Happy anniversary to me.  One year ago today, I started publishing a weekly blog.  If you had told me last October that I would succeed in this endeavor, I would never have believed you.  What a milestone this is for me.

The Beginning

Early in 2014, I decided my website needed to be updated.  It had looked the same since it was designed in 2007.  The original website was a big deal—few psychotherapists even had websites at that time, so it was a ground breaking experience.

That site held for me a number of memories and represented seven years of my work.  It was a beauty.  However, seven years is a long time on the internet.  It was time to make a change.

The Blog

As I was planning for the new site, it was suggested I write a blog. This seemed impossible. I had not written anything longer than an email since I completed my degree at Duke in 1989. To make the idea even more outrageous, that same person suggested the blog publish weekly.    Were they insane?

It all felt overwhelming and impossible. I believed it would be absolutely NO fun.

Unexpected help

One night at a social function, I had a conversation with a woman I have known for several years. Unbeknownst to me at that time, she is an award-winning writer and editor. As I told her my story, she said she would be willing to help me with this project.

I could have never completed this task without her help. She became my teacher, my biggest fan, and my cheerleader. She would point out the ways I was improving with each article.  When I was overwhelmed, she would encourage me and make me keep going.

Over the past year, I have learned several important lessons:

1. With help, determination, perseverance and hard work you can accomplish things you never thought possible. There were many reasons for me not to write a blog.  I specialize in the spoken word, not the written word. I could not spell, my grammar knowledge was minimal, and I simply did not want to do it.

1. It is important that you take on a new project that is out of your comfort zone.  I was extremely content with where I was in my life. Outside of work, I filled my time with my marriage, my daughters and 2 grandchildren, social activities, and learning Tai Chi. I did not have the time or interest to take on a new project that meant more work.

2. A new project can change your life in wonderful and unexpected ways. This year of writing this blog has given me an opportunity to find a part of my true self that was hidden. I discovered that I enjoy writing.  It leads me to think about the ideas I use everyday in new and different ways. Now, I have additional, helpful information to give to the people with whom I work. My life is even more interesting than it was a year ago, professionally and personally.

3. I have a new creative outlet that is interesting and challenging. This has not been an easy task to accomplish. I had to change my schedule and my priorities. At first it was NOT fun, it was just hard work. As the year progressed it slowly developed into something that is fun.

4. Never say never. I was telling the story of my year to a woman and her response was “I could never do something like this.”  What I know about this woman is that she has talent, intelligence and creativity. What she lacks is the confidence and the will to start.

I took on an enormous project which I plan to continue indefinitely. Not every new and challenging project has to be that hard and time-consuming. It does need to be something that is important enough or interesting enough to convince you to stick with it at least a year.

Life feeling a little dull right now? What have you wanted to try? Explore, search, dig deep and find something interesting to spice up your days.

Having trouble getting started? I’ve been there – and look where I am now.  I can help. Call me at (919) 881-2001.