I Finally Unlocked My Ultimate Life Achievement Today

Why you should never give up on your dreams

My palms were sweaty, my knees weak, arms were heavy. There was no sign of mom’s spaghetti, and I wasn’t on stage.

Not really.

Yet I was nervous, for I had waited almost four decades for this very moment. Nervously I opened the box to reveal the treasure that lay within, hoping that this wasn’t a dream.

Stop procrastinating. Let’s do this.

I ripped off the peel of blue Amazon stickers, much like a Bandaid. And there they were inside the box. The physical representation of my dreams.

This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.

Chapter One

Word of the day — nepotism

Eleven year-year-old Ash is frustrated.

The contest was rigged. Even an eleven-year-old knew that. Who were they trying to fool?

My school had run a writing competition — students could submit an original fiction story, complete with illustrations, and the winner would see their submission published.

Like a real book, it was the ultimate prize — better than a million dollars.

I spent days on my submission and was very proud of it. It had drama, humor, and an important takeaway for readers. I was sure it would win.

“While we enjoyed the entry from Ashley J in seventh grade, our winner is Lisa M in eleventh grade.”

Lisa M!

The headmaster stood on stage before the students with a beaming smile. Lisa M was his daughter, and her book would be published.

The disinterested audience of students politely clapped and waited to be dismissed.

I cried.

Chapter Three.

Word of the day — deja vu

Fifteen-year-old Ash very rarely submitted an assignment on time.

Last-minute was my preferred style. I explained to my parents it was the adrenaline rush gained from running a deadline tightrope, but honestly, it was pure laziness.

But this was different. There was a two-week intern opportunity at a major newspaper on offer for this assignment.

I wanted this.

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want, asked the Spice Girls at the time.

I really, really wanted this internship.

My application was submitted at 901am on the first day — I wanted the panel reviewing applications to see mine first and be so swept away that they would immediately close applications.

They already had their winner-winner chicken dinner — Ashley J.

Obviously, they kept a lid on their excitement as it was four weeks until they announced the successful applicant.

The 10th Grade English teacher approached me after class one day. He was the chair of the selection panel. He came up to me and placed a consoling hand on my shoulder.

“Ashley, we loved your application, but unfortunately, Paul has been chosen for this opportunity.”

Paul was his son.

I guess lightning strikes twice.

Chapter Six.

Word of the day — frustration

Twenty-two-year-old Ash had sore arms.

I didn’t need to go to the gym. My father had borrowed an old laptop from work and given it to me. It weighed more than my weak arms could lift, but it was my most beloved possession. Each day I would struggle with the laptop weight as I made the fifteen-minute walk home from the office.

I had been offered a job that required me to relocate away from family and friends. To the other side of the country where I knew not a single soul. This was in the days before social media and messaging, and apps to connect with people.

It didnt bother me.

I had the world’s heaviest laptop and a lot of spare time. I would put this time to use and write my first bestseller.

Every night for six months, I would type away for hours after work, and every weekend I would sneak into the office and print pages and pages.

(Hey, my pay was low, so the least they could offer me was free printing).

After six months and many rewrites, I had my bestseller completed. I then got out the Yellow Pages — I told you it was a while ago — and posted a copy to every single publisher in the country.

I waited for a bidding war to erupt.

What erupted was a tsunami of rejection letters. I guess publishers all had children to offer contracts to.

The laptop was returned to my father. Perhaps to be recycled to make a small village.

Epilogue

Word of the day — persistence

A much older Ash, with far too much grey hair, rips open the box.

Inside are the first copies of my paperback. A book that I wrote has now been published.

A real book for real people to read. After all these years, it had finally happened.

Many chapters had passed in my life. Career changes, entrepreneurial ventures launched, two children, many laptops, and more.

Finally, a pandemic made me reevaluate my path. I reflected on my earlier attempts to be a writer and realized it was still a quest I needed to complete. The burning desire, the passion that always lay beneath to publish a book, remained.

Surely I could try again. For, if not now, then when?

I sold my business and decided to become a full-time writer.

I met other writers and learned from them. I joined in discussions and communities and refined my skills.

I participated in courses and wrote on various platforms. I pitched publications and became fully immersed in the life of a writer.

It was the final piece of the puzzle.

Eventually, it was time to try again. But this time, not to rely on headmasters, teachers, or even publishers.

I could do this myself.

It may have taken longer than Lisa or Paul, but I had done it.

I was a published writer.

Check out the book that took almost forty years to produce, Come Again? Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Too Afraid To Google.