Posting Late

Today I did not have the time or the focus to write an appropriate post for this blog.  I’ve been a bit distracted this whole week, but today is the first day I just didn’t make it happen (today being yesterday now – Thursday is technically over as I am typing this).  The perfectionist in me wants to bitch, moan, and criticize me for this “failure”.  After all, I knew that today was going to be full of other things.  I could have prepared.  But I don’t think giving those negative thoughts free rein will be particularly useful.

I created this blog to be a tool for myself and others who are looking to pursue a similar path.  I set a posting schedule because I knew that it would help me to be consistent in showing up here.  And I take it seriously, which is why I am writing this post even though it will be an hour or so “late”.  This is okay for a few reasons.

1. I am writing this post now.  Which is to say I am showing up for this blog and my commitment to it.  It is late, which I try to avoid in life, but sometimes late happens.  Better to show up and demonstrate your commitment late than not at all.  Showing up late won’t save your ass if you’re always late (and/or flaky), but if you show up and own it and don’t let it happen again, showing up is the right thing to do by far.
2. This is an effective reminder of the importance of taking certain steps.  Such as creating a back log of posts that can be used in situations like this.  Or just sitting down and pushing myself to get a blog post done a day or two early.
3. My posting schedule is arbitrary.  No one is truly hurt if I don’t post.  Which is a really good thing because I’m doing this to grow and learn and have fun.  If I can do those things and share them with my readers it really doesn’t matter what the schedule is.  The schedule is really only a tool for helping me get better at certain things.  Like the discipline of sitting down to write for my blog on a consistent basis.

But what does all of this have to do with acting?  Good question.  What I want you to see is how tired I am…. Okay, maybe not (even if it’s true).  The point is that in order to succeed you have to show up, consistently.  You have to have discipline and learn from your mistakes.  You have to find tools that support you in pursuing your goals.  And most importantly you have to be kind to yourself because you will make mistakes and things will get in the way.  And that’s okay, you roll with it.  And write only half way coherent posts at the end of a long day if that’s what it takes.  These things are true in life and they are true in acting.  Give yourself the kindness you need to grow.