Analogy for Life

I heard today what I long knew; that the path from writer to author is a long and tortuous one, along which one must retain one's purpose for writing, or fall off the path.
I add that one must fiercely retain one's sense of humour, to stay on the path.

I would add that these navigation must-haves serve us through life. Suffer the knocks, laugh them off, learn and move forward strengthened by them.