11 Comments
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Erin Mercer's avatar

I get it. Every Thursday during Writer Office Hours, I'm both inspired and overwhelmed.

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Pablo Andreu's avatar

Comparison is inevitable, but we can manage how we compare. There's a fine line between learning from other writers and letting the comparison dictate how and what we write.

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Hoang Samuelson's avatar

You're totally right. Comparison is gonna happen. I'm still learning to cut out the noise, so to speak.

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Ruth Stroud's avatar

The uncertainty of our lives is an unsettling constant, as is the temptation to compare ourselves to others. I’ve experienced the trade-off of working for pay while feeling my creative soul being sucked dry. You’re ahead of the game in realizing it now. You’re a talented writer and storyteller. I have a feeling you’ll find a way to both follow your passion and make a living from it. Meanwhile I’ll keep reading and wishing I had the courage to go some of the personal places you dare to share. Kudos!🥂

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Hoang Samuelson's avatar

Thanks Ruth!

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Gayla Gray's avatar

If accounting is not your passion or at the very least, a career you'd like to have, it is good that you are getting out now and doing something different. I fell into accounting via being a "computer data entry operation" and 40+ years later here I am. I don't have a college degree, so after several years of working in CPA firms, I really wasn't qualified to do anything else. I was a single mom with a small child so I had to continue in accounting because I was good at what I did and it provided me with a way to make a living and support us. My skills were always in demand so I could go to other CPA firms doing what I do best and make a living and for that I'm grateful. I don't know what my passion was nor what I might have done if I hadn't gone the route I did, but looking back now, I wish I had done many things differently. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I retire in August 2023 and hopefully I'll discover a few passions in my retirement and I can't wait. Do what feels right for you and pivot when necessary like you have already done. :)

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Hoang Samuelson's avatar

Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Gayla. I didn't know you're an accountant too! Small world. You've given me lots of think about re: privilege and opportunity, that it might require a follow up post! I am curious though...if you could do it over, what would you have done differently? (If you don't feel like sharing, that's okay, but I always love to hear from people's perspective) :)

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Gayla Gray's avatar

I don't mind answering this at all, and if you don't mind, I'll answer this privately by replying to the email itself. It may take me a few days to do this though. :)

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Hoang Samuelson's avatar

No worries. Feel free to reply any time 😀

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Elizabeth Marro's avatar

I wish I could say that the reflex ti compare one's self/writing to other writers goes away but it doesn't. Or at least it hasn't fir me. But it gets better. You've already figured out how to make it less of a cudgel and more if a tool to help yourself. We learn from each other all the time and it's a beautiful thing. Just reading about your journey here reminds me of how important it is to embrace uncertainty.

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Hoang Samuelson's avatar

Thanks Betsy. This was hard to write, so I'm glad you liked it!

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