Writing my first article to be published online was a daunting task. It has long been something I have wanted to do but am stopped by self-doubt. What will I write about? Why would anyone want to read what I have to say? What if it's boring? In the past, those thoughts would be enough for me to redirect my efforts to less challenging pursuits.
Recently, I watched the movie The Secret. I know this movie has been around awhile and really is no secret: however, it was new to me. One of the narrators quoted E. L. Doctorow who said “writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” This was an AH-HA moment for me. While driving, I never fear what is in front of me won’t be illuminated as I progress forward. So now I apply this same certainty to my writing. Travel forward and the path will reveal itself, and an article is created, step by step. I celebrated my feeling of accomplishment by challenging myself further. I published it on my Facebook account for all of my friends and family to see and comment.
Many years ago, I was a young divorced mother of two girls ages one and three. We rented a cute little house with a big front yard perfect for the girls to play on. The only problem with this perfect yard was that the grass kept growing. The house came equipped with a lawn mower. It was not a push mower, which I was fairly certain I could handle. It was a power mower which is something I had never used. I was a woman with a mission. I had children that wanted to play in the yard. I pulled the starter string, nothing. I pulled it again, nothing. And then I remembered. I had watched my father mow the yard many, many times over the years. Being an inquisitive child, I always asked questions. “Why do you push that button Dad?” Why? Because it primed the engine with gas so it could start. Did I understand that then? No. Did it make sense now, yes! I found the button. I pulled the string and it started. It was a simple as that. I was so proud of myself that I started singing “I am woman hear me Roar” over the roar of the motor.
So what is the moral of my story? The assignment was challenging. I took some lessons from the past and some more recently learned: Put your mind to it, believe in your ability, and have faith that the path will reveal itself as you travel forth on your journey.
Well today is the day I begin my Virtual Assistant internships. I feel a bit like Dorothy at the beginning of her journey to the Emerald City. But I figure Glenda’s directions are just as appropriate for this journey of mine; “Just follow the yellow brick road”. I don’t have a clear vision of my finish line, but I intend to put one foot in front of the other and take the corners as they come. I feel with certitude that I will find wisdom and help from my own Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion on the way!