"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."
~Goethe
I am thinking about commitment. Whether it's realizing dreams, planting seeds with expectation of sunflowers, nurturing hopes and creating art with words or photographs or paint or musical notes -- all these things require us to commit to spending the time, attention, work, sweat, emotional investment and being willing to sacrifice a part of ourselves for the dream, or the art, or the music.
I will admit I love the magic that happens when the dream is first perceived as possible, as tangible. That first flush of heady promise inherent in the moment of epiphany. It seems so easy to be bold when that fire is sparking the imagination. It's the follow through that's hard. The daily toil and sweat. Picking up the paint brush when you are dead tired. Or the camera when you feel totally uninspired. Or the "butt in the chair" and "fingers on the keyboard" even when the computer screen remains stubbornly blank. And then there's the fear of failure that comes creeping in...
Here are some wonderful words of inspiration written by W.H. Murray, excerpted from The Scottish Himalayan Expedition:
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back -- always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would come his way."
In other words, serendipity strikes to bring good things to support the creative effort, to bring the commitment to fruition. Grace gathers you under its wing and pats you on the head with an encouraging smile.
I made a commitment today to complete a book that has been simmering in my subconscious for a year, bursting forth in fits and starts. I announced its near publication. That means I have to get it done, and fast. So, here I am waiting for serendipity to strike and grace to gather, to speed me to the finish line. I expect good things to come of this project, and of another to which I've committed, (which I will tell you about in a future post). OK, Providence! Bring it on! Let's dream and create and be bold! Are you in?
My announcement can be found here if you'd like to see: Sanity Savers for Caregivers
~Goethe
I am thinking about commitment. Whether it's realizing dreams, planting seeds with expectation of sunflowers, nurturing hopes and creating art with words or photographs or paint or musical notes -- all these things require us to commit to spending the time, attention, work, sweat, emotional investment and being willing to sacrifice a part of ourselves for the dream, or the art, or the music.
I will admit I love the magic that happens when the dream is first perceived as possible, as tangible. That first flush of heady promise inherent in the moment of epiphany. It seems so easy to be bold when that fire is sparking the imagination. It's the follow through that's hard. The daily toil and sweat. Picking up the paint brush when you are dead tired. Or the camera when you feel totally uninspired. Or the "butt in the chair" and "fingers on the keyboard" even when the computer screen remains stubbornly blank. And then there's the fear of failure that comes creeping in...
Here are some wonderful words of inspiration written by W.H. Murray, excerpted from The Scottish Himalayan Expedition:
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back -- always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would come his way."
In other words, serendipity strikes to bring good things to support the creative effort, to bring the commitment to fruition. Grace gathers you under its wing and pats you on the head with an encouraging smile.
I made a commitment today to complete a book that has been simmering in my subconscious for a year, bursting forth in fits and starts. I announced its near publication. That means I have to get it done, and fast. So, here I am waiting for serendipity to strike and grace to gather, to speed me to the finish line. I expect good things to come of this project, and of another to which I've committed, (which I will tell you about in a future post). OK, Providence! Bring it on! Let's dream and create and be bold! Are you in?
My announcement can be found here if you'd like to see: Sanity Savers for Caregivers
