I was looking forward to December. My birthday, my first marathon, my first real vacation of the year.
Instead, I got the flu (on my birthday), missed my first marathon after months of training (again) and spent most of my vacation sick with hives (and watching other people run the marathon).
Needless to say, I've been a little blue. Maybe a lot blue. And no amount of peppermint bark or wrapping paper or Christmas music was easing the pain.
At 2 this morning, two weeks deep into my personal pity party, I turned to an old friend. As I picked up my worn copy of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and read the words that inspired its title--"bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird," suddenly, the path became clearer.
It's not about the grand plans--the marathon, the business empire, the book I've yet to write--it's about the steps in between. Getting out of bed. Running a few miles. Writing a few paragraphs. Responding to a few emails. Connecting with a few friends. Sharing a few great ideas.
The rest will come...
I've been feeling the same way but for different reasons. We can support each other bird by bird, my friend. Tweet.
ReplyDeleteI am with you, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this reminder, Laura. I, too, have been trying to gaze - from a third of the way up the mountain - at the summit and have gotten shaken by the notion of how I'm going to get there. Business, my own book, getting back into my own running regiment. (We really are twins, aren't we? You're the cute one and I'm the goofy one).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm sorry about your month of messiness. Take some solace in knowing that, even with a daily dose of Tony Robbins helping me through, your little Lamott-tinged reminder here has given me more hope and revived enthusiasm than anything of late.
Get some rest, then go celebrate your birthday and take some solace in knowing that you have already run a marathon, you just didn't have to be shoulder-to-shoulder with all the sweaty competitors while doing it.
Have a lovely Christmas, my friend.
Tommy