When Stuff gets Tough

Sometimes, life gets difficult and throws a wrench in the gears of your plans. Being a successful writer is as dependent on not getting derailed as it is on knowing your craft. Yet, it can happen to the best of us.

Anyone who happens to follow my blog has noticed my absence over the past couple of days. Well, things got tough and as always tough is annoying. Monday night I went out to play some Magic the Gathering at my local shop. While I was there, I lost my wallet and everything in it.

To compound that problem let me elaborate a bit about the situation. As many of you may know I just moved from Kentucky to Tennessee. I've not gotten settled yet, or found a steady job, so money was already tight on me. So I'd made a budget to help myself along and of that budget was $16 for gas. When I left the house the car was almost empty. I was running a little late, so I figured I'd get gas on my way home. I'm sure you can see where this is going. Lost wallet? Check. Almost empty gas tank? Check. A drift in a city I know nothing about? Check. Luckily I had $0.64 in change in my pocket. With a hope and a prayer I tracked down a gas station which took far longer than it should have. You never can find what you're looking for when you need it. The cashier was nice enough to contribute enough to get me up to a whole dollar. I made it home. I filed a police report. My drivers license and social security card were in my wallet and you need those to get a job. Until I can get replacements I needed proof that they were gone. I hope the police report will meet that need.

As if the situation wasn't bad enough now I'm confronted with the bureaucracy of replacing my lost documents. I have to go all the way back to Kentucky to get my birth certificate from my mother. I must go in person to the area dmv and get my license replaced. Sure it'll be nice to see dad and my cat and pick up my remaining stuff, but ugh.
On top of that I had to call the major credit bureaus and get a credit freeze. That will prevent anyone from using my license or social security card to apply for credit. So yeah, I've not written anything. I've not promoted any of my books. I've not done a thing except pull my non existent hair out and try to keep a stiff upper lip.

The temptation to pack my stuff up and head back to Kentucky was strong. I wanted in many moments of frustration and depression over the past couple of days to seek out the comfort of the familiar. Yet, life isn't designed to be easy. It isn't always a walk in the park. It'll beat you down, stomp on your face, and then laugh all the way to the bank. You can either let it or you can square your shoulders and charge full steam ahead. I've never been a charger. I have no shame in admitting I've always been a retreated, but not this time Universe. No, not this time.

Moral of the story? When things get bad, don't run away, punch life in the face and tell it to bring it on. Also, put your wallet on a chain. Oh, and avoid distracting massage chairs that make you forget you left your wallet laying on your thigh instead of putting it back in your pocket.