Fear, Move out of The Way!

First Step

I have so many dreams. Big ones, small ones, beautiful ones. Dreams of writing stories that I weave together for my own joy—or maybe for others to enjoy, too. Dreams of creating with paint and paper, capturing fleeting moments of beauty in watercolor. Dreams that stir my soul but also scare me just a little.

And yet, somehow, I keep letting life get in the way. It’s funny how that happens, isn’t it? We tell ourselves we’ll start tomorrow, but then the days pile up, filled with endless distractions and responsibilities. I thought life would slow down in retirement, but I had no idea how busy I’d still be! And somewhere in that busy-ness, I find myself sabotaging my own dreams—putting off the things that bring me joy because… well, they feel big. Vulnerable. Scary, even.

I’m trying to wrap my head around that. Why is it that the things we long for the most are sometimes the hardest to begin?

But here’s what I’m learning: you don’t have to wait until the fear disappears to start. You just have to begin.

That’s my step one. To take a deep breath and start—whether it’s writing a paragraph, sketching a building, or laying down that first stroke of paint. Will it be perfect? Probably not. And that’s okay. What matters is showing up for the things that light you up, no matter how small the steps may seem.

And if it doesn’t work out? If the story falls flat or the watercolor turns into a muddled mess? That’s okay, too. You can move on. You can try again. The beauty of pursuing your dreams isn’t in perfection—it’s in the courage to keep going.

So, if you have a dream—whether it’s to write, paint, garden, travel, or start something entirely new—I hope you’ll join me in taking that first step. It doesn’t have to be grand or earth-shattering. Just a tiny step toward something that makes your heart feel alive.

Sometimes, that’s all it takes to wake up your soul.

The world is waiting for what only you can create. It may be a little scary, but it will be so worth it!

What is in your heart to create?

Begin.