Remembering the Small but Mighty Adverb ‘Yet’

In less than a week, I’m pitching my book “A Stranger in a Strange Room” to two literary agents at an in-person writing conference. It seemed like a good time to remind myself of this post from February 2021. Even though I eventually shelved the romantic comedy mentioned here, the principle of “yet” still applies. Enjoy.  

On Saturday, I remarked to some friends of mine that I’ve spent nearly a year querying literary agents for my romantic comedy, and no one wants to represent me. One of my friends chimed in, “yet. No one wants to represent you yet.”

That word snagged my attention because there’s so much hope and faith wrapped up in three letters. “Yet” implies not now, but in the future. “Yet” means something is coming. I’m struggling to believe that right now, not only with my novel, but also with other things in my life. There’s no evidence to support that what I want will be here soon.

My therapist reminded me I don’t have to believe what I want is coming to me 100% of the time. In those moments of doubt, instead, I can ask myself, “What if?” What if there’s a literary agent out there who would love my novel? What if I could afford a beautiful house to live in? What if? Asking that question allows for possibility instead of shutting down hope.

I also think about a quote from my spiritual teacher. He said, “The firmness of a person’s resolve makes one great. However lowly a person may be, one can become great by one’s determination. If you have a firm resolve to realize your goal, you shall become great. Without a firm resolution, you cannot achieve anything.”

Maybe a little bit of what’s happening here is my determination is being tested. How badly do I want these things? How much am I willing to overcome obstacles to achieve them? Am I someone who gives up when any problem arises? Or am I willing to struggle against all odds until my goal is achieved?

To be honest, it depends on the goal. The things I don’t care that much about, I’ll drop them at the first sign of trouble. If I don’t care that much in the first place and there’s a lot of effort involved, I’ll say “never mind.” However, if I care deeply, if I want something body and soul, I will keep plugging away until it’s clear I need to stop or pivot. And until that becomes clear, I’ll be over here remembering that small but mighty adverb “yet.”

I dream of a world where we remember that just because we don’t have what we want at the moment doesn’t mean we never will. A world where we remember mighty tasks are bound to have mighty obstacles. A world where we keep trying until it’s clear we should stop. A world where we use the power of yet to keep us going.

Another world is not only possible, it’s probable.