Accepting The Hardest Path Forward

Published on May 5th, 2021

“It shouldn’t have to be so hard!”

Whenever I say (or think) these words, I know that I’ve mentally switched from being resourceful into being the victim.

An example I face every week: writing. I love it so much! It’s creative, helpful to others, and useful for me to process my thoughts. But if I love it so much, why did I stop? Why not write weekly? Or go all-in and publish daily?

It’s embarrassing to admit, but it’s me being a stubborn prima donna. I prefer to work in a quiet room with long stretches of uninterrupted time. However, the reality is that my family just survived the 2020 pandemic while moving and having a 2nd child while I work at a startup. The reality is, it’s not realistic to have much time and space on a frequent basis.

That is why I’m writing this article with thumbs only as I rock my youngest child (going on 2-hours this morning). Sure, I could go back to scrolling my social media field while pining for the day that I can get back to my keyboard.

It’s far from ideal, but fuck it. If the goal matters enough, then I have to accept that the only path available is the hardest one. As I harp to others—we can’t control external circumstances, but we can change how we react to them. And so here I am. It may hurt my thumbs over time, but it's better than staying in creative constipation.

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About Rick Manelius

Quick Stats: CXO of Atomic Form. Graduated from MIT in '03 (BS) and '09 (PhD). Life hacker and peak performance enthusiast. This blog is my experiment in creative writing, self-expression, and sharing what I've learned along my journey. For more information, read my full bio here or contact me.