tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post8187485037744076749..comments2024-03-29T08:58:04.483-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: On ComparisonsJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-78319356452613675992016-01-11T07:43:31.499-05:002016-01-11T07:43:31.499-05:00I look at what others are doing with the intention...I look at what others are doing with the intention of learning from them more than comparing myself to them. <br /><br />For most of my life, I felt I didn't live up to the expectations of others. Then I found out I had a congenital heart defect that made keeping up physically difficult, if not impossible, and since then I've tried to give myself permission to create my own expectations for what I do, rather than looking to what others are doing.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-38893524069074068642016-01-11T07:06:01.352-05:002016-01-11T07:06:01.352-05:00That is the problem, isn't it-- we're on t...That is the problem, isn't it-- we're on to the next thing. Never fully believing we measure up. Something I'm gonna work on ...carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-51517995801870775932016-01-10T16:09:14.305-05:002016-01-10T16:09:14.305-05:00Oh Gloria -- I hope to be as active as you when I ...Oh Gloria -- I hope to be as active as you when I get there -- and do folks know you still go camping?<br /><br />Julie -- Most of us don't celebrate enough. We're on to the next thing. Big mistake I've made, for sure.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-55759513407803118712016-01-10T15:20:02.429-05:002016-01-10T15:20:02.429-05:00Great attitude, Jim! I'm a big believer in cel...Great attitude, Jim! I'm a big believer in celebrating - big achievements, little achievements, sunrises, sunsets, you name it. I think celebrating, especially celebrating the little things, helps break away from comparisons. Good luck in 2016! Julie Tollefsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01579825918764925361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-55921387580449541932016-01-10T13:57:43.746-05:002016-01-10T13:57:43.746-05:00Jim, you sound like my youngest brother who is a m...Jim, you sound like my youngest brother who is a marathon runner who does the Boston and New York City marathons once he qualified for them after running numerous other ones. Although he usually does well, he's never quite satisfied.<br /><br />As for me, I know I'll never be as good a writer as many big names, but I'm content with what I do even though I hope I improve with each book. I'm also content with having a small following who look forward to my next books. After the first few weeks after my first book came out, I've never even checked the comments on Amazon. As for comparing myself with others, I take the Garrison Keillor Lake Woebegon attitude, "It's good enough." It's not that I don't want to improve my writing, of course. More money in sales would be nice, but not necessary. I manage on my limited income because my needs and wants are simple.<br /><br />As for comparing myself with others, I do tend to notice how many people my age and even<br />younger are not in as good shape as I am, and I'm not talking about looks in particular, I'm talking physical abilities. Their health and mobile ability is so much worse than mine.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-88065095255714223682016-01-10T11:48:12.884-05:002016-01-10T11:48:12.884-05:00Margaret -- as a former Cincinnatian, I know all a...Margaret -- as a former Cincinnatian, I know all about the Flying Pig races. A few more hills than in Charleston, SC!<br /><br />It's interesting what different perspectives and emotions we can bring to the same event and result.Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-85280170320000573762016-01-10T09:09:12.313-05:002016-01-10T09:09:12.313-05:00when my husband runs the Flying Pig half-marathon ...when my husband runs the Flying Pig half-marathon (it's Cincinnati, there's a story) the response from our kids is "Good job, Dad. What was your time?"<br /><br />My response is "Are you injured or can you drive yourself home?"<br /><br />A good reminder that there's more to life. And congrats on the medals.Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07979191318652199350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-86133871707417809852016-01-10T07:29:40.535-05:002016-01-10T07:29:40.535-05:00Thanks, Kait -- I wonder if they teach The Odyssey...Thanks, Kait -- I wonder if they teach <i>The Odyssey</i> in school anymore.Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-62127447080101366212016-01-10T01:54:39.141-05:002016-01-10T01:54:39.141-05:00High five and good attitude! There is a definite s...High five and good attitude! There is a definite siren song to comparisons, and as in the mythology, giving in can lead to a shipwreck of contentment. Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.com