A Random Thought

Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.
A Zen adage

I don’t presume to know what exactly enlightenment is, but I think I have an idea about what it isn’t.

Enlightenment isn’t suddenly one day being different, as in, you no longer have to do the mundane chores of life. You still have to chop wood and carry water.

I think enlightenment has more to do with your attitude about doing the chore. If chopping wood and carrying water is a chore, something you have to do and don’t want to do, or don’t like doing, then I think enlightenment will be illusive. If, on the other hand, you are thankful be able to chop wood and carry water, or are thankful that you have wood to chop and water to carry, then I believe you are on the right track to enlightenment.

Granted it isn’t easy. Certainly I fail on a daily bases to be thankful that I have dishes to wash and a toilet to scrub. But I should be. And I do my best to daily remind myself to be thankful for the mundane.

The above adage applies to writing too.
Before publication: write, revise and submit.
After publication: write, revise and submit.

Published authors, even the famous ones, still have to write, revise and submit.