Hello middle man, please step into my office. Huh? What’s that?
Why you say?
Because you’re fired.
I always want to have the best stuff up here as possible in case my future agent stops by and realizes today is the day, if I have something amazing posted, she’s going to offer me that book deal. And then I was reading a post by WSL (Worlds Strongest Library) and he quotes Seth Godin,
If someone can write down your job description, they can find someone to do your job cheaper. There’s no job description that describes being yourself.
I was thinking the other day (you’ve been warned) that I used to be quite witty; funny actually… although that’s what people say when they’re not funny. Do crazy people know they’re crazy? And then I started to wonder if I still was or if any humor comes through in my writing at all. Of course I also wondered once if I was a sociopath since someone smarter than I suggested they always seem to know just what to say and how to make people happy. And now I’m realizing that anyone that says they’re witty probably isn’t.
I’m tired of writing correct. Laboring over every sentence and thinking about grammar. So from now on, I’m just writing. However it comes out. My thoughts from head to fingers to screen. I’m firing the middle man, the one who tells me there’s a better way to say something or I should Google that word to make sure it’s spelled correctly or used in the right context. Sometimes people who write like this annoy me, sometimes I find it liberating and fun. Maybe this doesn’t sound any different to you than how I normally write… hmm, I didn’t think of that. Oh, well, it feels different, freeing. I always felt that short quick sentences made me sound angry. Do I sound angry? I don’t feel angry… wait maybe I am. Angry that I can’t just dish out these posts quickly and that I try to make every single post on here the best it can be. Actually angry is a strong term, I don’t get angry; frustrated maybe.
So I’m letting it go…. ahhh, I feel better already. Have I told you all lately how much I love you? No? Well then, I love you. Yes you reading this (I’m not talking to myself now I’m talking to you the reader) I love you. Thanks for reading this.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my writing… like, am I a writer? If I had a choice would I do this every day of my life? Actually, with all the other sites and online stuff I’m working on I pretty much do write every day. I like it; I think overall I’m passionate about it. I’m in the middle of reading Career Renegade by Jonathon Fields (along with a few others); it really makes you look at your passions in a different way. I love it; having passions.
If I ever want to become a professional writer, I need practice; I need to try different things. So that’s what I’m doing; I’m trying to write more freely. Hope you like it, if not, go somewhere else. Gasp; did I really just say that? You know I love you and don’t want you to go, and I seriously doubt my beautiful style of writing is what keeps you around.
I’m grateful for the movie Bruce Almighty, besides being a great movie it’s helped me stop misspelling b-e-a-u-ti-ful
I’m going to try and be more free with my writing here because… well, you want to know how much money I make off this blog? Zero. Actually that’s not true; as of March 21, 2010 I’ve made $4.98 from an affiliate sale on one of the books I used to have in my sidebar. This is OK because I never really started this blog to make money anyway. Of course I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hope deep down somewhere it would create a six figure income, but I doubt that will happen. What is totally cool is all the people that write me and tell me what a great job I’m doing. Obviously not very many people comment on my blog, but I don’t let it bother me because I’m not seeking acceptance. I’m just sharing my experience and hopefully someone gets some value out of it. You may also notice that I do not post the number of blog subscribers I have like some other high profile blogs. I guess I wanted everyone to think this blog was followed by thousands of people… truth is, you’re one of 148 subscribers. This is totally cool because that means you’re that much more special to me!
So what’s the future of How To Be Happy… Hmmm, who knows… like my spirituality and view and experience with happiness it evolves over time. At the current moment I’m working on fifteen other web site properties (and adding more constantly) in addition to my full-time job and my amazing life as a husband and grandfather. I absolutely LOVE my life and everyone in it; including writing on this blog. And as many of you know, I hate setting expectations because they only lead to resentments. So I’m not setting any expectations for Spiritual Zen myself. 
Well, that’s it for now, I’m hitting publish!
Have I told you how much I love you lately?
About Jared Akers
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Good morning Jared! Well your post made me laugh-I see a lot of the thoughts that go through my head in there
I haven’t written much recently. Not sure why, but I think I feel like my ‘real’ job needed me more than my less than 148 subscribers, each of whom are special to me
But then I realize I have been writing – in private – to people who need me to write to them or chat with them directly, like former students making life decisions…and there I worry less about correct grammar…though if anyone reads my blog, they’ll know that’s not my strong point anyway.
Hey, write from your heart with or without great grammar. This subscriber will still be reading and being inspired.
@Finola,
Thanks for the support Finola. And thanks for sharing about the support you’re giving others. Hope all is well in the Caribbean!
You know that many of us who read your blog will surely understand you and perhaps reply. I can say that when I had my live spaces on the Microsoft network that I had 1000 names on that network list for two of my spaces and a lot in the other two but we all know that only a handful really sign up for alerts and only perhaps a few of them read each and every blog I posted. Even with web sites, most people come through once or twice a year but they do list your stuff on their site so that new people there come see us one way or the other.
I write or reblog more so now good stuff that I’ve learned over my life in different ways. One of the reason that I started reblogging is because fresh new ways of saying the same thing kept coming up and I couldn’t put any of it into better words. New times, new words, same lessons. So I actually made my own daily grind easier yet rewarding for me. And after all that’s where we all started out it seems, having to do this for ourselves somehow. I did because when I found the internet 12 years ago I realized that this was something that helped other grow so much faster because all they needed could be found at their fingers tips so i set out to make that even easier.
You just keep writing and I’ll keep reading and sending your words back out to any one who happens to stop by that day. If everything happens in his time then the person who needs it will show up. Thanks for being out here and thanks for making me see myself in your words.
a faithful reader, Jacki aka lady j
Jacki,
As always thanks for the support. “If everything happens in his time then the person who needs it will show up” – I love that and believe you’re so right!
I love this post and I love your message. Your honesty is refreshing.
I think that your blog is fantastic and I hope that you’ll always update it — whether short, silly posts OR long, complicated, grammatically correct ones.
I think it’s amazing that you have 100+ subscribers and I hope to be there, too, some day. I hope that’s an okay expectation (goal?) to have.
Dena,
Thanks for the gracious comments. I love your new site and look by the way. Great theme! You’re doing a great job over there!
I just re-read my comment and realized just today, I responded to a post on Lateral Action saying how much my recent conversations with people – off business, just conversations, sans expectations – had opened up my channels of creativity, had me to think on things that woke me back up and freed me to do better then, in the work I have to do.
A few good conversations in the haystack of the internet are worth more to me now, and I think, probably for all time, than thousands of followers who may bring in the $$ that granted, I do need. I am feeling that making money on the internet is probably not my destiny. Discovery and enlightenment, yes, hopefully they are.
For what it’s worth, you know I’m a fan – I do hope you keep writing as and when you are inspired to do so – in the meantime, as someone said this morning “May you know the magic of life”