One of the things that keeps me blogging is the diary-like nature of recording events, thoughts, weather and so the ability to go back and see what I was doing, what the weather was like and “What was I thinking ???”. I cringe at some of the writing and some of the photos AND some of the thoughts, but mostly, it is helpful to see progress.

A little over a week ago, Ree Drummond, on her The Pioneer Woman Blog posted Then and Now: Pots de Creme on the progress of her own food photography.

The last sentence of her post was: “I’m nowhere near where I want to be. But I’m a lot closer than I’d be if I hadn’t kept going.”

That sentence says so much to me…not just about photography, but about any venture in life. And one more thing -you have to make a start.

I was reading comments, several others commented on that sentence, but it was tj’s (Tammy) comment that caught my eye:

tj On Wednesday, July 27
…This post almost made me cry, and it wasn’t because it was about you or Helene or how far you’ve both come in food photography, it was that last sentence:

“I’m nowhere near where I want to be. But I’m a lot closer than I’d be if I hadn’t kept going.” … Wow.

…I just returned from feeding a friend’s farm animals while they are on vacation and on the drive back home I was negative talking to myself about this journey I am just beginning in an effort to help to try and save our old barn from an almost certain demise. I was more or less calling myself a ‘big dummy’ for even thinking I could do this, for even thinking that I could sell my coleslaw dressing and even try to make a go of this. I got home, [..] checked on my fav’ blogs and this post popped up, I was reading along and I thought to myself, “Wow, Ree has gotten better at food photography” and “Who’da thought that what was once awesome photography has now become awesomer”.

And then I got to that last sentence and it hit me square in the heart and the head… All I can say is, “thank you Ree” for posting this today. Thank you.

I replied to tj in comments:

Ann from Montana On Friday, July 29
tj, YES, the JOURNEY!!! You hit the nail on the head IMHO! Yes, we have a destination or a hoped for destination, but every moment of the journey is a blessed moment as well with things to be learned and enjoyed.
I just came up against this myself – entirely different situation, but the commonality is that I may or may not reach my destination…or my destination may look a whole lot different than what I originally thought it would. Once I turned my perspective around to “the journey”, the frustration and negativity left – mostly…I sometimes have to have a good talk with myself.

I followed tj’s comment link to her blog and read in more detail what she was working on.

I emailed tj on Saturday. Part of that email is:

My own journey that might not end up “where” I thought. I lost my 10 year old Karelian Bear Dog, Karl, to cancer, in mid-April. In mid-May, I adopted a 6 ½ year old KBD, Bear, whose person, a single man, had died suddenly. […] I also have a 14 year old diabetic cat, Bob. Bear and Bob did not hit it off. My home is separated by gates. Bear is well trained, well mannered and is responding well to the training I’m doing so that he can be off leash with me for walks in my rural area, but the Bear and Bob thing and in fact, the whole rhythm of my home is not how I pictured. I had a kind of comeuppance several weeks ago – the journey thing. Changing my focus to enjoying each day and the progress, no matter where it leads, is what turned it for me. That is why your comment so resonated with me.

While I keep an eye on my “destination” my focus IS on enjoying each day and each day’s progress with Bear, with Bear and Bob. I have let go of the outcome, it is TODAY that matters and today, ALL is good! Bear and Bob and I are healthy and happy.

As Tammy (tj) and I traded a few emails…Tammy wrote “I know the starting out is the hard part, right now I’m still taking baby steps and every journey starts with just one step.” That FIRST step in whatever public venue…internet, family, family and friends…taking that FIRST public step…it is actually a leap – a leap of faith. To put yourself out there, whether it is your coleslaw dressing, your photography, your writing, your professional skills…it is hard! What if you fail, what if no one buys, what if…what if…what if???

To take that first step, in confidence, in faith, in fear…it is admirable and courageous.

THAT is why I responded, why I emailed and why I posted “Save a barn and have delicious cole slaw”. The real title, though, should have been “Courage” because that is what courage looks like…despite all of the “what ifs”, despite fear – taking the first step.

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