31 Things I Know Now That I’m 31: #10 β€” No One’s Harder On Me Than ME.

In my ideal world, I’d be blogging every day withΒ months of content queued up so I could spend my days exploring other interests, and living my life like a normal person β€” like those people I see on Netflix who go to bed at reasonable hours and look so well-rested when they get into the office in the morning. I wouldn’t be plagued by piles of ideas large enough to keep a fire going a few nights, thinking all these half-written posts good enough to start from… but usually just ending up withΒ more half-written posts. I’d never suffer bouts of writer’s block, feeling like I’ve said everything worth saying with a tired and heavy soul unable to keep up. I’d never feel overwhelmed by all this work that feels undone, chasing after resolution that constantly feels out of reach, taunting me with visions of what life could be like if I could just get my act together. I feel like there’s justΒ so much I could do if the cards played out aΒ slightly different way, not making it as hard to get things done in a life trying to pull me in so many directions.

But this is the life I have, andΒ the hand dealt to me to live it. It’s up to me to do what I will with it all, using every last thing I have in me to do the very best I can with what days I have.

Ain’t no one gonna make your life easier for you butΒ you.

“Hi, Haters!” β€” Why You Have No Idea What it’s Like to Take a Walk in My Shoes.

I’m always rubbingΒ someone the wrong way β€” my son when I’m not up to an aimless walk around the block; my wife when I’ve spentΒ yet another night chasing my muse for the ultimate blog post; my parents when I don’t call enough; my bosses when I choose my family over the job… it’s like they say β€” you’re never going to pleaseΒ everyone.

I wish the answer was as simple as doing things that makeΒ you happy, but as you grow older and take more responsibility on, that path to enlightenment isn’t as straightforward as it once was.

But yet and still, people act like they know what it’s like to beΒ me. What it’s like to balance the time invested with myΒ son with dedicated time for Sarah,Β time to get all the tasks done at work, and time to work on the #BloggerLife, pushed aside to whatever free time I’mΒ lucky enough to find. What it’s like toΒ constantly shoot for the stars despite the friend, foe and family alike who swear that IΒ won’t make it. What it’s like asΒ theΒ only one who can see myΒ vision, knowing that every little thing IΒ do brings you one step closer to where you want to be, but the journey there requires perpetual patience, unlimited effort, and the willingness to believe in myselfΒ even when everyone else writes meΒ off.

The haters gonna hate, and there’s nothing I can do to change that β€” the only one I’m in control of is myself, and I’ve gotta continue makingΒ every day as productive as possible if I eventually want to shape my worldΒ exactly how I want to.

#SorryNotSorry β€” Why I’m Going to Keep Doing What I Do. (Hint: It Has to Do With Being True to Myself.)

So I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I can’t produce content every day like I’ve got nothing else to do with my time. I’m sorry that I’m so adamant about quality Β that I’d rather not post anything for weeks than put out something I find mediocre. I’m sorry that I choose to prioritize time with my family, putting food in their mouths and clothes on their backs over the utterΒ grind of blogging,Β with theΒ image editing, spitballing ideas and social sharing IΒ love doing, but never find enough time to keep on top of.

But most of all? I’m sorry that people feel the need to hate when they haven’t walked a day in my shoes.

[Tweet “I’m sorry that people feel the need to hate when they haven’t walked a DAY in my shoes.”]

They say that if you’ve got yourself some haters, you’re doing something right, and ifΒ that’s the case β€” I’veΒ made the right move aΒ few times over.

31 Things I Know Now That I'm 31- 10 β€” No One's Harder On Me Than ME. β€” The Definition of a Hater (Crabs in a Bucket)But that’s the least of my concerns β€” marriage and fatherhood definitely changed me: I’ve gotΒ less time to work on this hustle as I place more stock into my relationships as a family man, but the content takesΒ more time to create as I’m finallyΒ working toward something real… not the mediocrity I chased as a lifestyle and event blogger pre-parenthood.

I know what I want and the place I want to get to, but what does it matter how long the journey takes? As long as I get there while keeping my family afloat and handling all the things IΒ have to do in this life, who can say I did it wrong?

But after all that, if you’reΒ still hating, let me tell you this: if you have enough time to tellΒ me what I’m doing wrong inΒ my #BloggerLife, maybe you should use it to take a look at whatΒ you’re doing.

The moment I stopped eyeballing my fellow bloggers and focused instead of being the best Casey I possibly could, I experienced success unparalleled byΒ anything I’d seen before. The sooner you take care of yourΒ own affairs, the less those of others evenΒ bother you.

[Tweet “Those who can, do. Those who can’t meddle ’cause they WISH they could.”]

Those who can, do.

Those whoΒ can’t meddle ’cause theyΒ wish they could.

GoΒ do something.Β Be somebody. Hating leaves you nothing but empty-handed.

Until the next,

–case p.

By Casey E. Palmer

Calling the Great White North his home, Caseyβ€˜s spent the last few decades in pursuit of creating killer content. From novels as a kid, comics as a teen, to blogs and photos once he could grow a beard, he’ll use whatever’s around him to create amazing stuff.

When he’s not creating, he’s parenting, exploring and trying to make life as awesome as possible for everyone around him.

Because a boring life’s not a life worth living!

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