We have to force ourselves to create these scenes. We have to get up off the couch and turn the television off, we have to blow up the inner-tubes and head to the river. We have to write the poem and deliver it in person. We have to pull the car off the road and hike to the top of th hill. We have to put on our suits, we have to dance at weddings. We have to make altars.
–Don Miller, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years"
This weekend was a tiny little spark in my summer. An eventful few days full of celebration, both of marriage and birth and ideas. Donald Miller has a book discussing his struggle of turning his novel into a film. He explains how telling a story is so very different than acting out a story. I've really been sucked into this idea of living your life as a story and as a character, rather than going through the motions of everyday life with either small purpose or discontentment. It's a difficult challenge though, and sometimes I feel silly comparing my life to a movie script. In fact, I'm too embarrassed to actually go so far as to compare my own dull life to a movie- I tend to swat away those thoughts before they develop too deep. Either way, it's a book I'd like to read again... about every 5 pages or so, I have a corner folded down for a section I've found interesting or want to explore more in depth. He touched on so many various points, that it's clearly hard for me to put into my own cohesive thoughts.
One thing I do know is that both this weekend and this novel have got me thinking. And desiring action. In both big and small ways. A new person in my life and I discussed how we both have things we want to eventually do.... not just in the typical "bucket list" sense, but more so on a small scale, as well as perhaps a larger scale. Even right down to the bad habit of keeping numerous tabs open in our browsers because eventually we want to come back and try that new recipe or purchase that awesome print once it goes on sale or read that article. Or even...write a blog entry.
At dinner tonight, there were many trips taken down memory lane and Melissa's oldest sister Rachel had an old photo album of when their family took a two week road trip across the United States. She also had her journal that she had handwritten (in cursive!) Her preteen self had started out documenting every minute of their drive away from their house out into the big world. "6:10 enter the tunnel"...."6:12 come out from tunnel"...."6:13 drove by field" She had even made a second copy after the trip was done just to have everything in order. As the trip continued, her entries got more spaced out and had more stories to be jotted down. I admire her young selfs persistence with her journal though. Ever since I was young, I always start a diary or journal or blog and would hardly ever keep up with it. Last summer, when I began to find all of these inspirational blogs, I was back at being convinced I would start my own. Even if it were only to keep track of things I find interesting at the time and websites I like, artists I admire, food I want to cook. However, unlike Rachel, I tend to give up after the first day. Laziness consumes me and convinces my once eager self that blogging will take too long or how refreshing Twitter and Facebook is so much more convenient. If you will, starting a blog basically has been one of those "one day I'll get to it" things. I actually have quite a long list of "one days" that are constantly changing and being added and subtracted.
I've just gotten to the point though, that I'm realizing not to just let these interests slip away and fade out any longer. If I want to do something, do it! Stop just thinking about it and do it. Nike says it best, right? And have they failed me yet? Nope. So, why not? So here is my first small step to doing something off of my little list. Start a blog (that's doesn't resemble a whiney teenage livejournal from my youth).....check. Who knows if I'll actually keep up with this. Or what it will become. I acknowledge the need for a consistent space where I can let my inspiration poor into, not only for myself but maybe, mayyyybeee one day for others as well. You know, once I actually find my style and tiptoe into the design world. Or hey, even if I ever start my own little company one day. It'll be good to have a place to show and pour a little of myself into.
One thing's for sure, this girl right here is not gonna be down for writing super long entries like this always. Short, sweet, and beautiful. That's what I want this to be about. Maybe an occasional rant or two of my thoughts. Or perhaps a jumble of them thrown together, similar to this one.
But this, this is just my explanation and reminder to myself that I have things I want to do and I need to suck it up and get out there. Get off the couch so to speak. And I did do that, this very weekend, and I loved it quite a bit.
