If You Knew You Would Not Fail...

Author's Note: I originally wrote this reflection after the Fourth of July (2008), but since my birthday falls one week earlier, I usually end up spending the holiday weekend thinking about the year that has passed and the year to come. This piece reflects how I felt about life as I marked another coming-of-age.

While out and about with the family this weekend, I encountered the following message in a cute little shop:

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail...?"

...First thing I thought when I saw this quote?

I would write.

Stories, poems, novels. All without worrying about critics, or being understood, or whether or not what I'm writing is any good, or whether I can survive on what I make by writing, or whether I will be lonely.

In fact, I think I may do that anyway...