I know I have been unbelievably neglectful of my blog here at shannononeil.net. I want you to know it’s not entirely because of my laziness (though that is a factor), but more because I’m dealing with a constantly shrinking amount of free time.
Like most authors, I find that twenty-four hours are not quite enough each day to balance work, social life, chores and other obligations. I actually miss the days when I was unemployed and had a solid 12 hours a day to devote to writing (but on the other hand, I don’t miss living with my parents and not having a reliable source of income).
So in an effort to find more time to write and simultaneously help my fellow authors, I’ve been working diligently on starting my own business, Duolit Consulting. Along with my business partner, Toni, I’ve been putting a lot of my time into establishing a strong foundation and getting this company off the ground. Still, the company is in its early stages, which means I don’t have the luxury of quitting my day job just yet.
But in the last few weeks we’ve made considerable headway in our vision, so I’m now starting to see a pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel. The two jobs thing won’t last forever, but it’s a time investment I need to make right now so I can get myself to a point where I can devote myself to writing again.
I know my fellow authors understand where I’m coming from, as would most people. We all make sacrifices with our present time hoping for future payoff. That’s one of the reasons why I love this poem by W. Heartsill Wilson:
This is the beginning of a new day
God has given me this day to use as I will
I can waste it or use it for good
What I do today is important
Because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,
Leaving in its place something that I’ve traded for it.
I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure —
In order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.
Here’s to hoping that we are all trading our time for success!
Later days,
Shannon
