08/19/2026: Not Today

I’m easing into the morning after a busy and productive weekend and start to the week. I’m happy with where I am currently, and I look forward to taking a beat to let it all sink in and to take some time to enjoy my creative pursuits. 

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about all those stories I’ve heard about people who are faced with the difficult decision to continue on or not, and someone says to them, “So quit.” It’s a blatant disregard of someone’s struggles and feelings, yet it’s usually the blunt statement that can set that person free. It’s a bold declaration to just give up, because wouldn’t that be easier? 

The thing is, when we want something really badly, and it’s a hard journey to get there, we don’t actually want to give up on the task or the dream. But sometimes, when the going gets tough, we want that pat on the back, that validation that if we want to take it easy on ourselves that it’s okay to slow down, or to walk away entirely with no consequences or regret.

So when our mentors give us that tough love, or our families and friends give us that free pass to quit, it stirs conflict inside of us. Why disregard all my hard work with unkind words and a wave of your hand? Why think it’s okay to just give up on something that clearly means the world to me and say that, “no matter what you do we’ll always love you”?

I understand “So quit.” Most of the time, it’s the spark that lights the fire underneath us and keeps us moving forward. But the alternative is something I can’t really fathom. Of course it’s one of life’s greatest gifts to be loved and supported unconditionally, but in order for you to thrive and to press on, you have to be pushed to try new things, to try again even if you fail. And that forgiving statement just doesn’t kindle that flame inside of us that “So quit” does. 

Say we did just heed this sentiment. Say we walked away from the hard stuff and turned our back on our dreams. How would we feel when our purpose is gone? Where would we find meaning? How would we strive to be our best selves? Would we be glad that we gave it all up, that we threw it all away? Or would we be sorely missing something that motivated us to get out of bed each morning? 

We all know that it’s part of the human condition to complain, to grow tired of the process. But those of us who know what our dreams are, those of us who are on a journey of relentless pursuit to achieve them, don’t actually mean it when we criticize ourselves and say that it’s too hard. We know deep down that we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We need that person to come along and challenge our hard-built resolve so that we can defiantly say, “Not today.” We need to be seen and loved for who we are and what we’re passionate about, but we also need encouragement to continue on when the odds are stacked against us. But, above all, we have to understand the difference between cutting ourselves slack and giving ourselves grace.  

And so the mantra will keeping playing over and over in my head:

So quit.