Why Do The Scary Thing?

Starting a blog in mid-life (nearly 40!), is a scary thing to do, but the scarier thing really is to not do it at all. I want you (you = J&J) to know that it is OK to be scared, and to realize that when you are scared to do something, that can be a sign that you care about it a lot.  That may not always be the case, but I think you know deep down what you do and don’t really care about.  Look for that funny feeling in your tummy, or the tightening in your chest/shoulders, and pay close attention to it. Pause to think about what you’re feeling and what that means.  It’s important to pay attention to how your body is feeling – it is the first and best sign that’s trying to tell you something important.  Do the scary (not harmful/dangerous!) thing, if after you have done the “pause and feel” and that can help point you into doing the worthwhile and meaningful thing.

Things I’ve done which were scary, but I was very glad to have done:

• Solo volunteer trip to Tanzania for 5 weeks after college graduation
• Leave a stable/high paying job to go back to graduate school to pursue my passion
• Start in a new line of work, at the “bottom,” when everyone around you seems to have settled into their careers
• Move to Korea with two small children, without any friends of knowledge of the language
• Care for my mom, while caring for two small children on my own, away from my husband for 3 months
• Embark on a journey into spiritual and emotional awakening, self-awareness and development, and facing difficult truths on life and living