Writing makes me Happy!!

The other night, while having dinner with my family, my daughter asked why I don't exercise. The question, or rather her statement that I'd lose more weight if I worked out, stemmed after sharing that I'd lost over 6 lbs in the past week from a stomach bug that left me with little to no appetite. 

I joked that I hoped to continue on this involuntary fasting schedule to shed my abundant unwanted pounds. To which my daughter asked why I don't exercise. My response: When do I have time to exercise?

I've been hit with this question many times by my wife and kids over the years. And, I've grown weary of explaining how little personal time I have. Here's my average M-F schedule:

05:00 Wake up, morning routine
05:45 Leave for my Day Job
06:30 Arrive at said Day Job to get some writing done
07:45 Stop writing (unless my boss hasn't arrived yet and write a little more)
08:00 My day job begins
​17:00 My day job ends
17:45 Arrive home, play with kids, help with dinner, wash the dishes (I do this most nights), help get the kids ready for bed, family time (scriptures, songs, prayer)
20:00 Put the kids to bed, read stories, sing good night songs, hugs & kisses, etc.
20:30 One on One time with my wife (usually footrubs and TV) Some nights I have other obligations that have me out of the house between 19:00-21:30
22:30 Typical bedtime, brush teeth, read, etc.
23:00 Out like a light 

The weekend schedule is usually filled with honey-do-lists, errands, shopping, family activities, etc. You know what it's like. So, I ask you. Where in that schedule am I going to fit in exercise? Who loses time with me? My wife? My kids?

My wife suggested that I should use my writing time to exercise. That idea rolled around in my unconscious all night, and when I was driving into work this morning at 06:00 a thought occurred to me that I'd never put into words.
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Writing makes me happy!

I write because i NEED to! It's not a matter of "I have a deadline so I have to produce something today" because I have yet to sign a contract for a book deal. Everything I've done so far, or continue to do, is on my own time, on my own dime. 

Ever since I started writing on any semblance of a regular schedule, I've noticed that I'm happier on those days when I've written even a single paragraph I'm proud of. I love the days when I find myself with several hours of uninterrupted writing time and relish in putting words on a page (whether they're eloquent or not). A few weeks ago, I was talking with my brother on the phone and I was telling him about earning an Honorable Mention from The Writers of the Future contest. 

He made a statement: You NEED to write! It's who you ARE!

I realized he was right. It's in my nature to need a creative outlet for my thoughts and ideas. For a while, I expressed myself in the architectural world. But, now that my role in architecture has changed in the past couple of years, I realize that I needed another outlet. Something that allows me to share my dream worlds with others. And, yes, I totally feel a desperate need for validation and am still crushed when someone considers my work "an example of what not to do."

Still, in spite of critique's and criticism, and fears of rejection, I continue to write. Why?

Because, it makes me happy!!!