“Intention, good or bad, is not enough.” ― John Steinbeck

I think I’ve always known intention isn’t enough. Don’t get me wrong, intention is a wonderful place to begin. But if you want to end something aka cross a finish line, intention isn’t enough.

I’m really good at beginnings. I start strong like there’s no tomorrow, and then I sort of go full speed until energy lapses or circumstances change. It’s a classic move for me/by me. I really need to learn how to finish.

I am married to the marathon man. In short, he runs whatever “race” he’s in (professionally or personally) so well that it’s both impressive and annoying. It’s not that he’s exempt from failure, but his triumphs far outweigh his disappointments, and he is a constant example of effort. I really value his work ethic. It has taught me a lot about what it takes to dig a little deeper and work a lot harder.

But no one grows just by gaining insight. Growth happens when we get uncomfortable. It’s not just vulnerability, but rather bathing in a bed of self-acknowledgement. It’s owning our misses and marrying accountability to intention.

I am a classic overcommitted person. After several years of wondering why, it’s safe to say I do this for two reasons: anxiety and procrastination of projects that scare me. The latter is a writer’s plight. I’ve written about my writing woes at length before, and so I’ll spare you a continued synopsis on that front. But I will tell you that I’ve started saying no. It’s been a beautiful thing for me. I’ve also prioritized professional opportunities over personal projects because I find better focus and joy in rediscovering this piece of myself. I love to help, to create, etc, but when it comes at the expense of my priorities, then it’s time for change. And I’m listening to the hard truths about why success hasn’t found me. In short, I was standing still.

So what now? For the better part of a year I’ve worked on quietly clearing the plate. It’s a bit more balanced with commitments and more importantly, full of my favorite things. With this noted, intention isn’t enough. So here’s to action and accountability. Here’s to moving forward. And here’s to sharing it here, and everywhere, because when people know we’re on a mission, and those people are rock solid, they’ll keep you moving on days when it’s too easy to quit. I can’t wait to see the finish line. More on what that looks like later. For now, watch me work!