I completely understand and share your feelings. I always wanted to be a writer, but I was directed to engineering. After working for over 45 years as an environmental engineer, I am now retired. Some of the time I was writing reports, etc., but now I am writing movie scripts.
If you look at it from another angle - if you'd hadn't done everything you did and the way you did it, perhaps you would yearn for that or wouldn't appreciate what it looks like now?
Oh, you are so right, Glenda! And I should add: I do appreciate it, and I'm hugely grateful. I just wonder sometimes if I should have had more of a plan 😀
Sorry I'm a few days late to this but what a wonderful essay. E.B White is a wonderful writer and I'll be checking out his essay book from the library again soon. Thanks for the reminder. E.B. the character plays a fun minor role in Blue Moon. Worth checking out mostly for Ethan Hawke's wonderful portrayal of Lorenz Hart, the playwright. Like you I have not found my true purpose in my work. It has merely been a job. I am anxiously awaiting a fulfilling retirement. Not too soon though. Also, as a quick aside it is these types of essays I love the most from the Half Marathoner.
Thank you SO much, Ed. It's great to hear you say that, because that's what I actually want to write more of, but felt I couldn't -- or at least should limit them -- for a long time. Glad to hear it.
LOVE THIS! Especially these lines--"In fact, you could argue this attitude has probably only intensified, couldn’t you? It’s enough to make a person sigh, rest their chin in their hands, and let out a long exhale, wondering how the world got itself in this place."
Thanks Terrell for thinking of me. As I approach 80, I am amazed that we need so much science to validate what just feels like good common sense. One recent study though, did surprise me a bit m, by reporting that genetics for longevity is actually more important than a healthy lifestyle. The latter will probably make the quality of whatever years we have more enjoyable but without the longevity genes you probably won't increase your life span much.
My Mom recently left us at 102 and was great up until the end. She lived a beautiful life with my Dad for 70 precious, joyful years of travel, dance, tennis and lots of friends and parties. They woke up to a Sunrise every morning over the Atlantic Ocean and a Sunset over the intracoastal in Palm Beach every night. A blessed life indeed. My folks were the kindest people I have ever known.
I always wanted to be a writer. I thought of novels and wrote several. None have yet been published, but I might self-publish them. I then discovered scriptwriting. I started taking classes at ScreenwritingU, and read several books on scriptwriting. I have written comedies, dramas, musicals, and now concentrate on Holiday/Christmas movies. Several of my scripts have placed in a number of contests, but none produced. Although a number of producers have read them.
I completely understand and share your feelings. I always wanted to be a writer, but I was directed to engineering. After working for over 45 years as an environmental engineer, I am now retired. Some of the time I was writing reports, etc., but now I am writing movie scripts.
Jim, this is the coolest thing to hear. How did you get started writing movie scripts? Have any of them made their way to the screen yet?
I’m with Bertrand and E.B. Look at the Ikarians! Five hours of work per day. That’s living.
AMEN, BROTHER!!!
If you look at it from another angle - if you'd hadn't done everything you did and the way you did it, perhaps you would yearn for that or wouldn't appreciate what it looks like now?
Oh, you are so right, Glenda! And I should add: I do appreciate it, and I'm hugely grateful. I just wonder sometimes if I should have had more of a plan 😀
Oh the infamous hindsight bias. If you’d had a plan it could’ve been wrong. Not to say I haven’t been through similar thinking.
This is so well said! Thank you for this. It really has me pondering a lot!
Sorry I'm a few days late to this but what a wonderful essay. E.B White is a wonderful writer and I'll be checking out his essay book from the library again soon. Thanks for the reminder. E.B. the character plays a fun minor role in Blue Moon. Worth checking out mostly for Ethan Hawke's wonderful portrayal of Lorenz Hart, the playwright. Like you I have not found my true purpose in my work. It has merely been a job. I am anxiously awaiting a fulfilling retirement. Not too soon though. Also, as a quick aside it is these types of essays I love the most from the Half Marathoner.
Thank you SO much, Ed. It's great to hear you say that, because that's what I actually want to write more of, but felt I couldn't -- or at least should limit them -- for a long time. Glad to hear it.
LOVE THIS! Especially these lines--"In fact, you could argue this attitude has probably only intensified, couldn’t you? It’s enough to make a person sigh, rest their chin in their hands, and let out a long exhale, wondering how the world got itself in this place."
Thank you, Diana!!! :)
How to monetize purpose and passion when food, clothing and shelter are priorities? . I
am a big Ecclesiastical fan. There is a season for everything...
One unsolicited suggestion: Keep the embers of purpose and passion burning otherwise retirement can be quite overrated.
Now that's an excellent idea... I actually haven't thought of Eccelesiastes in a long time. Gonna have to go look it up. In the meantime, I happened across this today and thought of you, my friend: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/well/mind/mind-set-longevity-aging.html
Thanks Terrell for thinking of me. As I approach 80, I am amazed that we need so much science to validate what just feels like good common sense. One recent study though, did surprise me a bit m, by reporting that genetics for longevity is actually more important than a healthy lifestyle. The latter will probably make the quality of whatever years we have more enjoyable but without the longevity genes you probably won't increase your life span much.
My Mom recently left us at 102 and was great up until the end. She lived a beautiful life with my Dad for 70 precious, joyful years of travel, dance, tennis and lots of friends and parties. They woke up to a Sunrise every morning over the Atlantic Ocean and a Sunset over the intracoastal in Palm Beach every night. A blessed life indeed. My folks were the kindest people I have ever known.
What a fantastic essay! Thanks, Terrell. Your work always inspires.
Thanks, DD!
Go Jim!
I always wanted to be a writer. I thought of novels and wrote several. None have yet been published, but I might self-publish them. I then discovered scriptwriting. I started taking classes at ScreenwritingU, and read several books on scriptwriting. I have written comedies, dramas, musicals, and now concentrate on Holiday/Christmas movies. Several of my scripts have placed in a number of contests, but none produced. Although a number of producers have read them.