Kanye Had A Bad Week

Kanye West had a bad week.

No matter what else happens, I’ve had a better week than Kanye. I’m powering through a head cold, which I know is probably Zika Virus. I had Mexican food this week, and Mexico is close to the Caribbean where the Zika Virus lives – so, I must have Zika. My head feels all small and pinched up, like a little Zika baby. But I still have it better than Kanye.

What have I done?

Poor Kanye was emasculated by a skinny little white girl on worldwide television after a feeble attempt to take credit for her success. Taylor Swift said, “There are going to be people along the way who are going to try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame. But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you’re going, you’ll look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you who put you there. And that will be greatest feeling in the world.”

image by Jason LaVeris/Film Magic

She’s got a great point. In the music industry, in writing, or heck, just life in general; you don’t need to get sidetracked by all the social clutter and flocks of asshats. Petty jealously, negativity and all the Kanyes out there take too much energy to deal with. And they are just a distraction to your creativity and all they do is pull you down.

I need good people around me to be at my best. People who encourage, rather than tear down, support, not drain, and people who challenge you, not block you from your goals. And, occasionally, you need the right person to give you a swift kick in the ass when you need it. The writing community is a strange place where its inhabitants compete with and support one another at the same time. We cheer the successes and share a lament in the bad times.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t get a twinge of the green-eyed Kanyes when I see another author’s sales take off. I’m human after all. But, I celebrate their hard work and use it as motivation to double down on my own. Finish all the words. Do the work. It would be too easy to give in and give up and steal someone else’s glory when your path gets a bit muddy. Like Kanye.

Kanye has had a tough week. Gets his butt kicked on television, claims he’s $54 million in debt, begs Mark Zuckerberg for a billion dollar investment (on Twitter), yet claims he is the most influential person in history. Yeah, Kanye had a tough week. Don’t be like Kanye.

Tags: asshat, author, authors, fear, James L'Etoile, Kanye, kanye west, kayne west, mean people suck, social media, taylor swift, writers helping writers, writing, zika, zika virus

6 comments

pursuitofanewadventure · February 18, 2016 - 4:46 pm · Reply→

I totally got zika. I’m in Argentina and I’ve got 3 mosquito bites like nothing I’ve ever seen and i currently live in Texas. I’m glad your week doesn’t suck as bad as his. If i don’t respond to your next blog i definitely went out by zika.
1. James L'Etoile · February 19, 2016 - 9:07 am · Reply→
  
  No! Not the Zika! This is how the Walking Dead started. I hope you don’t land in quarantine when you return stateside. Take care, kiddo.
stephanie710 · February 19, 2016 - 5:00 am · Reply→

I loved this post. Yep, Kanye had quite a week but hey, we get it. 🙂 I’m sorry to hear you’ve acquired the Zika Virus-I’m still battling Ebola-and, well, you know. I agree with your insights on the writing community and how we all need to keep powering on. We’re clapping for you here in NJ…where we are but weeks away from the return of West Nile Virus….😅
1. James L'Etoile · February 19, 2016 - 9:17 am · Reply→
  
  Hi, Stephanie! I’ll fight off the Zika and I’m sure I left a sour taste in that poor mosquito’s beak. Don’t forget to slather yourself in DDT for the upcoming West Nile Season. I’ll be here, covered in bug netting, (which is very stylish) cheering you on.
lauralstapleton · February 22, 2016 - 7:05 pm · Reply→

Every time I read “little Zika baby,” I laugh, feel bad about laughing, and laugh again.
1. James L'Etoile · February 28, 2016 - 3:24 pm · Reply→
  
  Yeah, I felt a little bad about that. Oh, hell who am I kidding…