My "Stressay"

Time continues to tick away on the Mothering Height's Mother's Day Essay Contest and I still have nothing. Every time I think about the question "What do I know now that I wish I had known before becoming a parent?" I get stressed out. How am I supposed to write my essay with all of this stress? It is becoming my "Stressay." Of course, the reality is, nobody told me I had to write an essay. In fact, I could easily say, "I am not writing one this year." There! I could be done with it. Just like that! I won't write one! So then, why do I not feel better? Because, there is this part of me that feels that in order to continue on my path as a writer, I must complete certain assignments. Having the opportunity to have an essay of mine published is just one more step ahead in being read by the public. So, while I can say, "No, I don't have to write this!" The reality is, I must write this essay. I must write this essay to become the writer I want to be "Period."