on making progress

"Never mistake motion for action."

~  Ernest Hemingway

I've achieved an almost admirable state of paralysis lately -- really, my lack of progress is impressive.  I'd love to say that it's because I need the quiet after having been on the road all summer; seriously, I'd love to pretend that this is the case, but honestly, I don't think it is. 

The truth is, I think it's fear.

I've had a few writing projects that I have every intent on beginning -- every intent -- but for some reason, I've not been able to get off of my duff and get started.  Every morning I make my to-do list, and then I break that to-do list down into smaller to-dos, and then I analyze the steps that I need to take to make each of those little to-dos happen and ....before I know it, the day is gone.

It's getting ridiculous.

Yesterday evening, I skyped a friend of mine to bounce some ideas off of her (maybe I was using the call as an excuse to avoid actually starting to work on these projects stop judging me), and she listened patiently, offering her always-funny-but-spot-on insight.  And finally, staring right at me through the computer, she said,

"Karen, it's time."

Of course she's right. And I'll get right on it.

(I'll just make this one little to-do list ...)

(Kidding! I kid!)

Images:  Photographed with my Nikon D300 and 60mm micro lens.  aperture: 3.2, shutter speed 1/100, ISO 400

Song:  Again and again by The Bird & The Bee