Do It Anyway

Today Kat McNally invites us to consider this Reverb 14 prompt:

What are you really proud that you made happen in 2014, despite the gremlins? And what will you do anyway in 2015?

I think I’m most proud of the writing I’ve done this year.  I’ve blogged consistently and quite regularly.  I outlined a number of books, and starting writing the first.  And it all feels delicious.

Gremlins assure me that keeping things in the thinking-about-it stage is a much better idea than actually doing them.  They try to convince me that this energetic glue on my shoe isn’t really STUCK, but a trendy fashion statement.  They lay on the charm when they’re working to distract me, but if I get past that tactic they switch to taunting meanness.  They say things like, “Seriously, who cares what YOU have to say?  No less than a kajillion people are doing that, all at an exponentially higher level, with more wonderfulness and depth and sprinkly sparkles than you could ever imagine let alone produce.  How come we’re stuck hanging around with you?”

I’ve begun imagining my gremlins on a permanently moving sidewalk.  While they may pop by with their less-than-helpful chatter, if I keep them confined to the moving sidewalk they can’t stick around. I take delight in sending them off in banishment to the land of old-unhelpful-stories-no-longer-needed.

I most definitely want to continue writing in 2015, and I also want to stir the alchemical pot and create lots of new fun things for my business.  I imagine the gremlins will want to have their say about it all, but I’m exercising my banishing powers.  And I’m inviting in an even bigger crowd to cheer me on and offer support when my heart gets tender and fear comes knocking.

I also know I’m going to be holding tight to this beautiful instruction from poet Maya Stein:

“Fall to your knees at least once a day. Say yes at least twice. Love daringly, wholly, unapologetically. Believe in magic. Befriend your fear. Look up. Listen. The birds will tell you everything you need to know about flight.”

What about you?  What did you carry on and do it anyway in 2014?  What can we celebrate with you?  And what will you do anyway in 2015?  Do tell – you know I love to hear.