This month in the Absolute Write Blog Chain we’re talking about Growing Up.
I’m first and my fantastic followers are AuburnAssassin then the list at the bottom.
Why is it that we must grow up and do we all actually reach the stage where we are? I think not. Or rather, I think we grow up and then we realize that being grown up sucks and so we revert and then that stinks, so we grow up again. I’m pretty sure this is a recurring cycle. 
Kind of like when a kid says “I want to be a ballerina” and then after dance class they say “I want to be a fireman” instead. We learn what it’s like to be something and decide to reach out and do something different.
Like me. 
March is my birthday month and I turn the big 3-6. Not some momentous year by any stretch of the imagination, but another year and another with a change of plans. Like three years ago when I quit my day job to be a full-time photographer and now I’m likely going to be doing that “day job” again for a while, while being a photographer.
The grass is greener? Or just my inability to grow up?
Where does writing fit into all this? Well … that’s what I picked when photography started to be a “chore”. I wrote a novel. Then another and another …
Will writing be my next attempt to not grow up? It could … especially since my characters are creations from within my mind that seems to be constantly in flux.
But, the beauty of writing is this … one project, if it last 1 week or 3 months or half a year … is a NEW story. It’s an escape from my every day to find a new something-or-other. It’s different than photographing the 10 different kids in the same set. It’s different than working for yet another company with yet another CEO that makes poor decisions.
These are different stories and they call out to be told. Each of them is different. Each of my characters is unique and *I* get to live in their lives which ultimately gives me a bit of the greener grass without make an actual change. Writing is my fantasy life for not growing up.
And that, I think, is pretty darn cool.
To writing!
aimeelaine <-- Me!
AuburnAssassin <-- Next!
Collectonian
DavidZahir
FreshHell
Simran
Proach
*RomanceWriter*
Breddings
laffarsmith
Sneak Devil
leahzero
razibahmed
RavenCorinnCarluk
See you again in April!
Aimee Laine is my pen name. I am a North Carolina photographer who moonlights as a writer.
My articles "The Making of the Vagina Monologues" and "It's all in the Details" were published in 2009 in local media including my town's newspaper and a prominent local magazine.
As a business owner, I have been single handedly responsible for all written materials and regularly include personal stories as well as short works in our studio's newsletters and other print publications since 2005.
I'll tell you that the success of my high profile photography business is in the emotion filled messages that accompany the images published in the studio's blog.
I live in Apex, North Carolina with my gorgeous husband Ron, our son and identical twin girls.
I finished the first draft of my first novel, Mirage, June 1, 2009. 
I like the concept of growing up then reverting for a new rebirth. I hadn’t thought of it that way but I like it.
It’s true, writing can take us so many places, in so many different ways. It’s a great way to explore life. Clicked over from Rachelle’s blog, enjoyed browsing here!
Thanks my red-headed friend!
Joanne! Nice to “meet” you. Thanks for stopping by!
I love that about writing. I personally think it’s the ONLY way we can do that. It’s “free”, it works our minds and we can be completely uninhibited and inventive.
I think what we do, after a certain age, is grow rather than grow up. I think all these forays into other interests are just a way of growing and exploring. I don’t think there’s ever an end point, it’s a constant changing, which might be why “growing up” is frustrating and confusing and not necessarily exciting because we’ve been led to believe that we should reach a point and then stop. That’s it. And we just aren’t like that. If we aren’t constanting reaching for the next thing – whatever it might be – we’re on a downward slope to dying. Long before we actually physically die.
I agree FreshHell!
*sigh* Isn’t writing awesome. An escape from everything, even growing old.
We can create anything we want and play by our rules.
Stacey
Oh yeah, who doesn’t love making up their own rules?
It’s the best kid’s game ever!
I realized being grown up sucked long before I actually grew up. I’m now in this delicious middle ground where I’m a little bit adult and a little bit child. Makes for great delights and much fun.
“in this delicious middle ground where I’m a little bit adult and a little bit child”
That’s where I want to be.
I like reading your posts. They are often short, light and entertaining–but with this deep nuggets of insight. Like a haiku.
Thanks David!
I’ve never understood haikus … gonna have to go look them up!
To Writing! Yes it is pretty darn cool Aimee. Great post!
Great post Aimeelaine. I can totally relate to everything you are talking about. I use my writing and my creative imagination as an escape from facing the fact of growing up.
It’s fun to do that and … to GET to do that!
Thanks Proach!
When I was a child, I liked that part of life. Now, I like the grown up part. It is because I try to enjoy my life. Many people try to dream of future. My dreams are mainly related to the present time.
As long as you have dreams, Razib, then you are golden!
One of the things I love most about writing is the chance to revert to our younger selves, to explore the wonder and creativity as children do. And, it would be a real shame if there were a point where we stopped growing. Life is all about becoming more than we are, growing, learning, becoming.
Happy birthday! And I hope you have a fabulous year.
Thanks Rebecca! It would be a shame if we stopped … onward and upward with fingers at keyboards or pens in hand!