Not every day is a good day, show up anyway. Not everyone tells the truth, trust anyway. Not everyone will love you back, love anyway. Not every game will be fair, play anyway.
- Anonymous
In 2019 I attended AnimeCom Fest in Jamaica and Dragon Con in Atlanta. I made great friends and started a network that will be invaluable to me. I keep myself busy in the UK by attending events that happen here, but 2019 was the year for me to step out of my comfort
zone and share my stories with the world. And to think I was seriously considering not to attend any of these overseas conventions. As soon as I began making plans for visiting the events in Jamaica and the States, the resistance started to rear its ugly head. And I started contemplating the financial outlay. And this has been the way for so many things in my life.
Show up and never give up.
How could I be thinking about the money when the readers I would meet, and network I would develop would far outweigh what I spend.
This was nothing new. I’ve experienced the power of Showing Up before but my Ah-Hah! moments take time to sink in.
Over time I started recognizing its power. When I show up for anything that I’m fearful of doing the results are always worth it. The thing is when I’m in the moment, and I’m making a decision, I sometimes forget the lessons I’ve learned. For Jamaica and Atlanta, it came back to me in a rush. Show Up and win.
I showed up, and I won.
Thank God I didn’t succumb to my inner Scrooge. I would have missed out on an unforgettable experience.
Showing up is like a magic wand you apply to situations you know you should be a part of, but fear gives you pause for thought. Many will choose the ‘safe’ path and stay away but not you, gentle reader. You will show up. You will start the article. The comic. The painting. The exercise. The novel, The track, the essay, The clip, the paragraph, the photograph or the call.
You will show up and be consistent. Because this strategy from my experience moves you closer to achieving your goals more than anything else.
It’s hard to wake up every day and put in the work. It’s hard to stick to a plan of attack that requires consistency. It’s hard to focus on doing things, not because you want approval, but because the result of your effort helps you reach a goal. But what is harder still is showing up with your work, showing up at the meeting, showing up at the event, showing up at that TED Talk especially when you think you’re not ready.
When I look at my writing career, the contrast between showing up and trying endless strategies is a clear example of how it changed my life. I’m no expert on the writing process. I follow my gut. My type of speculative fiction isn’t the most popular on Amazon by a long shot, my appreciation for grammar was mainly gleaned from reading and not higher education. I failed English at school.
Despite all of that, I have shown up for a solid ten years and produced books every year. Written every week without fail. There are much better writers out there whose works sing with poetry, sparkle with metaphors and whose plotting is tight and flawless.
Yet, without any of the bells and whistles, I have carved out my niche in the world, and that has come from mostly just showing up.
Developing a consistent habit to keep showing up is a messy process. You’ll stumble, get your hands dirty, and lose faith, but as long as you stay connected with why you are doing it, you’ll eventually arrive at the destination you’ve wanted to get to so badly.
Whatever your dreams are for your life, just keep showing up and start moving.
Start with the first step.
Then start walking.
Then start running.
Next thing you know, you’ll be flying.
Peace
Order your copy of my Young Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy Joshua N'Gon: Last Prince of Alkebulahn, HERE and don't forget to leave me a review, when
you're done.
Joshua N'Gon's Masata or RCT. It can transform into any tool he imagines.
P.S Would you be so kind to take 2 minutes to leave me a quick review on any of my books below that you have read? It would help immensely.
Thank you.
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