Stop Thinking
Me and my friends
Do.
I am a HUGE over-thinker. I’ve spent what feels like years thinking of all the possible outcomes in a situation, just to find out I was too late. As I dwelled in fear, I let time run by me until it was too late for me to catch up. It took me a while to get tired of it, but I’m human, and what better way to learn than from experience. I like to think that this has left me slightly more bold, and that I’ve done a better job at putting myself out there, even if it continues to prove difficult. That being said, I still have plenty to learn.
Big fan of Baby Blondie, give it a listen
One day I hope I’ll be able to speak in front of large groups, entirely unafraid that they might not think the same way or turn around and judge me. That I’ll be able to go up to a girl and befriend her because she seems cool and I like the book she’s holding. That I’ll go up to a boy and ask him to get coffee because I’ve been interested in him for a while. Don’t get me wrong, the people might totally diss you for what you say, the girl might turn out to be a bitch, and the cute boy a douche. But you wouldn’t know that unless you tried.
“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”
It is much nicer to have any of these outcomes that to regretfully wonder, ‘what if’. The question itself belittles you, and life is too short to be living in the past. Next thing you know, you’ve missed the next opportunity thinking about what you might’ve done differently yesterday. I hate to think that I could’ve learned so many more things, or have met so many more people if I wasn’t afraid, but that’s probably the case.
This year’s first read
I urge both you and myself to end this cycle. To stop thinking about what could happen and instead stick around and find out what actually does. Our thoughts have a tendency of getting carried away and taking us with them. Leaving behind an afraid and false version of ourselves.
We’re bound to be let down, get rejected, even embarrassed. But all of those are infinitely better than doing nothing, because with those “failures” quickly become some invaluable memories and lessons that you won’t want to trade for the world. I look back at most of mine and a giggle. Thinking to myself that I must be a little nuts, but very proud that I tried in the first place.
