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Jessie DiCicco's avatar

"I am a serial goal-setter and dopamine-chaser. Anyone who has been following my writing journey for longer than five years knows that I love to follow the shiny new things. I’ve had literal hundreds of ideas for novels that populate old thumb drives and floppy disks, dozens of failed blogs scattered throughout the web, and hobbies quickly adopted and then relegated to boxes in a closet, waiting to be rediscovered. I like the feeling of starting. But continuing—and eventually ending—is tough."

This is me. And, ironically I was just talking to a friend about my explorative nature this morning.

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S.E. Reid's avatar

It's such a double-edged sword, isn't it? On the one hand, I love learning and trying new things, and I am grateful for the constant desire to be a "student". But...it has made me very commitment-phobic when it comes to actually finishing something big, or sticking with a practice long enough to see real fruit! Lots of self-examination still required, I reckon. :)

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Jessie DiCicco's avatar

But then on the flip side there are those who stay in jobs they hate for decades, saving for retirement (what if retirement never comes?), and playing it safe. I’d rather be the one following the wind. Eventually I think we come to our calling, but when you’re a highly creative individual you have to weed out all the different creative paths you *could* go down. It’s like what Jo March said in Little Women, “I should have been a great many things,” but her true calling was writing.

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Megan Meyer's avatar

This is so relatable! The feeling of starting ... yes, yes yes. I am the same way. That dopamine hit ..... that doesn’t last as long with commitment to the thing. Growth isn’t always exciting -- but the fruit that eventually comes is! That in between time is tough for me, though.

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Adrian P Conway's avatar

S E, I’ve often wondered how slugs survive sub zero temperatures. Any gardening wisdom?

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S.E. Reid's avatar

Such a good question! As far as I understand it, they are very adept at hiding away in leaf litter and mulch, either as adults or as overwintering eggs. It's a real frustration, for sure! Personally, I have had less slug problems since attempting to make my garden a safe haven for other critters. Between the birds, frogs, salamanders, and snakes who hang around the garden, the slug population stays pretty checked. Maybe others here have other ideas for direct slug repellents, though! 🌿

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Adrian P Conway's avatar

A pet frog it is, then!

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S.E. Reid's avatar

Do it! I hear geese and ducks are also effective. 😂

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Adrian P Conway's avatar

Heart already set on Mr Frobisher, the nice quietly effective froggy.

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Holly Rabalais's avatar

Needed this today! Patience! Patience! Patience! (Not my strong suit)

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