As 2018 draws to a close, like many people, I am reviewing the past year and thinking of what I want to accomplish in the New Year. I don’t really call them “resolutions” but I do set goals and this is a good time to review and tweak them.
For 2019, I resolve to STOP WAITING. “Waiting” is different than procrastination. I think procrastination is not doing something either because you don’t want to, or you don’t feel like it yet. Waiting, on the other hand, is like not taking responsibility for your inertia. It is “I can’t do x yet because someone else hasn’t done y“, where y is something you think is outside your control. It’s a victim stance. I do this a lot and I hate it. Examples:
- I can’t sell my art because my programmer hasn’t built my online shop yet.
- I can’t post pictures of my artwork on my website because my friend hasn’t come over to take good photos yet.
- I can’t write a blog post because I’m waiting for my website to be redesigned.
- I can’t put together an art show because I’m waiting for someone else to do it.
- I can’t book a gig because my band mates haven’t given me their schedules yet.
- I can’t exercise because my workout partner is busy today.
All of these are examples of playing the victim by “waiting” until someone else does their part so you can go on with your life. I do not know why, but I do this. And I recognize it.
In addition, I will stop “waiting” until the time is right. You know, “waiting” until I finally have the perfect thing to write about or the perfect finished artwork to share. The perfect thing and the perfect time is This and Now. So, for now, I will post a painting I am still working on in my studio. It isn’t perfect and it isn’t finished. I plan to finish it this week and get it ready to show in February. It will be for sale then.
Truth is a function of time. I think Einstein said that. I digress. But think about that.
Anyway, Here’s to 2019 being a year of DOING, not waiting. Let’s live our truth in 2019.
It’s an interesting post. You seem to be doing a lot of things with your life, and sometimes waiting gets confused with doing too many things or to be more positive already doing enough. It’s hard to know to use two favorite examples for both of us, there might be waiting to go on a hike. Waiting till the weather is better waiting till an injury heals waiting till I have a hiking companion. And sometimes these are good reasons and sometimes they get out of control. Or with music. Waiting till I’ve practiced something enough, or in my case waiting till I’m asked. There’s a fine line between being assertive and being presumptuous. In particular I found when I wrote for a band I was doing too much waiting.
Thanks for the note! I am mostly talking about the “waiting” that I do in waiting for someone else to do something before I do anything. In the case of my music or art, most of the time I find I’m waiting on someone else to do something that either I could do myself or I could work ahead of without waiting. It’s time to stop blaming others or the universe for my inertia. As for the hike though…sometimes it is smart to wait for the rain to pass. 🙂