Jump

I have done more things in the last couple months that I never thought I would do.

I’m one of those shy, timid, “I don’t know if I can” people. I worry and overthink about all the things that could realistically and unrealistically go wrong. My anxiety keeps me from doing a lot of things, even simple things like make that phone call or decide what to eat for dinner. In general, I back away slowly from doing something risky.

But this whole endeavor? The writing thing? Well…once I started, each decision and task sort of snowballed from there. Making a Facebook page led me to also make an Instagram (which I still am figuring out- man does that make me feel old). Securing a couple events this summer in which to sell my books and book lover merch had me buying a domain name for a website. Setting up a website led me to doing a newsletter, which had me opening a P.O. Box and looking into what it takes to get a small business license and tax I.D. number.

If I had started out knowing I had to do all those things, I know I wouldn’t have had the courage to jump. For me, the ignorance sort of paid off in that regard. But when I think about my life and all the times I’ve made a major life-changing decision, I jumped in with two feet and didn’t go back. And each time I did that, I never regretted it.

So even though right now I’m taking each step as they come, I know I would’ve never been able to do it without first really deciding to jump. To really go for it. To have the faith in myself that I could do whatever needed to be done in order to obtain my lifelong dream of writing for a living.

I’m definitely still in the beginning stages, don’t get me wrong. There is still so much work ahead of me and I know that I won’t always get things right or release that book when I said I would, but I’m proud of myself for stepping into whatever comes next. I’m realizing that the initial jump is just as important as the baby steps. Either way, you move forward, and that’s what matters.

No one’s journey looks the same, so you do you, and have faith that baby steps and big jumps alike will take you where you’re meant to be.