What does it look like to show up every day?
What does it look like to show up every day for TWO YEARS?

These are the questions I'm asking, and what I'll be answering over the next 730 days.

These questions are directly inspired by Sean McCabe of Seanwes.

Sean says you have to show up, consistently, for TWO YEARS before you can expect to see results from your efforts.

I've listened to this repeated message from him for at least two years, and then carried on making excuses, whether heartfelt and reasonable or not, continually committing to see myself as valueless. Not even worth my own time!

And you know what...that just plain sucks. And it's not true about me!
Especially now, since today I'm ready to be somewhere else in my life, and I'm not.

For over two years I have been following Sean McCabe, a hand lettering expert, online. But Sean isn't just an expert in hand lettering. He's an expert in inspiration and spreading hope to fellow creatives. One thing he repeatedly implores his audience to do is show up every day to do the creative work they are passionate about, no exceptions. Do yourself a favor and personally check out his podcasts and videos, because the spirit behind his message is infectious!

While I initially found his site because I had an interest in hand lettering, and wanted to learn more, I have continued to follow his work for a completely different reason.

It turns out hand lettering is not entirely my thing. My primary focus is more on arts as a therapeutic and sociological force. I'm interested in psychological healing, alleviation of poverty, and the exploration and promotion of freedom in all forms. But, I continue to receive his email updates and listen to his podcasts because he inspires hope, and to believe in the goodness in life, humanity, and myself. Our passions and goals actually converge right on point, it seems. He inspires me to not give up when things seem daunting. He boldly describes what he offers as fiery inspiration, and he follows through.

Not giving up on the good in life has been one of my primary goals since I was born. It's easy for me to completely agree with the things he shares, and want to follow all of his suggestions for success.

And yet, sometimes it's still so hard not to want to give up!

Why!? Why!? Why!?

How does that happen?

Well, things happen.

I show up, but nobody else does. I bare my soul and nobody seems to care.

Or...

I show up with an army of excuses not to do the work, some extravagantly dressed a Reasons to skip a day: Illnesses, legit responsibilities, financial or physical hinderances to my projects and ideas.

In the last year alone, within my immediate family, there have been:

5 emergency room visits

3 hospital admissions (2 which lasted 5-7 days)

1 emergency surgery (internal bleeding for yours truly)

1 urgent, unplanned surgery (completely blocked kidney!)

3 day surgeries (one is scheduled for today!)

3 separate house disasters (plumbing issues!)

4 herniated discs causing severe debilitation (hello floor)

1 diagnosis of degenerative disc disease (regrooving the dream)

and...last, but not least,

Numerous emotional traumas and dramas.

There might actually be more items for this list, but my brain is a little fried!

SO many fair reasons to be absent from my creative work, right?

***

All these things combined have the potential to head off feelings of worthlessness and overwhelm.

In fact, there is a (***) break in my writing because I was interrupted first thing this morning to get to an unplanned appointment with the dentist.

So yes, an urgent trip to the dentist + day surgery for my husband today! Then, the regular business of life where "busy" is a base point.

Things can become overwhelming, and given the circumstances it's reasonable to let the "unnecessary" go.

But dropping the unnecessary ball on myself has been my problem for too long.
I might not be able to take a vacation from my problems, but I CAN reenter my studio and sit with myself for as long as it takes to connect again.

Connection is where life is.
Connection is not always easy or pleasant every step of the way.
Connection to and with my life/creative force IS necessary.

Back to Sean's lead...Every Day.

It is necessary to show up to work every day, lest you lose it all.

So here I am! I made it! Yes, it's day one.
It was hard!
This is scary and vulnerable.
My post isn't perfect.
I haven't really said anything new.
It's going to take some time to get comfortable with my voice.
It's probably going to take a while to find an audience.
There is a long way to go!

But two years on a journey take a lot longer, and get you nowhere, when you're not brave enough to take the first step onto the trail. Looking at the sign post isn't going to get me where I want to be.

I might be the only one that reads this. But you know what? I'm proud of myself, and I like myself just a little bit more just for being here. And that's a pretty award winning feeling, right there.

I earned some hustle credits!

As long as I get at least this far every day, I have faith I'm going to be shaking Sean's hand in two years at a creative conference or meetup like I told him I would in a Facebook comment yesterday. He said he'd be there, so I better keep myself in gear.

Sean shows up when he says he will.

I have a mentor to meet, and my word to keep!