our well honed perseverance carries us through if not in action, then in thoughts.