Chapter 1: Reflecting on My Publishing Journey

This summer, as Medium's readership dwindled, I found myself continuing to publish daily. However, I faced disappointing outcomes—some days yielding just one read, and others none at all. Despite the common advice to persist, I realized that I was dedicating excessive time to writing on Medium at the expense of other important projects. It was a tough realization that struck me while I was sifting through my files.

In my Google Drive, I discovered unfinished fables I had intended to rewrite. These were stories that had impacted me deeply but remained dormant. Upon revisiting them, I stumbled upon one that contained a lesson I had long forgotten—the fable titled "The Fox and the Grapes."

Chapter 2: The Lesson from "The Fox and the Grapes"

In this tale, a fox spots grapes hanging tantalizingly from a vine. Desiring them immensely, he attempts to reach them but fails repeatedly. Frustrated, he eventually walks away, dismissively stating, “They were probably sour anyway.” This rationalization allows him to cope with his failure, and he never tries to retrieve the grapes again.

The moral is straightforward: despite his best efforts, the fox couldn’t achieve his goal, and instead of confronting his failure, he chose to convince himself that the grapes weren’t worth having.

The narrative made me realize how I was mirroring the fox's behavior. I was set on daily publishing, concocting excuses for my dwindling views—“It’s summer; I just need to keep pushing; others might be taking a break, but not me.” However, I was not being truthful to myself. The reality was that my readership was down, and I needed to stop making excuses for it.

Instead of pretending that the situation was fine, I must acknowledge the truth. I cannot maintain a daily publishing schedule during this downturn, especially when I have other projects to tackle. My aspirations include writing books, exploring new platforms, and continuing my posts on Medium. Rationalizing my lack of success serves no purpose; I must accept it and focus on what truly matters.

Chapter 3: Embracing Change and Moving Forward

Revisiting that fable has been enlightening. It has prompted me to reassess my priorities and approach.

Have you come across this fable? What are your thoughts on it? Did you find yourself resonating with the fox, or did you embrace the truth from the beginning? I eagerly await your thoughts in the comments below.