When I was just a little grub, I loved video games. I thought it was such an amazing artform and I admired the people who made them.

"Could I make a game someday?" "Of course you can!" Said Ant. "If only you work very very hard, for a very very long time, you will get what you desire."

And so I did.

I read books, watched videos, tried every program, wrote design documents, and yet I seemed to make very little progress towards my goals.

"Ant!" I cried, "What am I doing wrong? Why am I seemingly no closer to creating the games I dream of?"

"If you have not yet gotten what you are seeking, then you must be lazy! Get back to work!"

"Lazy? Me? I'm spending hours everyday, even after my day job, and I have for years! I'm trying really hard, but I feel like I just don't get it." But I was unsure of myself. What if Ant was right? After all, he was always busy and seemed respectable.

In the depths of my despair, I wandered aimlessly into the forest. I heard a jaunty tune on the wind and found Grasshopper playing his fiddle. I told him of my troubles and he taught me like this: "My dear girl, you have so much ambition and energy, but when was the last time you enjoyed making games?"

I was stunned to realize that at some point over the years my joyful love of creation had been replaced with ambition and stress and shame.

"Go back to your computer" Grasshopper said. "And this time, have fun!"

I did just as Grasshopper had told me, and in a couple of hours, I had made a game. It was simple and silly, but it was mine, and I felt a surge of pride from my creation. From then on, I was able to learn faster and make more than ever before, because I couldn't wait to experiment and play.

The moral of the story is, hard work is for losers. If you lose sight of the pleasures of life, you'll just keep working hard forever, to no real gain.