Letting Go and Making Sacrifices for My Health

In January, I self-published my debut collection of poetry titled “Witchcraft and Monsters.” In case you think that being an author is a “very chill job” (many believe it is not a job at all), I’m here to tell you that it is not. Yes, 95 percent of the time, I do live in my pajamas. But it is anything but chill.

Recently, I decided that I would stop writing my author newsletter because I was struggling to keep up with everything.

I have three author social media accounts: one each on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook — and a brand-spanking-new author website and blog. Trying to balance these on a semi-regular schedule is difficult, particularly while keeping up with this column and my editing job while trying to write my next book.

I’m busy.

However, I wasn’t heartbroken about the newsletter, because I didn’t enjoy it. It was a marketing tool, a part of being an author I don’t like, although I realize it’s necessary. But as my newsletter had only been going for a couple of months and I had just four followers, it wasn’t a big deal.

I know other marketing tools exist that I like better, such as social media, where things are more laid-back.

SMA can cause fatigue, so we don’t always have the energy or time to do everything we want or are supposed to do. (Such as stretching multiple times a day. Oops.)

I try to weed out the things I don’t love doing because I don’t have the stamina for it unless I drink 35 cups of coffee a day. And that’s not healthy.

So, if I don’t love it, I don’t do it. The newsletter wasn’t like blogging, editing, or writing this column — these are things I love to do. And I will keep up with them. It’s easy for me to post social media updates on my novel. I have more freedom with these activities, as I don’t have to be consistent.

I live with SMA every day, so I have 22 years worth of content for this column. I like blogging where I write about my column or my book or the books that I’ve read. If I don’t want to update it this month, I don’t have to.

I had intended the newsletter to be about writing and publishing. However, I don’t write very fast, and I had few updates even if I had reduced it to every other month.

I couldn’t keep it, and that’s OK.

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your health.

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Note: SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of SMA News Today, or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to spinal muscular atrophy.