Just Start

We all want to do something, but many of us fail to begin.

We make up + devise the grandest of excuses as to why we can’t do those things + simply settle in life by belittling our dreams + talents. Or for others of us, we get so strung up on the ‘big picture’ + focus on getting ‘the timing perfect’ that we fail to realise we’re supposed to begin the journey right now, even if it’s by taking baby steps.

So, this week I’ve decided to ‘just start’ whatever it is I need + want to do — those assignments, that draft, run, book, email…

You can’t see the completion, influence, impact, or result of something if you don’t start. And with the dawn of a brand new week (+ day!), the opportunity is right there beckoning you to begin with a smile…

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‘I know that life is busy + hard, + that there’s a crushing pressure to just settle down + get a real job + khaki pants + a haircut. But don’t. Please don’t. Please keep believing that life can be better, brighter, broader, because of the art that you make. Please keep demonstrating the courage that it takes to swim upstream in a world that prefers putting away for retirement to putting pen to paper, that chooses practicality over poetry, that values you more for going to the gym than going to the deepest places in your soul. Please keep making art for people like me, people who need the magic + imagination + honesty of great art to make the day-to-day world a little more bearable.

And if, for whatever reason, you’ve stopped– stopped believing in your voice, stopped fighting to find the time–start today.’

- Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines