Meet Samantha, the Slacker

I like to blog, you know. I do! But I've been slacking lately. I write blogs in my head, when I'm changing an explosive diaper or bouncing babygirl like a kangaroo, or washing the dishes and explaining to my 10 week old the purpose of a fork. (I have come up with about a thousand ways to use a fork).

When I was a little kid in the bath, I would do something very similar: I would look into the faucet (you know, in the way that makes your nose look six times bigger than your eyes), and explain to my "audience" how to wash your hair. I thought that if I could get that down, I could make a movie for other kids about how to do the every day activities that sometimes take a while to get a grip on (girl had a lot of hair.) I don't know if my parents ever heard me, but if The Caterpillar ever does anything like this I am recording it on video and keeping it in my heart for ever and ever.

Anyway. I like to blog. I like to write, actually, and this blog has been an encouragement that I have a pretty ridiculous ability to write for a long time about nothing at all. Whoopee! But here I am, slacking away, thinking of things I'd like to say and then not saying them at all. In essence, explaining to some non-existent audience how to wash their hair.

But that's life, right? We think of things to do, and then we don't carry them out. Why? Why does our life look so freaking awesome in the eye of our mind but then when the time comes for the rubber to hit the road, it just kind of... doesn't?

I spend a lot of time asking "what's wrong with us?", and by us I mean "society", just like everybody else who has pulled out a pen and paper to reflect on the world. But this time I think I have something figured out: I'm afraid. I'm afraid that if I do what I want to do, or if I write what I want to write, it won't be as cool as I think it will, and that'll be embarassing, so why do it? Am I alone here?

Well, the end of that comes today. I'm going to write the words I make up in my head (OK, not the sucky ones...) and I'm going to try the things that are maybe too expensive or too daring to try (maybe I can get a Masters). I have friends and family who I hope do this, too. One friend wants to start a blog but doesn't know where to begin (and let me tell you, it would be a darn good blog!), one family member wants to make a wall collage of family photos, but doesn't know what frame to get (and this is a two-year dream here... mom.) I have another friend who wants to travel, but... but...

It's so sad to watch those around me have these wonderful ambitions that may never come to fruition because of not having the time, not finding the resources, or - maybe like me - fear of "not getting it right". Mom, your wall collage would look amazing! Just print the first picture and you'll see! Friend, your blog would be an encouragement to so many women out there looking for the kind of information you are so great at providing! Lady, travel already! Do it while you're young!

That in mind, here are the things I want to say to those who have some super amazing ideas but no idea how to carry them out.

Step 1: Make a plan to do it. Just make a plan! For me this means writing down the actual dang blog. No Sam, it doesn't have to be proof-read sixteen times (this is hardly an exaggeration), and it doesn't have to be posted right away. Mom: Figure out what pictures you want printed. Even just 5. You don't have to go through your whole life's memories to do one collage wall. What I'm saying is, figure out what you'd like to do, and then find a way (forge one) to make it realistic... because if it's on your heart to do it, you can probably do it (or some variation of it, 50 Year Old Man Who Wants To Be An Astronaut).

Step 2: Refine the plan. For the traveler this does mean realizing that you might have limits: budgetary limits, time limits, whatever. For me, it means proofreading. For mom (mom I'm helping you out here), it means deciding where you want the collage to go and buying a few frames. Break it down into a few steps so that you can actually achieve it.

Step 3: Just do it. Get your Nike on.

Step 4: Look at your mistakes. You made them. My post wasn't as cool as I thought. So what? The frames on the wall are crooked. Fix them.

Step 5: Don't give up. Your first or second or third attempt wasn't perfect. Go on anyways.

Step 6: Make new goals. Don't get complacent. Thrive on change.

It's so sad and hard to see ideas - wonderful, beautiful ideas - go to waste. 9 out of 10 times they may not work. So what? For that 1 that does, the other 9 are worth it. Go with your gut. Quit slackin', Sam.