Action!

I recently read a woman’s goals for the new year. She went on like this, “I’d like to produce a show, and write a book...no, two books, and maybe start a podcast!” I kind of couldn’t believe it. Who sets their sights so dang high!?! Then I got to thinking about my sights. How high are they? What goals am I after? How much time, energy, strength do I give, can I give, to my sights? 

I’m often impressed with the “go and just do it” attitude I witness constantly around me. “These people must be really good at succeeding,” I think to myself.  But after talking with so many, I realize they aren’t good at succeeding, they are good at setting goals and then really putting energy, lots of energy, into those goals.

 

My sister once told me she was going to make it a goal to be in at least one art show a year. “Whoa! That’s hard!” I thought to myself. She did it and continues to do so. Some years even more than one.

My sister-in-law said she was going to get her Masters as a 40+ year old and begin her career. “But she’s so busy, how can she do it all?” Again, I thought it would be hard. But she did it and is now in a job she loves, helping others. 

Another sister-in-law said she wanted to run a marathon. “Way too long. Way too hard,” my usual thoughts echoed. She did it, and has now finished more than one. 

Of course all of these things were hard and they definitely took work but they all saw their goals through!

Jess and I talk a lot to our kids about doing hard things. We say things like:  You can do it! It makes you stronger! You grow! You realize the things you can do! It’s an amazing feeling when you discover the power you have! Sometimes you have to force yourself to try! Now it’s time I take those statements and turn them into action. 

Now I’ve done some hard things, don’t get me wrong. I can do them. But I’ve also passed up a lot of things that I’d love to do but I’m so afraid of failing that I don’t even try. “Too hard!” I think.

And so, I make this post as a pep talk to myself. I need pep talks. I’ve needed them since I was a kid, and I still need them now. And with that I say, Ashley, sometimes you have to force yourself to try. You can do it!