Thoughts from the Road: On going after big dreams
Last night while desperately trying to get myself back to inbox zero after what has been quite the week, I ran across this quote in an email from James Clear ⤵
"Dreams are fun when they are distant.
The imagination loves to play with possibilities when there is no risk of failure.
But when you find yourself on the verge of action, you pause.
You can feel the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Thoughts swirl.
Maybe this isn't the right time?
Failure is possible now.
In that moment—in that short pause that arises when you stand face to face with your dream—is the entirety of life.
What you do in that pause is the crucible that forges you.
It is the dividing line between being the type of person who thinks about it or the type of person who goes for it.
When I really think about it, I want that moment to be my legacy.
Not that I won or lost.
Not that I looked good or looked like a fool.
But that when I had something I really wanted to do, I went for it."
~ James Clear, Atomic Habits
I can’t think of better words to describe this past week after our big news/big move/big change.
Big dreams are funny things. Most people know plenty about the fun part — the excitement of thinking about how different life could be in a different place, in a completely different state of being, or under entirely new circumstances. But what most people don’t know is how much work it takes to get from the dreaming stage to the verge of action, past that pause James Clear talks about in the quote above, and into that ever-elusive thing called “going for it”.
Leaving the status quo is hard work.
“What you do in that pause is the crucible that forges you. It is the dividing line between being the type of person who thinks about it or the type of person who goes for it.”
What most people don’t know is “going for it” requires a daily pause, daily stepping over fear and doubt, and a daily commitment to letting go of what you’ve known and holding on to hope for what’s to come. I dare say that’s the part that keeps most of us in the pause and out of the action.
Taking action is hard work.
“In that moment—in that short pause that arises when you stand face to face with your dream—is the entirety of life.”
But if you’re reading this I can just imagine you’re one of those people whose heart expands again and again every time you read about someone who’s going after their dreams, no matter how crazy or unrealistic they seem.
Going for it is hard work.
“I want that moment to be my legacy. Not that I won or lost. Not that I looked good or looked like a fool. But that when I had something I really wanted to do, I went for it."
I want you to know about that part because when you go after the big dream that keeps chasing you (the one that won’t let you go no matter how much time passes in the dream phase or in the pausing), you’ll need to be prepared for some hard work. You can totally do it, no matter how young/old/tired/busy/stressed you are. But you’ll need to schedule some time, space, and a place for recovery.
Which is exactly what I’ve been doing this week — recovering.
My body feels like it’s been through a marathon. My mind feels fuzzy. My heart is sore from all the soaring and letting go. I knew I’d feel this way. That’s why our first stop on this new adventure of ours is a sweet little farmhouse in the mountains of interior Maine where we’ve been resting, relaxing, hot-tubbing, and watching the leaves start to turn red this week. We’re here for a couple of weeks before moving on. And this morning I’m writing to you from the sweetest little farmhouse breakfast nook ⤵
"Dreams are fun when they are distant. The imagination loves to play with possibilities when there is no risk of failure. But. . . “
Recovery is essential. But can I tell you something, friend? It feels so good to be going for it. I feel so grateful for all of it, even the fatigue. It feels TOTALLY worth it. You’ll need to know that part, too — for your own big dream planning, of course.
💛
Now, on to a little bit of book news.
Last weekend after moving our oldest guy back into his college dorm after a sweet summer of having him home (2 days before our house closing), with a Barnes & Noble gift card burning a hole in my pocket and begging me to indulge in a little retail therapy for my achy mama heart, I bought a few new books and a sweet little tote. (& yes, it helped me dry my mama-tears at least a little)
Here’s what I bought ⤵
A Man Called Ove — a book I’ve been eyeing for years, but the timing has never felt right until now
Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life — a book purchase inspired by the person in my family who loves all things Japan and keeps nudging us to consider living there
Bella Grace: the magazine that thinks it’s a book — a cozy, thick, heavyweight-papered magazine that truly does feel more like a book than a magazine and seems perfectly suited for someone looking for ways to live with more intentionality (me) and trying to enjoy the start of all the fall feels (also me)
Morpho: Anatomy for Artists — something for the high school junior/art student I’ll be teaching/learning with this school year (& no, I don’t draw at all ~ he’ll be soloing this)
Now I’m off for a day of exploring the outdoor offerings of this new-to-me corner of Maine with my family — and then we’ll settle right back in at the farmhouse for a restful weekend (hopefully).
Sending you so much love,
Celeste
🗺️ 💓🧳
P.S. Last week’s email is now on the blog along with a few fun photos from our move. You can see it here ⤵
