Just show up . . .

"Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of."

- Charles Richards

If you have read my blog Picking Poppies, or seen a few of my posts here, it won't be much of a secret that since moving to the Gulf Coast I now have a love affair with the beach, and the ocean and of watching the sun rise. When we first moved here I told my husband that I thought people were, well nuts, to want to live on the water...just to have a hurricane wash everything away. He thought it would be nice someday - I was adamant that it would certainly be crazy! And as time has passed, I have eaten those words.

Even having seen first hand the utter destruction a hurricane can cause, I still hold to someday wanting to live by the water as I fully understand the draw it can have on ones soul. But for now, and if it never happens, I will be content to get up at 5:40, get in my car at 6:00 and drive my 8 1/2 miles which takes me approximately 25 minutes so that I can witness this amazing spectacle.

And if the sunrise has taught me anything, it is that time does not stand still. When you watch the sun rise over that horizon, when you go with your tripod and camera, you know that you have a very short window in which to capture it . . . but first you have to show up. And I almost didn't show up to the one above, as it was completely overcast at my house when I left...I'm glad I showed up anyway!

 I want to share a quote with you that prompted me to show up, to start my journey in blogging:

"Too many of us wait to do the perfect thing, with the result we do nothing. The way to get ahead is to start now. While many of us are waiting until conditions are "just right" before we go ahead, others are stumbling along, fortunately ignorant of the dangers that beset them. By the time we are, in our superior wisdom, decided to make a start, we discover that those who have gone fearlessly on before, have, in their blundering way, traveled a considerable distance. If you start now, you will know a lot next year that you don't know now, and that you will not know next year, if you wait."   

- The William Feather Magazine (care of Steve Pavlina)

That quote, prompted my first blog post that day, on my blog that I had set up 8 months prior and never did anything with. It was powerful, it still is. In fact, I think I will plaster this to my bathroom mirror as there are things I want to accomplish and have let my lack of "just right" get in the way. It has a way of creeping back in you know? What about you? The just showing up thing, not feeling quite prepared is kind of scary for me. I'm a lot less of a perfectionist than I used to be and I'm really okay with that, but the not feeling fully prepared...yeah, that will usually stop me in my tracks every time. But the rational side of me asks, is anyone ever fully prepared? Were they fearless, or did their desire to show up just out way the fear in their stumbling?

Life is short, too short, and sometimes we don't get second chances to say or do things. I think I can say that I am better at showing up than I used to be, but I still have a long way to go. And even if what I do is imperfect, and I don't feel quite prepared,  I must listen to that inner voice. It's a lot scary to say to myself, let alone out loud, here, that I want to write an inspirational pocket book...with photos, and somehow incorporate my photos into my jewelry, and sell them. Wow, I really said that out loud! 

And speaking of life, sometimes we get a reminder of just how delicate it is. On Sunday night, after eating cabbage I had a severe allergic reaction. My throat and esophagus swelled up, swallowing and talking became difficult . . . 911 was called. It was scary, and it was a reminder. Life is short, and sometimes fleeting, and we all teeter on the edge of it.

It was a reminder, not to forget to show up, even if I am blundering, stumbling, and feel unprepared.

Because in the act of showing up, we open ourselves to possibilities!!

We would love for you to share your thoughts with us here! What happened when you showed up? You just might inspire someone else . . . 

And don't forget to add your photos to our Flickr group of your traditions.