Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

By Keith N Fisher

I’m writing this blog between classes at the LDStorymakers Conference. I have no Internet on my computer so I hope I can post on time. I have no time for editing so please don’t laugh at my mistakes.

Although the standard is changing, in our culture, boys are given a set of rules to follow. They are taught to be the breadwinner, the protector and provider. Girls are taught to be the homemaker, nurturer, and teacher of all good habits.

Being true to my lessons, I’ve endeavored to make ends meet, provide, and keep a status quo, no matter what the circumstance.

About fifteen years ago, we were given the opportunity to purchase a bigger house than I could afford. If the truth were told, however, It wasn’t much bigger or expensive. I’d just grown comfortable in my situation and making a larger payment worried me.

At the time, we were making payments on a one and one-half bedroom bungalow with plumbing problems, but it was ours, and we loved the garden. I’d spent the early part of our marriage paying debts we brought into it and I didn’t want to start over.

One day, while considering my options, I realized life was short and if I didn’t grab the piece of happiness the new house would bring, I might never realize the dream. In short, if I didn’t take a chance, I might never move forward.

Now, this might seem like selfishness, or self-justification, but I learned there are times to take risks you can’t move forward if you don’t speculate occasionally.

At the LDStorymakers Conference this year a presentation reminded us that if you never take a chance, you’ll never succeed. It also suggested if you’ve never failed, you never tried.

Keep writing. Success may never mean writing full time or making a six-figure income, but dreams, not pursued, can never come true. Your writing will never touch a life, unless you keep writing.

Hang in there. Good luck with your writing—see you next week.