The hardest part is just deciding to do something and then starting. Like with running or any other kind of exercise. You just have to get into your workout clothes and head out the door. The rest is much easier than you imagine. They say life is the same way.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about a similar analogy to life. Swinging on the monkey bars (my favorite activity at recess, by the way, when I was in grade school).
Once you get going, you have to keep up your momentum. If you stop in the middle, it’s hard to get going again. The longer you hang in one place, the sooner you’ll lose your grip and fall. If you do fall, it’s ok. Just get back in line and go again.
I feel as though I might be hanging in one place, unable to move forward from my current position and too afraid to let myself fall. So what am I supposed to do? I guess I should just get over it.
Here are some thoughts that I came up with around this:
- Don’t be complacent. Keep moving, always.
- No matter how things are going, it’s important to keep moving.
- If you fall, or lose yourself, get up and get back in line for another try.
- Life is continuous, there’s no real beginning or end. It’s all up to you.
- Sometimes when you’re stuck, you have to let go so you can start again.
I guess I should remind myself of that last one. Maybe I can’t move forward from where I am. Maybe I need to wipe my slate clean before I can keep going in the direction I want, or need. Or maybe I should just start.
I’m trying to do what I feel like I need, but it’s not easy. I always wanted to be more artistically-inclined, but to be honest, I’ve never invested the time to really improve. So, I’m just starting. Today I sketched a banana. Yesterday, an avocado and a lemon. Maybe I just need to stop thinking and whining so much and just DO WHAT I WANT. Of course, whenever I say something like that, I immediately start questioning what I really want… It’s an endless fucking cycle. Analysis paralysis. Can that be my brand? What a horrible defining characteristic…