Should writing (for me) be more important than happiness?

Again, while ruminating, an interesting thought flashed through my mind. In the last few months, I have been re-prioritizing my life and writing has surfaced at the top. For many years, I have said that writing was a priority, but not actually working as if it were. As a result, my history has been filled with easy distractions.

As the list of priorities looks right now, Writing (note the capitol “W”) has made it to the top of the list. Now that it is number one, however, I am faced with an interesting dilemma. What happens if writing and happiness become separate elements and require separate energies? Should writing stay at the top of the list–even if I have to sacrifice my happiness in the process?

I guess, in my naivety, I had always assumed that writing and happiness were inextricable bound. I had always assumed that if I were writing, I would be happy. Thinking about it realistically, however, I see how easily this could be a false premise.

At this time in my life, I have no conclusive evidence that my original premise is either true or untrue. Perhaps it is fortunate, and perhaps not. Perhaps I will never know. But, I hope that I never know because my happiness and writing are inextricable related, not because I never tried.