Just Do It

My husband and I went to see A Star is Born last night.  It is everything that it has been hyped up to be!  I highly recommend the movie.  Here is one of my favorite quotes from Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper’s character in the movie):

Jackson Maine: Look, talent comes everywhere, but having something to say and a way to say it so that people listen to it, that’s a whole other bag. And unless you get out and you try to do it, you’ll never know. That’s just the truth. And there’s one reason we’re supposed to be here is to say something so people want to hear. So you got to grab it, and you don’t apologize, and you don’t worry about why they’re listening, or how long they’re going to be listening for, you just tell them what you want to say. Don’t you understand what I’m trying to tell you?

Readers of my blog, my guess is that you are writers.  Writers are readers and thinkers, and blogs appeal to writers and readers and thinkers.  I read recently that in Iraq, when the market shops close up at night, the book vendors never lock up their books.  They believe that readers don’t steal.  It’s not in a reader’s nature to steal.  Readers and writers and thinkers have certain natures.  You understand what I’m talking about.

I’ve had several people ask me how I started this blog.  Ironically, I went to another blog that gave me step-by-step directions.  It was much easier than I expected, but there was definitely a strong determination on my part to do it.  I had to get my words out and I needed a structure to do it.  I am not a technical person at all.  When my kids move out, I probably won’t be able to turn on my TV.  Putting in a printer cartridge was a challenge for me for quite some time.  I often accidentally turn on the flashlight on my phone and I can’t figure out how to get it off, until I’ve blinded at least three random people.  Point being, if I was able to start a blog, so can you and you should.  You have something to say.  You have something to share.  It is meaningful and interesting and important.

People are so tentative to share their talents and their ideas.  And that’s so sad.  The people who are bravest in showing us who they really are with their talents, insights, visions and passions are the ones who are really making a difference in the world.  Imagine the possibilities, if everyone dropped their fears and inhibitions and showed themselves truly and openly and beautifully, just as they are in raw form.  My, that would take the world to a different level, wouldn’t it?!?

Ingrid Bergman said, “Be yourself.  The world worships the original.”  Nike says, “Just Do It.”  What are you waiting for?  I want to read your blog or your book or hear your song or your poem read out loud.  I want to see your dance and your artwork and your crazy creative costume on Halloween.  I want to see You, the You that is timidly hiding behind fears, and societal expectations, and excuses and lies other people told you about not being good enough.  You did all of the “prep work” and learning and then “unlearning” in the first half of adulting.  You are ready to share You now.  There is no better time.  Just do it.