The very thought of a challenge usually excites me. I like that initial rush of ideas that come flooding through my thoughts. The adrenaline supplies me with creative solutions and multiple options. Then once I have isolated all that needs to be done terror strikes.
This happens to me when I plan one of my themed parties for my husband, mother, children or friends. I call it "party planning magic". The ideas come together quickly and easily. I love getting a theme and planning a menu around it. I even have a party planning notebook. It was a gift. Really. When I have put together my guest list I start to think about what each guest will say, wear, drink etc... when they arrive. I methodically put together my itinerary that starts 2 days before the party. Then as the party approaches I get stricken with fear and ridiculous questions. What if no one shows up? What if I ruin those cinnamon buns I have made a thousand times? What if I don't have enough time to clean the house? (This would never happen to Pam!) What if I don't have time to comb the kids hair, my hair or shower before the door bell rings? One of my closest friends would interject now and say: "That's why I don't do those things. (giggle) "
But I do do those things. This leads me to my next venture. Minding my own business. As a teacher I have come accustomed to a curriculum I must follow, a class list, protection from unreasonable people, and a pay cheque. These conveniences have come at a cost. I have 3 young children who don't always get the best of me. I missed spending those slow times with them. I missed waking up with them and starting the morning with them. I missed not being able to dance with them after breakfast and before dinner. I missed taking them to school and praying with them before they left. I missed them.
For 9 months I prayed that God would show me what else I could do to fulfill the need I had as mother and also help my husband provide for our family. One sunny spring day the answer came to one of my friends who then handed it to me. I took the suggestion and did my usual "party planning magic" routine. I had the whole venture figured out on the ride home. As I sat down that evening to work out the details I thought why stop there why not make this really big? Then my "party planning magic" really took over and I set out to do a website, facebook page, advertising and business cards. The details (most of them) were ironed out in a couple of months.
Now there are only 2 months before I start this new venture. I am deciding how I am going to advertise this new business. Terror strikes again. What if someone steals this great idea? What if I waste all this money on advertising and I don't get a response? What if I get too many clients? What if I can't handle the financial aspect of running my own business? In the midst of this "party pooper" moment my friend calls. (This is the one that says "That's why I don't do those things". I call her Honey Bee. ) She tells me about Michael J. Fox and his book about being optimistic. And the phrase I need to hear comes rolling out of her mouth. "Let Jesus take the wheel."
Hmmm. (I don't know if I mentioned that I have control issues. Tiny really. But that's why:
1. No one is allowed in the kitchen when I am in it.
2. I make my eldest son wear his hat with the cap forward. Not back. Definitely not to the side!
3. Must bake/cook most things from scratch.
4. Make my husband change the outfit he chooses for our daughter. Leggings are for outdoors. PJ bottoms are for sleep. No matter how cute. )
So letting "Jesus take the wheel", hmmm that's hard.
Then I realize it is also freeing. I can let Jesus take the blame if it doesn't work out. Right? It reminds me of the usual reasons my christian boyfriends gave when they broke up me. "It wasn't God's will." As funny and painful as those moments were, they were right.
I'm getting out of the driver's seat as we speak. Jesus just make sure you signal those lane changes well in advance.
2 comments:
Just checking.,.....
anxiousness, worry, and panic all come under the emotion of fear which is a perfectly natural and common emotion. you need not worry Myrtle. if its one thing i know is that fear can make one do amazing things. that "adrenaline" you missioned provides you with the option of flight or fight, both options can turn you in to a super human who capable of accomplishing any thing. Optimism is good, the law of attraction says so, however being overly optimistic or being optimistic to the point where one becomes lackadaisical breads a problem. in this economy and in this day and age one needs to be extremely creative to have a successful business or venture of any kind. its not just good planning religiously following statistics based on inadequate proof, but being a visionary and looking at the world and seeing what is needed. listen to people, hear their complains and problems, talk, network. then and there you'll see. I know it all seems overwhelming at this point because it seems that you're head is being pulled in billion different directions and Murphy's law relentlessly proves to you everyday that what ever can go wrong will. But with time you'll grow, and evolve and what seems to be void of chaos will become second nature. the friends who say things like "That's why I don't do those things" have might not have a full grasp on how passionate your daily activities are to you, they themselves may have though of embarking on such a journey but thought the road to disastrous to travel. they may some times look at you with pity, worry, confusion and some times maybe a little bit of rage, an not even with their detouring question do they mean to tear down your vision or break you in any way, they just don't see the path or future that you see. you see life one way others see it another, who knows which way is right or wrong, what is black or white? only time will tell, take the chance Myrtle.
have a good one
love J!
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