Show Up

The late, great Louis L'Amour was quoted saying: "Start writing, no matter what. The water doesn't flow unless the faucet is turned on." In other words, show up and do the work.  

This can be applied to anything in life you wish to achieve. Creative, business, fitness, diet, relationships, sports. If we don't show up and take action, then we don't move forward towards our goal. We have to do the work and showing up is the first step. After that: "Do Your Best".

Being present is ideal, but in some instances it's not totally necessary. Just show up and get the reps in.  Look at writing and painting and other creative endeavors, they are known to be largely a subconscious process. Look at the opening quote. Athletes are known to dissociate (and I experience this just about daily when I do my cycled repetitious calisthenic exercises). When you keep repeating the same thing at some point you just check out. Distance runners, cyclists, and swimmers experience the same thing. For parts of my long distance Camino through hike in Spain, I'd checked out and dissociated. It is one of the only positive interpretations that I've heard about for dissociating, the original is for surviving a traumatic experience. The only one it's not ideal for is relationships. Let's try to be better humans here and be present with genuine connections. Just saying.

True success only happens to those with a clearly defined goal and a structured routine of action towards that goal. The results come through the habitual consistency of getting the reps in over time. Without it you can only chalk it up to chance. You got lucky. And it won't last nor is it repeatable. Plus, success tastes sweeter when you have been consciously working the above formula. Also: there are never regrets. Have you ever regretted doing the work? I have never regretted having done the session no matter the activity: creative, sport, fitness, relationships, whatever. Never once. It has always felt great. Amazing. One step closer. Stronger. Faster. Better. Farther. Deeper. And I wouldn't have had that feeling if I hadn't shown up. And if I'm better for it that has a positive effect on my environment and fellow human beings.

That's all I got. Good/bad? It doesn't matter. (but it's good). I showed up. Did the work. Got the reps in. And it's one more step towards my goal. And I feel great. Amazing....