I nearly didn’t renew the domain for the blog this year. It had long been dormant – I couldn’t even remember when I had last posted or what I had posted. And my memory of it all was that it probably wasn’t all that great anyways so I should just let it go. But I didn’t. I renewed it and let it sit for a few more months without giving it anymore thought.
I can’t exactly pinpoint why I decided to revisit the blog this week. Perhaps it is the revitalization I feel from starting a new position. But I did. Funnily enough, the topic of my last post from March 15, 2024 (yikes!) was whether you should revisit old ideas or abandon them: Replaying or Abandoning That Forgotten Gem.
My very ‘clever’ March 2024 self provided this advice, which I took:
… the difficulty is deciding which ideas to let go of, much like the old clothes in your closet. Pick up an idea and if you can’t see yourself ‘wearing it’ in the next year, let it go.
So I did just that – I picked up this blog, held it in front of me and looked in the mirror. And I like myself in it and decided I do want to wear it this year.
I also reread several of my posts as an outsider and I like the person who wrote them – heck, I would be friends with her! I was annoyed with myself that despite being a nearly 50-year-old accomplished professional, but I almost let my insecurities and self-doubt erase something from my life that brings me joy. Telling myself it’s “not that great anyways” allowed me to let other priorities take precedence and push this to the bottom of the list.
It’s easy to do and is my constant companion. I’ve written several posts that touch on this and reading these posts helped me find the courage yet again to face those insecurities and put myself out there:
Keep the following in mind and keep putting yourself out there. Say “Here I am, come and take me”.
Ten years from now, you’ll look back over the decade and wish you’d had the confidence to go for it. Twenty years from now you’ll feel silly for taking yourself so seriously. Thirty years from now you’ll think you’ve missed your chance. Make good art and put it out there.
Funny the excuses we come up with to not do the things that make us happy. New job, illness, kid’s activities. Life gets in the way sometimes of the little things we do just for us. Like maintaining this blog….
I realized over the holiday break that it had been over three months since my last post. How did I allow that to happen? Better still, how can I make sure to post more regularly in 2024?
I’ve always been impressed by those who can recognize something isn’t working for them and have the courage to take the leap. When musician Robbie Robertson died recently, I took a deep dive into his career and realized he was one of these people. I read several retrospective articles including this poignant article by The New Yorker: Robbie Robertson and The Greatest Songs Never Finished….
….But from what I’ve read, Robertson was tired of touring and wanted to explore other creative outlets. So he did. He acted, he composed scores for Martin Scorsese movies, and he released several outstanding solo albums. There is no hint that he regretted his decision to leave The Band.
As the above posts demonstrate, I’m often scared to put myself out there and show you all my insecurities, but here I am again. Remember, we’re often more well-respected, admired and just better than we think. This is a topic I will need to keep revisiting – hopefully it won’t take another year-long absence to bring me back.
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