Our grandchild awaits. We’re waiting too! Oh my. What are the chances that babies even happen??? HAHA.
My ears burn
as the world turns
to discern
a pattern
that music earns
when it learns
of font kerns
that overturn
Van Cliburn
a piano churn
that upturns
a smile downturned
when the butter churn
burns
to spurn
the early worm.
It’s their turn
to get the bird.
The next time you have a massive task facing you, you are likely to see it as a swamp filled with alligators. These menacing creatures are the ridiculously sneaky (yes, ridiculously so) critters that keep you from crossing the swamp, a.k.a. finishing your task. In fact, these large-mouth bozos will do worse: they scare you from even starting.
You’re not alone. We all have swamps. We certainly have fears. But what if the alligator is mechanical? Or he just ate? Or he’s lazy? Or maybe, you take an alligator gun and shoot it? Yeah. Not PC, but hey. This is YOUR swamp. It’s YOUR task. Your life. Your goal. As Peggy Noonan said in a recent WSJ column,
“Never let the idiots stop you.”
In this case, think of the alligator as an idiot. A gatekeeper moron who says you do not possibly deserve to accomplish the task upon which you are embarking, in this case, crossing “his” swamp. The gatekeeper/idiot/alligator moron says, “You’re too young, too old, dumb, male, female, tall, short, green.” Pick one.
“Yes, but…”
There you go! Stop. Look in the mirror. Right now! What do you see? An alligator! Yup. We are our own worst alligators.
You can always drain the swamp. Just sayin’. Be brave.
Hand it over. Step across the little gap, and climb aboard the future. You’re on your way.
Oh, my goodness. I had this fine idea that everyone is great at starting projects and that finishing is the problem. I forgot that many times people fail to start because they fear they will never finish. So finishing is still a huge challenge, no doubt about it, but the more pernicious problem is that a finely honed track record of non-finishing keeps people from the unbridled giddiness that comes from starting something. That, and fear of looking really dumb.
I hope you can take the first step. Whatever it is, try something new this week. It doesn’t have to be huge. You can start small. Try coffee black if you’re a cream and sugar person. Try changing your morning rituals. Try a different radio station. Take a meditation class or a couple of piano lessons at the local community center. Besides, taking lessons in something you’ve always wanted to but were afraid you’d be terrible at it is delightful. Why? Because it opens you to the freedom to look goofy. So what? No one is good on the first try. And no one is looking at you because they’re mostly afraid of how silly they look!
What about the following? Perhaps you are starting something that is too easy! Or you’re just a natural at whatever it is. And how lucky you are! You are really good at something, and you didn’t even know it. Excellent surprises await the brave.
Finishing is indeed a challenge, but try starting something to experience a new you. You’re traveling new territory, and you don’t even have to get on an airplane!