At my first job out of college, we had a wonderful client who used to tell her children not to use the word try. "Don't talk to me about trying," she'd say. "Talk to me about doing." Now, you and I both know this is a take on Yoda's "Do or do not. There is no try" but her kids were young enough to think this was all mom's wisdom.
To a great extent, I believe in this, if it comes from my former client or if it comes from Yoda. But to a great extent, I recognize that dealing in absolutes or extremes stifles us. If we don't 100% know we are going to suceed, we don't even try.
Because what happens when you have something that other people have the final say over? Something that you cannot, eventually, control. As I've gotten older, I've come to understand that sometimes the fact that you tried at all is the success. Sometimes, that's where the real courage is. Whatever the outcome, the fact that you tried, that you had the courage to even put yourself out there, is something no one can take away from you. Sometimes, "try" is "do" after all.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Well, Hi Internet!
I remember you!
Oh, so much time has passed. For a pictoral review of the last several months, go here: Pobble Travels.
Back? Hi. Pobble Thoughts isn't the only place I've been neglecting. I've been more or less offline everywhere. My professional website hasn't been updated in a year. My professional facebook (because I still don't have a personal one) is gathering dust. I haven't done an interview; I haven't done a critique. The only writing I've done is my monthly article out of Washington. Aside from that, I've checked email and...that's it. And it's been wonderful. Surprisingly so.
We've traveled. We've changed jobs. We've changed locations. The latest book made it to Barnes and Noble and iTunes. I didn't even know iTunes sold books! I've taken a break. I've ignored the news and politics. I've reconnected with my best friend (not that we ever disconnected, but still). I've seen our family loads and loads, in three different states and two different countries. I've been a good friend, a good partner, a good person. I've been breathing, and eating right and moving better and taking care of myself.
Having been reminded of how life can be, I'm hoping to keep it all in perspective. Politics are important. My family and friends are moreso. Maintaining a web presence for my work is important. Actually writing, doing my work, is moreso. I'm taking hot baths and lighting candles and snuggling with Lithus. Not giving those up, again. Can't believe I ever let them slip away. But what matters is that I got them back.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Oh, so much time has passed. For a pictoral review of the last several months, go here: Pobble Travels.
Back? Hi. Pobble Thoughts isn't the only place I've been neglecting. I've been more or less offline everywhere. My professional website hasn't been updated in a year. My professional facebook (because I still don't have a personal one) is gathering dust. I haven't done an interview; I haven't done a critique. The only writing I've done is my monthly article out of Washington. Aside from that, I've checked email and...that's it. And it's been wonderful. Surprisingly so.
We've traveled. We've changed jobs. We've changed locations. The latest book made it to Barnes and Noble and iTunes. I didn't even know iTunes sold books! I've taken a break. I've ignored the news and politics. I've reconnected with my best friend (not that we ever disconnected, but still). I've seen our family loads and loads, in three different states and two different countries. I've been a good friend, a good partner, a good person. I've been breathing, and eating right and moving better and taking care of myself.
Having been reminded of how life can be, I'm hoping to keep it all in perspective. Politics are important. My family and friends are moreso. Maintaining a web presence for my work is important. Actually writing, doing my work, is moreso. I'm taking hot baths and lighting candles and snuggling with Lithus. Not giving those up, again. Can't believe I ever let them slip away. But what matters is that I got them back.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)