A step into the unknown

"The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are" -Anon

It's that moment of hesitation. That deep breath expanding the lungs, the luminous thoughts of what could be...held in, held back for fear of what might occur next. And all those dreams of grandeur exhaled to dissipate in the air. Because, it might not be entirely realistic, it may be difficult, my plans may not succeed.

I have found that this hesitation, the small doubts of the unknown are what keep me from accomplishing things great and small. It's everywhere. There's the blank word document and blinking cursor, the fear that my words may not come out perfectly or just how I had imagined keeps me from imprinting the virtual document with text. The second hand on the clock ticks away the minutes and hours until the paper is due. Then it's behind the starting line or on the blocks, the anticipation, the slow deliberate breaths. What am I capable of? I can picture in my mind exactly what I want to see happen. Yet, if it weren't for the starter's gun, I'm not sure I would make it off the blocks or off the start line.

Thank God for the starter's gun, and for all the people in our lives who inspire us to take off from that starting point, to explore new horizons and to test our limits. When that gun goes off, that parent urges us, that teacher prods us, that coach pushes us, or that friend gives us the gentle shove for take-off, magical things happen. Sometimes we surprise ourselves and find we are capable of far more than we ever imagined. Sometimes we are bridled by obstacles and set-backs and things do not go exactly as planned or imagined. But all of our adventures that begin with a single cue, urge, prod, push, or shove,  and we find that we discover the new and wonderful peculiarities of life and ourselves.

Starting a blog had been on my mind for a while. Well, really only since I'd had a few spare seconds to even think about having time to write a blog (after becoming a swammer and graduating). In a new trend I'm setting for myself, instead of letting this breath of an idea dissipate into the wind, I decided to take it and run. I have come to the belief that when the good inclinations of the spirit are too often witheld, idleness and anxiety build. And we all know that idleness and anxiety are both the devil's workshop.

I'm at a point in my life where I am constantly changing locations and meeting and leaving people in what seems the blink of an eye. I wanted a way to communicate to those near and dear in my life. I wanted a place to express myself. I've never been a public writer. I have kept plenty of journals in my lifetime, but never anticipated them being read. So, reader, feel blessed to be fed with the top-secret dealings of my mind and soul as I express them on paper. I don't know exactly where this blog will take me. But, that's the beautiful thing about life isn't it? Some of the best bike rides are the ones where you get lost.