Seeing Behind the Nothing

How many of us see success as something everyone else has?  This idea of comparing yourself to those around you doesn’t work. It says as much in the Bible, and many of us know that truth in our minds.  We know that those around us only shine light selectively on the reality that surrounds them.  But there is always more. The iceberg above the water is often smaller than the portion that lies below.  And I don’t know about you, but I have enough dirt in my own shadow closet to clean out. I don’t often think too long and hard over others darker baggage.  Certainly, I understand it is there.  Yet still, I find myself drifting toward the pastime of envy.  Not for long.  But it seems such a tempting spot to land and ruminate in. It was good to turn to Him.

 As I was contemplating Galatians 6:4 “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”  I felt the truth of this. 

I haven’t blogged much over the last three years, but I have done a lot.  When I come back to this website, I get upset with myself.  And then I don’t revisit again for quite some time.  The work I am toiling through is underground. I am still underground. I am digging and digging.  It is more mental work, and education and collecting.  But what I am building is so grand, some days I feel it’s magnificence.

 Here’s the thing.  It is shrouded in inaction.  For all the doing I do, there is as much nothing going on.  Some call the work, education and collecting – buffering, lessening the impact of something.  But then there is the real buffering, the “Netflix and forget it” and the going to Goodwill.  And while I think My Octopus Teacher may have changed me and how I feel about the world forever, all while it strengthened a work relationship, I also know that it distanced the chaos of my internal mind chatter in that moment. 

 My mind doesn’t stop.  It goes and goes.  I have endless thoughts that are constantly jumping around and binding to one another.  And as they spin and build a web of wonder, there is a part of me that is so scared. The lizard child that likes to stay cold and moist under the moss growing in the basement. 

 I am hiding because I don’t want to fail.  But this week I happened upon Pace Morby of A&E’s Triple Digit Flip.  I had never seen or heard of Pace Morby till his YouTube algorithm matched with me and I followed him down a 6 hour Zoom rabbit hole… that is correct… a 6 hour video.  In said video, I learned some stuff.  But there were at least three major things that made a big impression when he shared:

1.  So many people fear failing (I do), but inaction IS failing.  I am already failing. Go create mistakes.  Time is precious.

2.  Defining your niche (who you are and who you serve) is important. Understanding how to solve those people’s problems with honesty and humility is the best way to gain (followers, friendships, satisfaction in life, and wealth.)

3.  What you focus on expands. Choose to upgrade and focus on the next steps.

I see the truth in these thoughts and it isn’t the first time I have considered these concepts.  Have you been here before?  That place where you have already learned the lesson, and it “makes sense” but it doesn’t really mean anything yet.  The electricity is connected, but you haven’t flicked the light switch on yet.

 The light switched on.   

Now, that doesn’t mean I have focus.  Working on it.  My brain is on fire.  It wants to create, to grow.

 Here is what is in the works:

• I am a Mom and wife and this is the most important work.

• I have a big day job – it is a bit complex, but good.  I am blessed.

• I have friends – amazing friends ((((hugs))))) who I am working on creating an illustrated Vegan Children’s Story Cookbook, this will knit into the world we are creating for Pippin.

• We have a fully written and edited 1st book in the Pippin series, and it has lots of illustrations which need to be reworked.

• I have ideas for 4 more Pippin books, and I need to write those stories and endless ideas for the next stages of Pippin.

• We are going to have a Kickstarter to launch the books, and I will have a collectible NFT involved in that launch.

• Revisiting the Messy Tessie series.

• Building the footprint for Financial Freedom for my family.

 There is more, so much more in this massive vision and it leads to a large business as a Publisher, Museum, Artist Retreat, Education Center for Learning Disabilities, and Real Estate owner.  The sky is the limit.  This is my retirement plan.  I am collecting moments and people to share, collaborate and love along the way.

First stop is a Cookbook.  That is where I need to focus.

What about you?  Where are you going?  Did you find these Pace Morby tips I captured helpful?