Just Start

There’s this wonderful novel about a young man who never really knew his father. One day, a mysterious package is delivered to him by a royal courier. The package contains something that drives the young man to embark on a journey to discover who his father really was, all the while discovering who he is and eventually claiming ownership of the legacy that his father left for him.

It’s an exciting adventure that tests him at every turn, forcing him to confront fears and awaken strengths he never believed he had.

A story set in fantastic locations and filled with extraordinary characters.

Yet no one has ever read it…because I haven’t written it yet.

This is a description of a novel that has been rattling around in my head for — yeesh — too many years to count.

In fact, this is the first time I’ve actually ever written anything about it.

This story has haunted me for a long time. Always whispering to me to let it loose. Sometimes I’ll be on a long drive and I’ll start thinking about it again in the solitude of the car. Fleshing out bits and pieces of the story and characters.

But I’ve never actually started it.

I was too afraid.

Afraid I couldn’t write well enough.

Afraid it would suck.

Afraid of the judgment.

I was also afraid that if I started it, I would either have to finish it or, worse, that I’d never finish it.

I’ve spent years mulling over this story and just the thought of starting it stopped me dead in my tracks.

So I did what any rational person would do. I locked it away inside me and justified my actions by telling myself that I wasn’t a writer. That the story wasn’t that great anyway. That it’s been done before. It wasn’t original. Wasn’t worth it.

I wasn’t worth it.

I was afraid of the start — and this stops most of us from pursuing their passions.

The Shelf

Over the years, I’ve put so many ideas, dreams, and creations on an imaginary shelf. Never totally discarded. Just put aside because I may get to them “one day.”

Why a “shelf”? Why not an old trunk, attic or basement?

I see it as a shelf because, unlike an attic or basement, it’s out in the open. We pass by this shelf all the time. It’s in one of the many hallways of our mind. Granted, a dusty, less traveled hallway, but it’s still one we go down occasionally and we see that shelf and everything on it every time we do.

It’s never hidden. It’s always there.

Every now and then the fluorescent light above it flickers, drawing our attention to it. Almost as if it were calling to us. Maybe we pick up one of our beloved ideas, gently blow some of the dust off, and dream for a moment only to place it back where it was.

Some of these things we put there because we’re afraid to pursue them.

Others because we’ve been told they were foolish to pursue.

We often justify putting our dreams there by telling ourselves that life’s too busy or we have too many responsibilities or that we’d be selfish if we pursued them or, worse of all, we aren’t worthy of the dream.

You recognize this shelf, don’t you? You know exactly where it is and what’s on it.

Don’t Be a Clown

There’s an old saying that goes, “A year from now, you’ll wish you started today.”

Most of us live under the delusion that we need to wait until the perfect moment to begin something we care about.

We can’t begin until we research more, read more, learn more, prepare more. We tell ourselves we’re not ready or that it’s not the right time.

That rationale is nothing more than an excuse to put off starting — and we all know it.

The funny thing is that this only seems to occur when it’s something we really care about. How is it that we can start something that we don’t care about, but know we must?

You’ve come down with Ridiculousitis. A disease which, over time, gradually turns you into a clown. An annoying, shoe-squeeking, giggling clown. The first symptom is sudden feet enlargement, then a crimson melodious nose appears, and eventually growing a large rainbow afro.

There is no cure.

The only way you will keep this horrid affliction at bay is by eating a peanut butter & jelly sandwich every day. A peanut butter & jelly sandwich — with lettuce.

[A lunchtime staple in the Ryan household when I grew up and still a favorite of mine, by the way. Don’t judge me!]

I’m guessing that you would quickly stock your pantry with peanut butter, jelly, and, of course, lettuce.

You don’t want to eat this sandwich, but you will every single day because your life depends on it. We’re talking clowns here, people!

You have something within you that calls to you. Something that makes you feel alive. Something that gets you excited just thinking about it. You can feel it burning within you, yet you push it aside as if it were meaningless.

You may not have Ridiculousitis (thankfully), but your unreleased passion is eating you alive.

You need to awaken your dreams — your passions — as if your life depends on it…because it does!

Walt Disney once said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

I’ve been a big talker for years, but now I’m doing. I have yet to reach my goals, but I am so much closer than where I was a year ago when I was just talking.

It doesn’t matter where you are or where you think you are. You can start ANYTHING today.

Want to move a mountain? Begin with the first stone!

Starting is scary, I know. If starting gets you anxious and tingly with fear, then that is the universe telling you that’s the thing you’re supposed to be doing!

The worst part of getting bloodwork done is that first needle poke. So all we do is focus on that millisecond of discomfort. The rest is forgotten.

Starting is the poke.

Start with that first step. It doesn’t have to be a giant leap, just a simple step forward. Once you take the first step, the second will look even more possible. As will the third…the fourth…the fifth…

Start now.

Start wherever you are.

Start with whatever you have.

Start with fear.

Start with doubt.

Start with your legs trembling and your hands shaking.

Start with your heart pumping.

Start as if your life depends on it.

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.” — Les Brown

There is No Tomorrow, Heroes.

Just Start!

[PS — one of my 2016 goals is to start — and finish — that book!]