I keep seeing this mantra. It might not be said verbatim as in the picture, but they all have the same meaning.  And every time I see it I can’t help but feel it is speaking directly to me.

I am completely inspired by women who follow their dreams. They do not just talk about doing something, they actually follow through and do it.  I myself, I have not been so great about doing this my entire life.  I usually dream about it, talk about it, and never follow through.

For the last few years, I have told Kris (my hubby of 15 years) about wanting to write a blog.  You could immediately see the gears working in his head on how I could accomplish a dream he knows I have always wanted to do.  Not only would he say I should do it, he would always set me up with the resources to achieve my dream.  He was always so supportive and pushes me outside of my comfort zone to pursue something he knows I love.  Then fear would set in and I would give him a million excuses to him as to why I could never follow through with writing a blog.

One day after a conversation with a friend who is pursuing a new venture, I had told her how inspiring she was and about how I always wanted to write a blog.  I have always loved anything to do with fashion and beauty.  Her response was you should do it.  It sounded so simple.

Later that night, I was telling Kris about my conversation with my friend and I knew his response would be “just do it” because he has listened to me and all my excuses why not to do a blog for years now.  And his response was exactly as I expected.  And my response was probably exactly as he expected.  I started listing all of my fears and my why’s I could never do it.  So after our discussion, Kris looks at Brydon, our 8-year-old son, and says momma wants to try something new but is afraid. What should she do?  Brydon’s response was to pray and just keep trying.  Again, it sounded so simple.

Tucking Brydon in that night he says, “dad told me you wanted to start a blog. Momma, I think you should do it because you would be good at it and you should share it with everyone,” (which scares the heck out of me, excuse 1001).  As I am walking out he says, “Momma are you going to do it?”  I tell him I don’t know B.  I don’t even have a name. His response fashion sense.

So now it is time for me to practice what I preach to my kiddos.  It took me hearing it from an 8-year-old to finally realize I need to stop talking and follow through with something I have always dreamt about.  It has always been so easy for me to encourage Brydon and Audrey to work hard, and with practice and persistence, they will succeed at whatever they put their mind to. Honestly, Brydon has been one of my biggest encouragers.  He is constantly asking me questions and trying to give me ideas so I would pursue a blog. He has always wanted to model, so maybe this is his way of trying to get me take more pictures of him.  But seriously, I feel I need to stop letting fear keep me from pursuing something I love and lead by example for B and A.  I would rather have an oops than a what if!

Philippians 4:6-7

XOX
Mandy

Picture Credit: Shelby Jackson