an encouraging word

Life has a habit of waking us up when we least expect it. one day you wake up and find that the path you’ve taken hasn’t turned out quite like you anticipated, and you wonder, just wonder, if it is possible…just a teeny-weeny bit…if that dream you hid in the deeper parts of your heart all these years…is ever going to “come knocking on your door.” 

If the figure who opens that door looks like Gandalf, you have been indulging too much in Middle Earth or some fantasy game and need to look in the mirror to make sure you have not gone through a Shire-inspired metamorphosis. Please check your feet, they’ll be hairy if you have.

And while looking in the mirror is good for actors practicing lines without a partner, that glance can be a shocking revelation to those who go about their lives a little too fast in the daily diddle-daddle of life. Spending too much time observing your hair, your wrinkles, and the color of your teeth does not bring you one more day closer to that dream. 

Like an obnoxious movie line I recall, the best action requires "baby steps." You can be sure that 99% of the time that it will not be in the “I’ve won the lottery” category, but rather, a choice followed by another choice. 

You'll have to ignore the naysayers and step out and do it. Write something. Paint something. Draw something. Fashion some object. Just dance. Just sing. 

I admit to having an Eeyore moment now and again, but most normal people have had a few of those, especially on days when the car won’t run, everything glass breaks in your kitchen, and the postman brings you mail resembling “the black spot.” As you probably realize, I didn’t get where I am today by listening to people behind office desks telling me what to do. I just went out and did it-

I walked into a newspaper office and carved out a job. I walked into a publication office and offered a feature "on spec." What followed were several articles. Then, years working in publications.

And now, beyond that work-frame, I am slowly living out that dream one step at a time.

You have to start somewhere. You cannot think about it for days. Do it, then evaluate your progress.