Boldly Take That First Step

I don’t know about you, but I have a TO DO list that feels a bit daunting. Lots of things to do in various areas of my world…all of which are wonderful, fun, and challenging. The problem is prioritizing them and making the time to get it all done. Notice I didn’t say “finding the time”. I have been around enough to realize that time is not something you “find” like a quarter on the sidewalk. We only have twenty-four hours a day, so we have to choose how to use that time to our best advantage.

This also means we have to put aside any fear or anxiety about the task in order to move forward. There are things we know how to do, and yet they may not be things we also like to do – like washing windows – yet they need to be done. So we CAN do them, we just choose not to do them. There are things we mostly know how to do – like balancing our family budget – we avoid doing them as we may not want to know what the numbers REALLY tell us, or in our mind it’s a boring task. So we put it off as the sense of urgency or interest may be low. And then there are the tasks that we want to do and yet have little experience or knowledge how to get it done. We can start, we know how to do that…then when we hit a snag or stumble we get discouraged and leave it hanging. Which leaves us hanging, which make us feel anxious. Those darn TO DO items, they bring us joy, peace, haunt us and even drive us mad.

I liked this quote from Orson Sweet Marden as it puts our TO DO items into perspective:

Most of our obstacles would melt away if instead of cowering before them we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.

– Orson Sweet Marden 1924

So what’s on your to do list that needs a bit of bold walking? What have you been avoiding or cowering under instead of facing with courage and action? I can think of at least ten things on my list that simply need time and a couple determined first steps to get them moving. Let’s agree to do ONE THING today, take that first bold step, and let’s move forward boldly to make our lives and the lives of those around us better.

I will if you will…let me know how it goes on your end!