Just Doing It

You may recall the old Nike slogan "Just Do It".  While I'm not 100% sure if they're still actually using this slogan or not (and a quickie search online did not give me an answer), it's been bouncing around my brain often enough lately that I feel the need to mention it.

There are several things in my life that I have to do to get to where I am going.  Just as any of us who have goals can attest to.  The strange part of this to me is the fact that many times those small steps seem daunting in the grand scheme of the final outcome.  Even when you break them down into measurable increments, they still may seem boring or useless to do.  Not always - but often enough to make me (or you, maybe), just not do them.  Whatever they may be.  Many of us want the goal - not necessarily the work that goes into the goal.  No matter how satisfying that work may end up being - or garnering the pride and self esteem that taking those steps can bestow upon us - many times it may appear at the get-go that the small steps are useless and we may feel trapped by a "why bother?" attitude.

But - there is no other way to reach them.  And that's just how it is.  I could pin all my hopes on the Mega-Millions to pay off my debt... or I could just not use the credit cards that got me to where I am in that situation.  While I could spend more time in front of the TV, relaxing (and possibly finding out the current slogan of Nike in the process) - I find that I can't relax at all if I haven't placed enough check marks on the calender for the current week.  To me, the least relaxing feeling is taking a vacation I haven't earned.  Even if only for 20 minutes.

And by earned, I don't mean that I just the did the basics of getting up, showing up where I have to in order to get paid and then heading home just to do it all again the next day.  While you can earn alot in 8 hours, if you are not putting a real effort into life in the process, you haven't earned anything.

So lately, I've been saying "Just Do It" to myself.  The only way to obtain those goals is to put that work in.  The only way to feel confident in clothes that I truly love wearing is to get back into good, if not great, shape.  The only way to get a degree or certification is to read and study.  The only way to be a successful writer is to write.  The only way to see the world is to make the plans and get going.  The only way to a life well lived, with intention, is to do it.

What are you waiting for?  Just do it.