Summary

The author emphasizes the importance of taking a break from passion projects when life events necessitate it, sharing their personal experience of pausing self-publishing after their father's death.

Abstract

The article discusses the author's decision to temporarily step away from their self-publishing endeavors following the sudden and violent death of their estranged father. Despite the initial plan to continue writing, the author found themselves unable to focus on their passion project due to grief. The article highlights the unpredictability of life, which can disrupt even the most well-laid plans, and the freedom one has to prioritize personal well-being over external expectations. The author encourages others to embrace the flexibility to pause and return to their projects on their own terms, advocating for a joyful and fulfilling approach to pursuing one's visions.

Opinions

The author acknowledges the impact of personal tragedy on the ability to engage with creative work, suggesting it's acceptable to take a break when needed.
Life is depicted as an uncontrollable force that can interrupt one's plans, referred to humorously as "Life/Susan."
The article stresses personal autonomy, asserting that as adults, individuals are accountable only to themselves regarding their creative pursuits.
The author believes that passion projects should bring happiness and that it's important to listen to one's inner compass, which may signal the need for a pause.
The author's perspective is that returning to a passion project should be guided by one's own timeline and no one else's.
There is an underlying encouragement for readers to find fulfillment and joy in their creative work, regardless of whether they take breaks or how they manage their time.

It’s Okay to Pause Your Passion Project Awhile

Life might even force you to take a break

Two months ago, my dad died. I just want to share that with you at the start of this piece.

We weren’t close. In fact, we were estranged by his choices. But his death, which was sudden and violent (two facts that surprised no one who knew him), caused me to falter.

For the remainder of June, I only applied my writing skills to freelance jobs and my dad’s obituary. My passion for self-publishing simply lost the battle with grief.

As I got used to never speaking to him again, never having a sober conversation — or any conversation — with him again, never getting to set things right, I still had trouble finding my way back to self-publishing. July passed without a single new drop from me — except for my regular tweets because, let’s be honest, tweets are easy, and my Twitter following surely can’t go a day without my sweet, syrupy tweets.

Did I get off-topic? It happens!

Here’s the point. I’m back self-publishing again, and I’m here to tell you that it’s totally cool to put down your passion project for a bit when necessary.

Consider the following, unavoidable, unassailable fact.

Life Does What It Wants

Let’s assume that life is its own living, breathing organism. Let’s give it a name. Let’s call it Life. Or Susan. Let’s compromise — Life/Susan.

Life/Susan is just like any other thinking being. It does what it wants.

I had all these articles in different stages of development that I planned to publish in June and July. Life/Susan didn’t care.

Life/Susan said, “Ha! Let’s see you publish after you’ve suffered a parent’s death!”

Watch out for Life/Susan!

Maybe this section’s point would come across clearer if the antagonist was just called Life, but it feels like we got there.

You Only Have to Answer to Yourself

I don’t want to blow your mind with this tidbit, but you’re an adult. Well, probably. I mean, statistically, I don’t get a lot of tweens reading my articles. And that’s fine!

Honestly, it gives me the freedom to sprinkle around a few fucks if I feel thus inclined. Usually, I don’t.

Whether you want to sprinkle swears, take a self-publishing break, or gallivant bare-ass in your own home, you really only answer to yourself.

That fact gives you

Your own timeline
The ability to press Pause
Full-on, motherfudgin’ freedom!

Come Back on Your Schedule

We should conceive grand visions, but our visions should generate inner joy. We should chase our visions via processes that make us smile. We should pause when our inner compass tells us we must.

If you’re currently paused from your passion project — due to a stunt Life/Susan pulled or your inner compass telling you to take a chill — please believe in only one rule. You must only come back on your schedule.

Whether you return to your paused project or not, may you know fulfillment and joy.

Regi Brittain has enjoyed enough personal highlights to know that everyone who puts themselves out there enjoys personal highlights of their own.