“The same thing which makes Henry [Miller] indestructible is what makes me indestructible. It is that the core of us is a writer…” ~Anaïs Nin, Diary 33, p. 280, 1932.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ~J.R.R. Tolkein, Fellowship of the Rings
Writing is my lifelong, sometime, hobby, occupation, or preoccupation. I have a chronic condition that causes fatigue, so as Gandalf counseled Frodo, however much energy or stamina I have for leisure activities is not for me to decide. Fortunately, I am able to work, so my job is my priority in that it gets the lion’s share of my time and energy. Happily, unlike academia, my present situation does not expect me to work at all hours of the night and I have my weekends free. Who could ask for anything more?
I tend to spend my free time resting, saving up energy for the work week, which means I’ve had to scale back my lofty goals over the years, as far as any plans for accomplishments in my free time—except for writing. I seem to be able to read and write in my time off, and for that I am grateful. All I have to decide is what to do with the time (or energy) that is given to me. I work with what I have.