Are unpublished writers happier than hamsters?

Poor maligned hamsters. As they trot in circles in their wire wheels, we liken them to people in dead-end jobs. There's even a variation on that expression: "The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead," which refers to someone who is really dumb--dumb as a pea-brained hamster.

Pathetic little misunderstood (slightly cute) creatures.
We assume hamsters are witless. As far as we know, they keep running around in circles because they don't know what else to do and haven't yet cultivated hobbies like knitting, mah-jongg, or flash fiction writing. Rumor has it hamsters aren't big goal setters.

Who's better off? A hamster in a mill or an unpublished writer?

Good news for all you would-be-published authors out there, who may feel about as a successful as a hamster chuffing along on his wheel. Establishing a focus toward the goal of being published along with motivated effort is the very definition of happiness, at least according to Dr. Rita DeMaria, a relationship expert who spoke to our women's group this morning on the subject of how to achieve happiness in the new year. As she was encouraging the group, I was thinking how useful it would be for my fellow writers to hear that message.

In other words, happiness can be found in the journey, in the effort, in the slog. Yes, the slog, provided your slog is pinned to a worthwhile goal. And what could be more worthwhile than a goal of having your novel published? That is a life goal for me.

Keep writing! You're not a hamster!

That wasn't meant to sound like a line from a Monty Python movie. But in fact, we're none of us hamsters, no matter how much we might feel like hamsters. (If you happen to be a rodent sympathizer, then just think of yourself as a happy, goal-oriented and comely rodent for whom self-fulfillment is paramount.) And keep keepin' on until you realize publication, hopefully in the new year, or however long it takes. Why? Because the journey itself can engender happiness if you let it.