You Aren't There Yet

Have you ever said something like, "I'm never going to act the way my parents do"?  Or maybe, "I would never treat a person in such a manner"?  Well, it's quite possible that when you say those things, you are right.  However, it is also quite possible that you are dead wrong.

With the age difference between you and your parents, it makes sense that you never want to act the way you see them.  But when you're 30 or so years older, have that many more life experiences and develop so many habits because of them, you may find yourself acting exactly like them.

I most often find that the men who say that they would never cheat on a woman are the ones who rarely have one to begin with.  If you put those men in a situation where they were actively being pursued by women, their standards would instantly increase and/or they would discover that they are only as loyal as their options.

So what does this have to do with writing?  There's a lot of advice out there for writers.  A lot of it is good advice.  That won't stop you from ignoring it, though.  You may even laugh at how foolish it is.  And, after enough time passes, you may come to realize it's the best advice out there.

It's good to be confident in who you are; without it, you would be lost.  However, you can save yourself the embarrassment of putting your foot in your mouth by realizing that you who you are is temporary.  It's possible that wherever you're going, you just aren't there yet.

Look back on your life.  Have you found yourself doing something you said you'd never do?  What changed?