If

“If you can start the day without caffeine,

“If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

“If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

“If you can eat whatever food is put on your plate and be grateful for it,

“If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

“If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

“If you can watch friends go away on exotic vacations when you have to stay at home, without even a twinge of jealousy.

“If you can face the world without lies and deceit,

“If you can relax without beer, wine, or liquor,

“And if you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

“Then you are probably a dog.”

--Jack Kornfield

Perspective

Just a little encouragement for you writers who keep your butt to the chair and your fingers to the keys with the hope that what you are putting blood sweat and tears into matters.

This is from #Seth Godin's blog:

The crowd, your work, and a choice

The crowd prefers sweets.

The crowd gets on its feet when your band plays the big hit, and sits down for the new songs.

The crowd will pay far more for a steak dinner than a vegetable one, regardless of cost or effort or value.

The crowd will always pick the movie over the book.

The crowd would rather wait in line for the popular attraction.

The crowd likes to be chased.

The crowd likes explosions, resolved plots and ample lighting.

The crowd would prefer a digest.

The crowd never liked Ornette Coleman very much.

The crowd's favorite words include fast, easy, cheap, fun, now and simple.

The crowd needs a deadline.

The crowd is the group of people who don't get what you do, who loom on the horizon as the reward for making your work more popular.

And yet, the crowd continually gets more than it deserves because people like you make work that matters. Work that you're proud of.