Relearning simple joy

It's almost funny how kids take so much enjoyment from simple things, isn't it?

This has been on my mind a fair bit lately. It's easy to get caught up in the "grind" or to "lock-in" on something that you've been working towards. Often, it's so easy to get so focused on this that unless you're doing something actively related to it, or something productive, you will feel guilty.

Don't worry. You're not the only one.

There is so much discourse and, dare I say? (Yes, of course I do), propoganda on social media these days about people grinding and making it rich young (normally using renting stuff to make it seem real), or people barely sleeping and sacrificing their health to reach ridiculous goals, that it's easy to get caught up in it all.

I got caught up in it too when I decided to start publishing my work.

Now, don't get me wrong, working hard towards your goal is important, and success comes with sacrifice and hard work, but that shouldn't take away our ability to enjoy something just for the sake of enjoying it.

I'm pretty sure I first realised this with video games. When I was younger, I could spend hours and days playing a good video game, getting completely lost within it. I'd hit a point a few years ago where I could barely sit for an hour and "lock in" to a game. Why? It wasn't that the game was worse than when I was a kid, nor was it the fact that I was outgrowing them. No. It was the guilt. The guilt that I wasn't doing something to promote my books, or work on the next one so I could then promote that book.

I was caught in a never ending circle of guilt and that guilt not only took away my simple enjoyment of things like video games, it was also taking away my enjoyment for the creative process of writing.

That was the red flag that made me realise I had lost something very important.

Not everyone who is reading this will understand what I'm saying, but some will. It's important to enjoy things simply for the sake of enjoying them.

Reading is one of those simple joys and escapes for many people. This is one of the reasons I enjoy writing so much. Being able to give someone that small escape that they need is an incredible feeling.

And we are approaching that time again, with the release of Darklings. It's less than a week away, it'll be out on Friday.

So, yes, I need to stop tying now and go package up all the preorders to the amazing people who continue to support me.

It's not too late for you though, there's still just enough time and copies to get yourself a preorder. If you miss out, you'll just have to get your order in anyway, I'll have more copies again soon.

Take it easy everyone, and remember to enjoy the little things.