Just Start

I'm going to do it today.
It's too late now.
I'll do it tomorrow.
I'll get up early.
This weekend for sure.

The reasons never stop.

Are these reasons… or excuses? It's probably somewhere in between. At the end of the day, it's all resistance. At least that's how Steven Pressfield describes it in The War of Art. I actually learned that this morning.

Last night I was telling myself that I needed to start. No more excuses. I even used ChatGPT to recommend some books to help drive my creative process. I'm not very far into them yet, but I can already relate. There is always going to be something trying to get in the way.

I think I said this in one of my first few posts, but I've always been drawn to creating—no pun intended. A camera is where my heart has settled though. Over the past 20+ years, I always come back to it. I want to make photos and videos. I want to do it every day of my life.

I want to enjoy the life I'm living today without the need for my 9–5 job… which is really more like 6:30 AM to 6 PM.

The hard part, like most people, is that at this point in my life I have responsibilities. Kids. A house. A car. Bills. Youth sports. Cooking. Cleaning. The list goes on forever.

But honestly… they're still excuses.

If I really wanted it, I know I could find the time. So do I really want it?

Every day when I open my work computer, I think I do. It just takes work to get things going. I really think the holdup is this resistance pushing back on me.

I need the courage to push through and just start.

Which is actually what I'm doing right now.

I'm sitting at my kid's swim practice writing this on my laptop.

The funny (but not funny) thing is that I just bought this laptop specifically for this purpose—to bring it along and create anywhere. Edit photos anywhere. Write anywhere. Make videos anywhere.

I'm trying to eliminate the excuses.

So far, so good.

I've seen this pattern before though. I convince myself that a new camera will spark creativity. Maybe a new lens. A beautiful monitor will surely make me want to do this every day.

Again… more excuses. More resistance.

The reality is that you just need to start.

I think it's that simple.

Just go. Find the time. Do anything to get started.

I had no idea what I was going to write when I opened this laptop today. I knew the idea. I knew I wanted to write about this struggle that most people probably have as well. But I had no idea what the words would be.

Now I'm sitting here typing as the thoughts just spill out.

I'm basically puking my thoughts into the keyboard.

And honestly, writing is always so therapeutic.

So what's the takeaway?

JUST START.

It really might be that simple.

Once you begin, creativity takes over. Believe in yourself. Trust the process. Give it a shot.

One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from the late, great Jim Rohn:

“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.”

That feels pretty fitting here. It's a good reminder.

Maybe even a good tattoo…

Anyway, next steps: do the same thing with the camera.

I took a photo with my phone this morning, and I'm calling that a win. A small win, but a start nonetheless.

Keep writing.
Take photos.
Edit photos.
Post photos.
Make videos.

It's a lot, but you have to start somewhere.

If you never start, you can never make progress.

And honestly… I don't think there will ever be a finish line.

Alright, that's all for now.

Swim practice is about to end.

And he did a great job.