'What Happens Now?!!'

It's only been a week and a day since I finished typing out my thirty-third short story 'An Angel of Mercy, A Servant of Death' and once again I can supremely attest to feelings of dread as I conjure up a solution to the inquiry 'What happens now?!'. I seem to always feel this way every single time I complete a work, no matter how epic it is to me. Quite possibly, I'll probably feel this way regardless of whatever 'success' I achieve in my life. Yet still, I have no regrets at all of the 18+ years I've spent writing. It has driven my life far beyond anything I could have imagined in my humble beginnings.
I truly wonder how many people actually carry with them even a remote sense of purpose, and when you consider that sad fact, you must wonder how many out there waste what would be genuine talent and potential because of a lack of direction.
Such thoughts find their way into my psyche quite often, because the truth really is that no one, regardless of their connections or their capabilities truly 'knows' if they are going to be able to fulfill their aspirations. All one can do is simply their best against all odds.
I've learned the benefits of persistence, focus, and determination through writing that I really don't feel any other endeavor would have bestowed upon me the same way. I've learned that passion is more valuable in achieving results than the limited views of critics and naysayers. And, most importantly, I've learned that if you are going to do anything other than for the sole purpose of individual expression, it's probably not going to be worth your efforts.
'If you set out to fail in life, your always going to have plenty of excuses to perpetuate and justify doing so'
'If you set out to succeed, the same rule applies.'