Don’t just tell me, show me.
Actions speak louder than words.
The superior (wo)man is modest in his (/her) speech, but exceeds in his (/her) actions.
I have a bad habit of dreaming constantly, talking a big game and then never following through. I promise posts I never write, but want to write. I talk about wanting or needing to sleep more, but never do. I dream of living in California (or New York or Charleston or Miami or could I even be a Boulder girl?) and am convinced I will some day, but fall short on making sure it happens.
There’s thinking about doing something, talking about doing something and then actually doing something. I’m a pro at the first two and I fall short on the last. My thoughts and words don’t mean a whole lot until I put them into action.
It’s been on my mind a lot lately because at work, it’s something we train to. We hand women a huge opportunity, but it’s up to them to make it happen. I think, “Am I the woman who would flail around, thinking she’s going to do something but not actually doing it? Or would I go all out and take action immediately?” Some things in life I’m great at immediately taking action. An audition at 6 p.m.? I’m there. Having to be photo-ready by Friday? I’m up for the challenge. Need a draft of a booklet by 3 p.m.? Let’s do it! It’s the larger things I tend to let fall to the wayside. Anything that takes a huge amount of planning ahead bogs me down. I’d rather live in my daydreams of it. Until I don’t.
I’m inspired by people who not only dream, but take action. Take one of my closest friends, Alyssa, for example. She, like millions of others, has a bucket list. Unlike millions of others, though, Alyssa actually crosses off the things on that bucket list. And they’re not all easy tasks. She not only writes about wanting to write a book, but she also chips away at her book proposal every week, if not every day. It’s not about daring to dream. It’s about daring to do.
At the end of April, I felt a strong call to action. Not any particular action, just to get sh!t done. In one day, I booked a gynecologist appointment (OK, that was more out of necessity— it’s been a year), set up a photo shoot, asked a friend to help me create a demo reel and followed up on booking a modeling job, even though I was afraid my persistant following-up would be annoying. I’m tired of letting my grand plans get lost in the shuffle of the day-to-day, or— dare I say it— get lost in my own laziness. It’s time for some action.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Completing things on your list – even simple things like booking an appointment – can feel rewarding. You are working your tail off (obviously), so I don’t think calling yourself lazy is appropriate – you’ve just been busy with every day life.
I’m trying to get more action behind my talk – I’ve always been great at the planning and anticipating but getting to the point of actually doing…that’s where I fall behind. It’s really starting to annoy me at this point, and it finally motivated me to enter a race instead of just talking about it…hopefully it carries over to other aspects of life!
GOOD LUCK! This is a great reminder to all of us to push foward, follow our dreams, and reach for our goals. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sounds very good to me, my dear. Following through is a scary thing but it’s always a step in the right direction!
GET IT, GIRL.
I think a lot of us talk about our “bucket lists,” but, like me, never actually bring any of these tasks to fruition. we all need to be a little more like lyssiedoll and put plans into action. thanks for the reminder.
Love this post – I completely agree! It’s easy to follow through on short term goals and responsibilities and yes, sometimes they do lead us to the bigger ones. However, in order to start moving towards our bigger dreams it’s necessary to start taking action. It’s overwhelming to think about making a big move, changing careers, writing a book, etc. but it is SO manageable to break it down into smaller goals.
Speaking from a 35 year old perspective–be glad you realized that now. Don’t let the years slip away. Playing catch up is a B%TCH!
Sounds fantastic! I do the same thing. I don’t have a bucket list … but I have all of these hopes and dreams. I feel like I should write them down, and tackle that bad boy. I love crossing things off things of off a list (sometimes I’ll even add something to a list after I’ve completed it, just so I can cross it off), so maybe I need to commit to this whole bucket list idea …
I think you hit the nail on the head right at the end there: good intentions and grand plans so, so often fall by the wayside of the day-to-day grind and chaos. I feel that on every single level of my life: personal, professional, whatever. It’s easy to blow off my long-term plans for my LDR because, right now, all I’m concerned with is the next time I’ll get to see my boyfriend. I want to be a more insightful, more challenging teacher, but I have 135 papers to grade tonight (and three meetings to attend this week, and a Master’s program to work on…)
These brief periods of reflection are important, though. It’s so easy to forget where you want to eventually end up and lose focus of how you plan to get there. As long as you keep those things in mind and are willing to work towards them, even a little bit each day, you’ll be good.
Oh, and if you move to Charleston, I’m in.
Girl, I am right there with you. I have come up with so many things I’ve wanted to do…yet never done them. Which is why, I am currently applying like mad for bird jobs internationally. Why not, right?!
Couldn’t agree more! Each time I talk to my dear mother about something like this, she says “now’s the time!” (She’s always right.) We often talk about what we’d *like* to do, but why not just do it? Woops, just stole Nike’s catch phrase. Forgive me!
Kailey this rocks. It just does. Thanks for the inspiration!
Great stuff! This post reminded me of one of my favorite quotes by Napoleon Hill: “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”
This made me tear up. Love you, ma!
oh babe! you go for it. all of it. every little last drop of everything. and to remember this quote (stolen from our homegirl alyssa):
“Even if it meant that she had failed, she was glad. If what she’d wanted had been impossible from the start, still there was a certain lonely comfort in the fact that she’d known it was impossible and had gone ahead and done it anyway.”
Donna Tartt
like. LIKE. LIKE!
Love this, Kailey!
I am completely, 100% in agreement with you on this one! I have so many daydreams and desires that I want to do, to accomplish…but I need to start taking action on them. I can imagine myself doing those things, but then I get a little afraid because I wonder HOW I’m going to get there without failing. I need to step out of my comfort zone and just pursue these dreams! Thanks for an inspirational post…I couldn’t agree more!
I am going through these same thoughts right now. I’ve been at my job for two years, and I love it! But I think it’s time to move on, because I have lived in this 120 mile radius for pretty much my whole life.
However, preparing a portfolio is a huge challenge, and I just need to suck it up and get it done. I pull late nights for work, so I can pull late nights for this too. It just as important, if not more. No more excuses.