One of the most intimidating factors of this journey that I have chosen to undertake is quite simply the question of "why should people care?" Why should you care about this one guy in West Virginia who wants to write historical works? There are many people out there traveling the same odyssey that I am, so why put it out there for all to see? It's a novel idea, I want to see what I am made of, can I accomplish this huge goal that I set for myself? I would like to think that maybe by reading through my blog and my eventual historical posts that people would become inspired to follow a path that they may be scared to follow. Make no mistake friends, I am absolutely petrified right now, will I ever get even a single essay published? Will my writing suck so bad that the two people who have offered to read my work just dismiss it? Will I ever even get the darn thing written because of time constraints and family obligations? All of these things weigh heavily on me, and have been for the better part of three months now, but there is an ember there that refuses to die out.
My father used to tease my mother incessantly about school when I was a teenager, you see my mom went back to school later in life and has accomplished great things in the medical field. My dad would joke with her that she was addicted to school and my mother being ever truthful did not deny this. I would always tease her as well because, who the heck is addicted to school? But, as I was doing my master's work I was never really depressed or miserable, yes there were some classes that were terrible (Hello History of Pop Culture! I will politely say that I find it a pseudo-history topic at best), but I always enjoyed learning in my adult years. When I got that pretty degree in the mail, I was left feeling empty in ways. I have been in school since 1990 in one form or another and the idea that it would all just end was not a happy occasion for me. As a child I was a horrendous student, but as an adult in College and through my master's program I found that I thrived on the challenge. So I was a man without a challenge in life and I felt and still feel empty academically. Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli would write, " Life is too short to be little. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply, acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness and with fervor". (1)
I have read that quote probably twenty times in my adult life and each time it would help me through a different obstacle in life, and I feel it is very fitting for this journey. The only way that I could truly fail in this quest is to quit and be defeated. Yes, I could write something that nobody publishes, but I think that would still be an accomplishment because I would have slayed the beast of writing that academic article, just no editors thought I was quite awesome enough. No shame in that really, but to never try and to never "act boldly" as Disraeli would say is truly letting my fears and my trepidation destroy a goal that means much to me. So when you read this maybe you have that goal that you keep pushing aside and making excuses for, we all do it, but I would encourage you to take your own little journey along side me. Whatever it may be if you feel a deep drive to accomplish something, I say go for it. We must all "Act Boldly" to achieve our ultimate goals in life.
Thanks for reading, comments are fantastic both on the facebook page and on here. I appreciate everybody for the support and would kindly ask that you share this blog post and my facebook page.
Thanks,
Matt
References
Disraeli quote was found via the artofmanliness.com
My father used to tease my mother incessantly about school when I was a teenager, you see my mom went back to school later in life and has accomplished great things in the medical field. My dad would joke with her that she was addicted to school and my mother being ever truthful did not deny this. I would always tease her as well because, who the heck is addicted to school? But, as I was doing my master's work I was never really depressed or miserable, yes there were some classes that were terrible (Hello History of Pop Culture! I will politely say that I find it a pseudo-history topic at best), but I always enjoyed learning in my adult years. When I got that pretty degree in the mail, I was left feeling empty in ways. I have been in school since 1990 in one form or another and the idea that it would all just end was not a happy occasion for me. As a child I was a horrendous student, but as an adult in College and through my master's program I found that I thrived on the challenge. So I was a man without a challenge in life and I felt and still feel empty academically. Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli would write, " Life is too short to be little. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply, acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness and with fervor". (1)
I have read that quote probably twenty times in my adult life and each time it would help me through a different obstacle in life, and I feel it is very fitting for this journey. The only way that I could truly fail in this quest is to quit and be defeated. Yes, I could write something that nobody publishes, but I think that would still be an accomplishment because I would have slayed the beast of writing that academic article, just no editors thought I was quite awesome enough. No shame in that really, but to never try and to never "act boldly" as Disraeli would say is truly letting my fears and my trepidation destroy a goal that means much to me. So when you read this maybe you have that goal that you keep pushing aside and making excuses for, we all do it, but I would encourage you to take your own little journey along side me. Whatever it may be if you feel a deep drive to accomplish something, I say go for it. We must all "Act Boldly" to achieve our ultimate goals in life.
Thanks for reading, comments are fantastic both on the facebook page and on here. I appreciate everybody for the support and would kindly ask that you share this blog post and my facebook page.
Thanks,
Matt
References
Disraeli quote was found via the artofmanliness.com