Quote of the Day

“You are as you are until you’re not. You change when you want to change. You put your ideas into action in the timing that is best. That’s just how it happens.

And what I think we all need more than anything is this: permission to be wherever the fuck we are when we’re there.

You’re not a robot. You can’t just conjure up motivation when you don’t have it. Sometimes you’re going through something. Sometimes life has happened. Life! Remember life? Yeah, it teaches you things and sometimes makes you go the long way around for your biggest lessons.

You don’t get to control everything. You can wake up at 5 a.m. every day until you’re tired and broken, but if the words or the painting or the ideas don’t want to come to fruition, they won’t. You can show up every day to your best intentions, but if it’s not the time, it’s just not the fucking time. You need to give yourself permission to be a human being.”

— Jamie Varon

As people who know me well know very well, my mouth is somewhat akin to that of a sailor on most days. Because I don’t shave regularly? No. Because I have salt in my mouth from my (slight) addiction to the NEW Ruffles Salt & Vinegar chips? Not exactly.

Because I can swear ’em up as good and goodly as anyone out there.

However, I’m very selective about using foul language in writing, as it almost has a more powerful effect than using it verbally. My rule, by and large, is to use it only (a) in dialogue, (b) sparingly for effect in narrative, or (c) whenever the hell you want if you’re writing a blog.

I enjoy coming across people online who aren’t famous but who have a point of view, or at the very least an interesting way of writing about the world. Jamie Varon is one such person. On top of running her own site, called Jamie Varon: Writer of All the Feelings, she’s also the author of a couple of books.

I came across today’s QOTD, loved it from the get-go, and hope you get something out of it, too.