At the end of the day, I’m just a girl who loves to write. 

The thought whizzed through my mind in the shower after a particularly frustrating day at work. Conversations about this and that replayed in my head, over and over. Chats about establishing creative integrity, quality over quantity, and striving for excellence in everything we make. Those ideas were not met with much adoration or welcoming arms. 

As the piping hot water bounced off of me (Mitch can never believe how I can withstand such hot water in the sink/shower/etc), a second thought crossed my mind.

No one else is in charge of my happiness. 

My high school friends and I used to gawk at that phrase, convinced it was on the first page of every mother’s manual. As a high schooler, the thought that no one else was in charge of my happiness—or any other part of my life—was infuriating. I mean, really?

Over time, I discovered that’s just part of growing up. And it doesn’t just apply to happiness or any other emotion. It really applies to everything. 

No one else is in charge of my growth. 

No one else is in charge of how hard I work. 

No one else is in charge of my prayer life. 

No one else is in charge of the thoughts in my head. 

No one else is in charge of how I spend my time. 

No one else is in charge of my potential.

No one else is in charge of my money.

No one else is in charge of my mental health.

The list goes on. And how I steward my life in those areas will often determine the direction my life will go. As one of my favorite writers says, “I can determine the quality, God can determine the quantity.”

Back to the girl who loves to write. The girl—that artist—within me was saddened at the disregard for creativity and craft at that job. And as I reflected on that very frustrating day, I came to a conclusion. 

No one can take away my love, zeal, and adoration for writing.

No one can take away my creativity.

No one can take away my ability to grow as a writer. 

It’s on me. The desire to grow is great. That’s one thing. But the action to make it happen? That’s another. And only I can make it happen. Even if I was surrounded by the world’s greatest artists and they were relentlessly cheering me on and giving me tips and suggestions, I’d still have to be the one to put pen to paper. To go. To do. To make. That much is up to me. 

This is my reminder for me and for you that no one has the power to take away our gifts, passions, or callings. Especially not because they come from God, who has the final authority over all. May we take ownership of our gifts, passions, and callings and do what we need to do to make them happen. Even if that includes changing our perspective, setting different boundaries, or simply starting.

Life is too short to waste time believing our creativity is reserved for “someday.” I’ve lived enough life to know that someday is as mystical as Bigfoot and Red Riding Hood. 

Today is as good a day to start as any, and no one else is in charge of our happiness, dreams, goals, callings, growth, emotions, prayers—and certainly not creativity.