“New Horizons”. Sounds cliche, does it not? However, if the shoe fits, then wear it. And that brings me to why I even bothered to power up my laptop this morning; a strong sense that it would be a serious mistake to ignore a journey that has tugged and seduced the edges of my mind for years with its potentialities.
“The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become.” I didn’t coin that phrase. I’m not that clever. W.E.B. Dubois deserves the kudos for that nugget of wisdom. And yet it speaks to the creative thoughts and musings buried in all hearts, and to the visions that grow out of a heartfelt desire to act on a dream. But life interrupts and most dreams are left to wither on the vine, and shrivel and drift away, the untaken path little more than flotsam on life’s great river of what-ifs.
Since 1996, I have been working in the criminal justice system in one capacity or another. Cop, legal intern during lawschool, defense attorney, and at present, magistrate. On March 25, I no longer will be a magistrate. Once again, I will be unemployed, but still an attorney. And that little tidbit is why you readers were subjected to the whole “New Horizons” cliche, admittedly anti-climactic for the reader, but singularly exhilerating for the author.
It’s not as if the prospect of unemployment is exhilerating in and of itself. Being an unemployed attorney and writer/blogger is probably not at the top of everyone’s idea of success. There is nothing sexy about reaching in your pocket and emerging with lint and a couple of tic tacs. Conceptually, it’s a hard sell and print will not be wasted in a vain attempt to otherwise convince. The reality is that on March 26, the sun will rise in the east and set in the west and the immediate geography and landmarks upon which my eyes rest will be the same as the day before.
But that suits this blogger just fine. I’ll take President Theodore Roosevelt’s advice and do what I can, with what I have, where I am. The journey will be full of detours and alot can happen along the way that is unexpected. Taking on cases and churning out novels takes a lot of work, but that too is part of the journey and should provide plenty of fodder for future blogs.
Looking back on my decision to resign, I realize that dreaming and thinking of writing was the easy part, but to put thoughts into action was one of the most difficult. There is no turning back and now this aspiring novelist must put hands to keyboard and create the very vision which impelled the taking of W.E.B. Dubois’ sage advice in the first place. Wish me luck, and if you’re inclined to do so, say a prayer for this author as lance is lowered and the chasing of the illusive literary windmill begins. It should prove interesting.