It occurs to me that it has been more than a year since I posted on this blog. I could use all the usual excuses – I’ve been busy, I haven’t been sure what to write about, I’ve been super busy, I’ve been focusing on other hobbies. Did I mention I’ve been busy? Yeah, all the excuses are true. But despite the excuses, I can’t deny one truth – I love to write. So, why am I not writing?

While I am super busy, it is also true that we make time for the things that are important to us. So again, I ask, why am I not writing? In my nearly 31 years on this planet, I’ve begun to realize that people actually run away from the things they love the most. Out of fear? Out of a sense of obligation to something else? We convince ourselves that what we really want won’t work out, so we settle on something that we want a little less because it fits the bill at that moment. I want to write. I want to be a writer, but I avoid the actual writing and blogging part because I am waiting for my writing to be perfect before I share it with the world. As a result, I write nothing, I share nothing, and I do not succeed in my goal.

So, what holds me back? I’m afraid of writing something that isn’t absolutely perfect. I’m a perfectionist. If it isn’t just right, I won’t share it. But if I’m waiting for flawlessness, then I’m just standing still, waiting and waiting and waiting. And of course, not writing and not publishing and not being read. And if I’m not being read, doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of having a blog?

So, here’s my post. I could keep tweaking it for days and days, but I don’t think I will.  Perfect? Nope, but that’s okay.

I think I’ll keep this by my computer for inspiration.

And of course, this trap of just standing still and waiting doesn’t simply apply to my writing. And it doesn’t just apply to me. But I bet you knew that already.

So, what holds you back?