Stopping My Blogging Fears

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” – Elbert Hubbard

Okay. Whew. That wasn't so bad...I got past the first words to write on my blog. So they are not my words, but a quote-they gave me the courage to type what I am thinking and feeling NOW. Sometimes, one needs someone else to go first.

I admit, I have been procrastinating-out of fear. Fear of ridicule, indifference, isolation, bad grammar, self reflection, self criticism and success. Yes, success-a traumatic reoccourance in my childhood. You see, I was the last child, much later than my 3 siblings. Twenty-three to seventeen years later. I had Mom to myself after Dad passed from a stroke in '62. I was 17 months old. My siblings were out of the house, married and one had 2 kids of her own. I think Mom had time to spend on me and that bit of extra attention encouraged me to express my creativity. I drew and painted and enjoyed it at elementary school in a suburban town just East of Los Angeles.

Then came the statements, "Wow, that is fantastic, you are so artistic! It's wonderful...blah, blah blah." By the time I muddled my thoughts through the blah-blahs of my sister, all I could think of was, "Oh, great. Now I have to come up with something better for next time."

Yup, way back then was when the pressure started. And that pressure lead me to NOT even start things. I labeled myself as a procrastinator and used it as a handy-dandy, all inclusive excuse for not finishing things. Recently, I was told by a very smart lady that I am a DOER. I just had not believed it all this time. I am not too old to learn and change.

Lately, I have become fascinated by the world of Social Media and have been Facebooking and Twittering. I have gathered genuine followers and have real friends on FB-not just Zanga invites. I have found inspiration on line, in books and in my dreams-usually after reading some of those books.

So today is the day that I kick started my writing. I had to. There is so much in my brain, that I speak it and edit it faster than I can remember to write it down. (Maybe I need a tape recorder...)

I want to thank Elbert Hubbard, posthumously (1856-1915) for his words of encouragement, @problogger, @CoachDeb, @WarrenWhitlock and @writingspirit on Twitter for their positive reinforcing posts, books and direct messages. It all came together today when I read the quote and realized that making a mistake is still moving foreward. And I found the quote here on mlmdreamsaver.com I searched 'blogging mistakes and fears' and found great relief within Vicki Berry's blog.

Even though this sounds like an acceptance speech at an awards show, it's more of making the opportunity to give gratitude. I have been struggling with what all to share here, but I think I will let all these words soak into the internet, Twitterverse, cyberspace, mind spaces and SEO word races.

I believe I will continue blogging. This has been like getting on one of those really scary-big, super fast roller coasters after ditching the line a few times and then getting on with the encouragement of friends. Not as scary as I thought, although my stomach is still a bit queasy. Anyone have any Tums?

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She thinks: After reading what I just wrote I'm thinking, that wasn't too bad, I made it quick and virtually painless. Reminds me of another less famous and less serious quote: "Off like a Band-Aid." That one I attribute to Dennis Tietz at Paradise Bakery.