Who doesn’t like to live in their good old days?
No, not living at the moment when everything looks sour. Not at present when you’re doubting everything that you once believed.
The old days. The golden days. The times when you just got published and you feel like you can do anything in the world. The times when the award came knocking on your door, uninvited, yet eagerly welcomed.
The times when you believe in the existence of your talent. The times when you believe that one day, you’ll go somewhere.
One of my best ‘good old days’ moments? The day I can proudly say that the name’s Marcella Purnama, BA. Photo by TJ Aminoto.
It saddens me to burst the bubble, but those good old days? They do not exist.
They are merely memories – a flick of remembrance to remind why you are here in the first place.
They do not exist. They are just filling the space in your head.
Of course, everyone loves to pay a visit to the past once in a while and relive their glorious moments.
You know, to get the reassurance that they are still on the right track. Because there will always be others who are living the dreams. Others who are better.
Like, I’ll never forget the first time my editor-in-chief pushed that publish button. Or how my writing is featured at WordPress front page. Or the time when other magazines accepted my pitch.
I’ll never forget the warm comments from others complimenting my writing. I’ll never forget my writing tutor/freelance writer/Lonely Planet author giving me thumbs up at another university’s tutorial which my friend was accidentally at. Nor the time when my article went to first choice in Google search of “Top Melbourne cafes”.
The time when my eds said I’ve improved so much.
The times when I believe I haven’t had it all, but will and able to have it all one day.
Yes, people say JK Rowling can’t relive her magic. Perhaps, it’s just not yet. Because really, that’s what artists do.
They create. And they just keep on creating. They know no other way to live.
And writers are artists. We create words, tell stories.
There may be no such thing as the good old days. But that’s okay.
Because your greatest artwork yet? It’s always the next one.
A reporter asked the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, towards the end of his career, “Of your many beautiful designs, which one is your favourite?” Without missing a beat, he answered, “My next one.”
