Holy Crap!
Did I seriously just write that?
When I look back on this journey, I am amazed at how much I have accomplished in such a short period of time. I have learned so much about myself from my strengths, weaknesses, my hangups, excuses and everything in between. I am proud of all the stories I have written from the not so good ones in the beginning to the ones I had no idea was inside of me. Even the ones I never thought I would tell. I am proud of myself for sticking to it and not quitting it like I have done so many times before. I am grateful for the opportunity to tell my story. I honestly feel that this blog is making me a better woman and a better writer because in everything I do, it holds me accountable. And that’s a good thing.
This weekend, I was reminded exactly how short a year really is while talking to a friend. She is in her last week of classes preparing for graduation and as we talked about the journey she said something to the effect of “whatever you want to do, just get it done because time really flies.” I couldn’t agree more.
Y’all should know that the creation of this blog was a production. Every time I tried to create it, something stopped me. I didn’t have the money. I didn’t have the perfect title. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to write. I didn’t have a perfect theme and I was told I should have one.
So, I just sat and waited for the solution as if that was really going to help. That went on for years then more months until a year ago when I decided enough was enough. I was frustrated with the course of my life and career and simply needed a change. I had done the leg work already. I knew approximately how much money I would be kicking out, a friend and I already brainstormed a name, all I had to do was the work. But I was nervous, scared and quite frankly, very insecure.
At the time, I was in my field writing news stories. I had only written one opinion piece since writing for that organization and I can’t remember the last time before that so I struggled. Shoot, I am still struggling, but this time around, I am learning while struggling. I am no longer just sitting in the complications letting it rob me of potential invested time and work.
Who knew creating a blog would make me not only want to tell better stories, but find better ways to show it? If you look at this week’s posts along, I am definitely writing more, I am taking more pictures, I even did a video, which I never thought I would do because I have always been shy. That, to me is progress and I am just so grateful.
If I had to give any words of advice, I would say listen to my good friend. A year sounds a lot longer than what it is. If there is something you want to do, a dream you have been thinking about all your life, or just a small goal you want to accomplish, just do it. Trying to make it perfect never works because it will never be perfect if you don’t do the work. Step out on faith and invest in yourself. We spend most of our lives helping others accomplish their dreams, but at some point, we have to know that our dreams are just as important. Make next year worth remembering and get to work. Good luck!
