Navigating the Storms: Pressing On When the Clouds Gather

 

There are days when the sky feels impossibly heavy—like a storm looming on the horizon, rumbling with a weight that presses against you. Some storms are personal, others professional, but the clouds are always there. Whether it’s doubts creeping in, unexpected life hurdles, or just the noise of the world making you question everything, it can feel like the universe itself is pushing back. But I’ve learned that if you keep your eyes on the goal, keep moving forward, and—most importantly—keep showing up, even the darkest storms will eventually break.

This isn’t about blind optimism. It’s not about pretending everything is perfect when it clearly isn’t. It’s about choosing to work through the noise, the fears, and the setbacks because the story—your story—is worth telling. I know this because I’ve been there, and in many ways, I still am.

The Weight of the Clouds

The past few months have been… a lot. Moving houses, wrangling with the final edits of Merchant of Vision, laying the groundwork for Merchant of Fortune, and managing family life have stretched my limits. Add to that the usual struggles—those storm clouds that hover in every life—and it’s easy to feel buried under the pressure.

And yet, here I am. Still writing. Still building. Still dreaming.

It doesn’t mean the clouds are gone. Far from it. Sometimes they’ve felt darker than ever. But I’ve discovered that when the storm hits, the real key to success is not waiting for the skies to clear—it’s finding a way to work within the storm.

Every day, I sit down and put in the work, even when it feels like I’m climbing uphill in the rain. Some days it’s 2,000 words. Other days it’s two sentences and a lot of staring out the window. But I show up. I keep my eyes on the vision that’s been guiding me for years, and I remind myself why I started.

Keeping Your Compass Steady

When I was a young man, I dreamed of this life: writing stories, creating entire universes, and sharing them with the world. I didn’t know the journey would take decades. I didn’t know there’d be times when I’d feel like giving up. But I held onto that vision, like a compass guiding me through rough seas.

Writing—like life—requires daily discipline. It’s about showing up, even when you don’t want to. It’s about sitting at the desk when inspiration feels like a distant memory and forcing yourself to start. The magic often comes not at the beginning, but somewhere in the middle, after you’ve powered through the initial resistance.

There’s a quote I’ve always loved:

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”

For me, that’s what it all comes down to. Not quitting. Not giving up on the dream, even when the odds seem stacked against you. It’s about accepting that storms will come, but they don’t have to stop you from moving forward.

Making the Time

I’m no stranger to a busy schedule. Like so many of you, I’m juggling work, family, and personal responsibilities, and it’s easy to tell yourself you’ll “find time later.” But here’s the truth I’ve learned the hard way: you don’t find time—you make time.

You carve it out, protect it fiercely, and remind yourself that your dreams deserve priority, even when life pulls you in a dozen other directions.

For me, it means squeezing in writing hours after the kids are asleep or waking up early before the chaos of the day begins. It means setting boundaries, saying no to distractions, and reminding myself that every sentence written, every map sketched, every edit made, is a step closer to the goal.

Some days, it feels like I’m trudging through molasses. But even slow progress is still progress.

Eyes on the Horizon

The storm clouds are still there. Some are heavy and hard to shake. But I’ve learned to stop fighting them. Instead, I work through them, keeping my eyes on the horizon and the dream that’s carried me this far.

I’ve come to believe that perseverance is a kind of quiet magic. It doesn’t shout or demand attention—it just keeps going, step by step, day by day. And one day, you look up and realize you’re further along than you ever thought possible.

So, wherever you are on your own journey—whether it’s writing, art, a career, or a personal goal—keep moving forward. Even if it’s slow. Even if it feels impossible.

Your story, your dream, is worth it.

The storms will pass. But your progress, no matter how small, will remain.

And for me? I’ll keep showing up at the desk. I’ll keep working through the edits and building new worlds for my readers to explore. Because this is what I was meant to do.

And storm or no storm, I’m not giving up.

Final Thought:

If you’re facing your own storm right now, let this be a reminder: you’re not alone. Keep going. Keep showing up. The sun is still out there, even if you can’t see it yet.

Stay strong, friends.