Some Days You Just Need to Paint

My original plan was to share my thoughts here without overthinking. Major fail. I’ve had more than a few ideas that have come and gone without me writing or typing a single word. I get in my head way too much. My goal was to make at least one post each week. A little two weeks later…here we are! It’s going to be a struggle to free write and put things on paper or type them out, but I’m determined to do just that. Yesterday, one of my good friends shared a quote with me that really hit home.

“You don’t have to create a masterpiece every day. Some days you just need to paint.”

It is no secret that we serve as own biggest critics. We often put more pressure on ourselves than anyone else ever will. This is very true for me. I’m so critical of my work that I get in my way. I block out positive feedback from friends to “stay humble.” I get incredibly excited about a potential project only to talk myself out of ever starting. Does any of this sound familiar? If so, burn this quote into your brain. You’re not going to create Starry Night or The Great Wave off Kanagawa each day. Some days you’ll create a lovely painting of a star-filled night’s sky or that wave you saw that one day. Just make sure you’re painting something. The masterpiece will come.

Originally published on Lost in Birmingham, September 29, 2018