About Don Quixote and Tom Petty

Post 208:

            Like the great philosopher Tom Petty once said, “The waiting is the hardest part.” He said a bunch of other things, but here I thought I’d lead with that.

            Patience is weird, especially when I’m talking about work. I have a serious lacuna where my patience bone should be. My work needs to be the best thing ever and it needs to get there now.

            Writing a book is the same as anything. You’re never really your best self. Ever look back on a picture and think how the hell did I wear that? Back in the day you thought you were rocking those cargo shorts and those heel-high socks, but nope, you could’ve done better.

            Only there was no way to know. At that time your brain was what it was. It’s the same with writing or creating. I’ll look back on earlier work that I thought was super brilliant and think to myself that I must’ve been drunk.

            Maybe I was, but that’s not the point.

            It’s all up in the air, all opinions anyway. Miguel Cervantes probably thought a few scenes in Don Quixote were cringe-worthy. Things turned out okay for him. Just don’t wait as long as he did to publish. Two reasons: it’s not as hard to find a printing press, and for God’s sake, let yourself enjoy the fruits of your labor.

            It’s one of those things that I’m too stupid to really sum up. If you work on your patience, you’ll work better. If you’re always harried and hurried to come up with perfection it’ll stall you out.

            Just write. Or whatever it is you do. We need another Don Quixote, and I can’t wait forever. See you after.