My friend Nathan who I met back in the Summer of 2010 said something to me then that has stuck with me ever since:
‘It’s always nice to meet other passionate, energetic people who like to not just talk, but do things.’
This really resonated with me, and it gave me a boost of confidence during a challenging time that I was going through. It turned out the friendships that formed during this period of my life enabled Spirit of the Gulf Coast to become a reality and for many positive changes to take place as a result. Doing things in this context is something that I continually aspire to, especially when they help make the world a better place to live.
I have always prided myself on ‘doing things’ that many people think are crazy, irrational, impractical, dangerous, etc. This is what makes me feel alive. These are the things that bring joy to my life, and often the lives of others. I’ve come to realize lately that although many of my adventures are done as part of my own personal journey, they have affected many others, some of which I don’t even know about. Btw, if you missed my last post on the 2010 recap, it has a quick summary of the highlights that you can check out here.
If you’re reading this, perhaps you are one of the people that enjoy this type of adventure. Or maybe you feel as if you aren’t ready to do something yourself, but want to experience through someone else’s writing. Either way, I’m glad you’re reading. I hope some of my ‘doing things’ will inspire you to take a leap in your own life.
One of the things that I’m paying close attention to this year is the balance of reading vs. doing. See, I love to read. I love reading so much that sometimes I don’t make time to do my own things, or at least document my doing them. I read countless blog posts, books, etc. from people just like me that are out there doing things in the world and sharing these experiences in a way that inspires others to take action. This is an area that I’m going to be improving in 2011. I’m building the confidence that I have just as much to offer as anyone else, so you can expect to see more of this kind of post in the future.
This year, I will continue to make enhancements here on my blog, and I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the journey for anyone who is interested in this kind of living. My hope is that I will build more connections with other like-minded people that also like doing things. The tribe continues to grow, and I’m forever grateful for this opportunity to share my journey with the rest of the world.
And so, with that, I’d love to hear what you think. What are you doing that you want the world to know about? How to you balance talking vs. doing?
Photo: Skydiving, NYE 2005
11 Comments
“I have always prided myself on ‘doing things’ that many people think are crazy, irrational, impractical, dangerous, etc. This is what makes me feel alive.”
I’m the exact same. I heard a good quote in a song once, “You should do one thing every day that scares you.”
I guess that’s why we became friends. Thanks for the inspiration, man. 🙂
btw, I love that song quote!
Brandon,
Like you, I need to find more of a balance between reading & doing. I also need to say “no” a little more often, as I am doing a lot these days and it’s hard juggling all that with the kids. I’m also working on a new blog w/ my own domain, so I’m pretty psyched (and scared out of my mind). ps love the photo in this post!
Thanks Erin. Balance is an area that so many of us need some help on. And absolutely – No is one of the most effective words we can use in our lives. Sarah’s post from earlier was dead on in this department!
Let me know when your new blog is up. I’d love to check it out. See Nathan’s note in his comment below about things that scare us. 🙂
Glad you liked the photo. When I look at that particular one, I can’t believe I look so calm. I was most certainly about to shit my pants! The next one in that series captures the true emotion I was feeling. Definitely one of the best experiences of my life.
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I sort of feel like I've been doing a lot of talking lately but not so much action, but I think I'm finally ready to take that leap and actually start DOING things to make my life move forward. Scary but exciting at the same time.
I know what you mean, Ali. Taking that leap is scary, but incredibly rewarding. As Nathan said, ‘you should do one thing every day that scares you.’
Clearly, I’m up for some scary stuff (as evidenced by the photo above), but I’m also looking to continually re-up my game and push myself further. The best way I can describe it is that I’m deconstructing the life I had built for myself and learning to live simpler, yet continually challenging myself at the same time. It’s a journey, not a race, and there is certainly no finish line. It happens one step at a time.
Thanks for checking in!
Right above the door as you enter the Fine Arts library at the University of Pennsylvania is an inscription in the stained glass that reads, “Talkers are no great doers.” And that always resonated with me. I think in college, people have an overwhelming sincerity in reading and talking, but a lack of follow-through when it comes to doing. Beyond that, I think people need to develop a healthy balance of digesting and regurgitating. Book worms never seem to get anything done, and those always “doing” for the sake of “doing” are running around blindly and ignorantly. A happy medium might be someone who reads, reflects, reacts and so forth.
That’s a great quote, Whitney. And I absolutely agree that balance is key. One can read all the books in the world, but if there is no inspired action in the end, what is it really worth? Thanks for the comment.
i just stumbled onto your blog (from J fields) and I've really enjoyed it. I feel like we are on similar paths – mine started 2 months ago when I quit my job, although limbo is feeling terrible at the moment! I also want to bite the bullet and attend the portland conference (I might just by my ticket tomorrow – no more procrastinating or second guessing!).
I'm very curious to know how you manage your time between book and blog reading. I feel like that is taking up the majority of my time – reading about other ppl living their life to the fullest. Which is inspiring, but not something to call my own.
Hi Vanessa – I’m glad you stumbled upon my blog! Jonathan is a huge inspiration to me and it’s great to connect with people through him. I know what you mean about limbo, although that’s usually where the breakthroughs occur. I definitely encourage you to register for the World Domination Summit in Portland. I have no doubt that it’s going to be absolutely incredible. I’m already seeing value in it just by browsing the website and connecting with people that are going!
In terms of managing my time, it can be challenging. However, what it comes down to for me is saying ‘yes’ to things and experiences that I feel have the potential to contribute positively to my life or the world as a whole. Not ‘I’d love to do that someday.’ If the opportunity to do something is there, I go for it. Connecting with people who are prone to action is also really important. I’m very fortunate to have an incredible group of friends that are out there doing things in the world. Aligning with that energy keeps me moving forward.
Just a few thoughts. Thanks for commenting! I hope you’ll stick around. Oh, and let me know when you register for WDS. 🙂