The routine helps, not to mention the reality of my situation. This is how I pay my bills and buy dog food. I support myself and I have to work. Not to mention, I really enjoy doing it, even on the hard days. I can always fall back on knowing this is what I love and what I’m meant to be doing for the rest of my life.
When I was first starting out, I had my back against the wall of exorbitant college loans. I was lucky enough to be living at home with my parents’ support, but those loans were looming, along with the knowledge that I was either going to use my degree or completely waste it. That was a good motivation. I work best under pressure. And while those particular issues have faded, the pressure hasn’t. It’s certainly changed and taken on a new form, but I feel the constant weight of what I’m doing. It’s a double-edged sword. It weighs you down but also pushes you forward.