That Day Looms

So, this time next week I’ll be, for want of a better word, celebrating my birthday. I’ll be thirty-one. And what normally happens as I approach that day is that I get grumpy. I’m not a huge fan of my birthday. I like other people’s – they’re fab – just not mine. I end up comparing my life now with how I imagined it’d be when I was younger and, mostly, it’s a very different thing indeed.

But maybe I can be a little ungrateful. Maybe I can be a little hard on myself. Although I feel old I’ve not really done that bad so far. I’ve had three books published and people have liked them, for starters. And that’s cool. And it makes me feel lucky too.

But – and here’s the thing – I wonder if I’ll ever be satisfied. And I wonder if not ever being satisfied (happy?) is what keeps me doing this. Because, as much as it’s fun, it’s hard work.

So, right now, and for the next week or so, as well as writing and editing and all that kind of thing, I’m going to try to not be grumpy about getting older and about all those things I thought I’d have, or have done, by now. Because there’s a lot I should be grateful for. Who knows, I might even relax a bit.

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nikperring

Nik Perring is a short story writer, author, teacher of writing, and editor from the UK. His stories have been published widely all over the world. His books include the widely celebrated Not So Perfect (Roastbooks 2010), A Book of Beautiful Words; and Beautiful Trees; and he co-wrote Freaks!(TFP/HarperCollins, 2012).

3 thoughts on “That Day Looms”

  1. The good news, Nik, is that you are still young enough to live two more careers if you decide you want to…you’re whole life is ahead of you. Unlike some of us. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Live the dream; take it from me. Don’t die wishing you had done something.

    1. Thanks, Sam! Wise words.
      And I guess I kind of am – I love doing what I do and I love that I’m able to do it. And I’m really fortunate that people seem to like it too. It’s just a little strange looking at me now and comparing that to how I thought I’d be when I was younger. It’s no bad thing, it’s just different.
      And there are loads of things I’d love to do, but there’s plenty of time yet – I hope! ๐Ÿ™‚

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