NOW

I saw this on Pinterest last week and it's been on my mind ever since.

When Matt and I were first starting to think about having kids...we both had good jobs, but we had very little savings, we didn't own a home, he was still working on his Master's degree, we hadn't traveled to even half the places we wanted to see, I wanted to be in better shape...there were so many reasons we weren't ready. A good friend (his kids were grown) offered us some advice: "You will never be ready," he said. "Just do it. Do it now. You will never regret it."

He told us something very similar when we were deciding if we wanted to have more kids after Megan and Molly. Were we ready? Could we handle adding another to the mix? Was it financially and emotionally responsible to grow our family, again?

"Just do it. Do it now," he said. "You will never regret it." 

No one is ever ready to do anything.

I think this might be true! At least for me. When it comes time to make those big life decisions (even sometimes the mundane ones trip me up) how can I ever be ready? If I start too soon, I will likely fail. If I wait until I am ready, I will fail to start. And if I was ready, wouldn't I have decided it, done it, and made it happen already? When is that optimal time to begin?

There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now.

I've come to realize the optimal time is NOW.

Because I'm starting to see that,

I am only truly ready once I have begun.

It's easy to plan things and to imagine what it will take to accomplish the task. I am an A+ planner! It's even easy to imagine the success and rewards that will come once my accomplishment is complete. But, the actual STARTING, is often the most challenging (and paralyzing) thing of all, for me. If I don't get started however, I'll never get anywhere.

Knowing this is inspiring me today. Just get started - on the big things and the little things. Cleaning out the hall closet. Getting back in shape. Getting dressed. Planning a vacation. Returning emails. Writing a book.

I'm serious! Sometimes I put off something as simple as getting dressed because I'm not ready. I want to shower first. Or I want to do a few chores before putting on "nice" clothes. How silly is that? Soon it's 4PM and I'm still in yoga pants and a t-shirt and I feel grumpy and frumpy and just, grrrrr...

Getting back to running on a regular basis has been put off for over a year because I'm not ready. I need new shoes. I can't find my favorite sports bra. I want to map out a new route, or make a new playlist before I start. I ate a cupcake for breakfast, today is ruined, blah...

Accepting that I'm never ready until I have already begun is helping me have the courage and drive to take the first step without thinking too much. Because, that's what it really boils down to, I believe. In order to get something done, I must find the gumption and energy to do it. If past experience is any indication, I know I may as well do it now.

Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any. 

Because, guess what? I'm still not ready for kids, even though I have three. Everyday as a parent is a new adventure, each stage is a learning process. As they grow, they change. And I do too! Their personalities develop and their desire to be their own person increases - and I'm forced to find new courage, new wisdom, new patience, new strength, new energy, everyday, to be their Mom. But it's the best "thing" I've ever started. And our friend was right, I'll never regret it.

Do you struggle with not feeling ready? What is something you have been thinking about doing, but feel you aren't quite ready to start? 

"If we wait until we're ready, we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives. Let's go." -Lemony Snicket