Monday, May 21, 2012

Planning versus Doing: an updated post

OK, I last posted about the great motivational images available on the website Tumblr.com.  Yes, apparently I'm embarrassingly late to the whole Tumblr thing. 

I found an even more motivational post, unfortunately titled "Are You Collecting a Mountain of Underpants?", from Steve on the Nerd Fitness website.  Summarized into one line, he says this: "Spend 10% on planning, and 90% on doing."


If and when you do this, you will be in the vast minority -- like walking on an almost-deserted beach -- yet this is how you will achieve your dreams.
Or at least LIVE your life rather than merely existing.

To put it another way:   If you never fail, then you aren't pushing yourself hard enough.  This is something I have to remind myself of on a regular basis.  Like most people, I HATE failing at something.  Yet ** failing occasionally while striving to be great at something new far surpasses remaining mediocre at the same old thing.**  At least that's how I feel. 

Here's the complete posting from Steve:
http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/04/05/underpants-gnomes/


So, I paused in my endless planning for the yard and garden and I PLANTED.  If any plants struggle where I put them, then I'll move them elsewhere next spring.  If the apple tree affected by cedar rust doesn't produce edible fruit this year, I'm cutting it down and planting a highly resistant variety in its place. Less fretting about the perfect or even The Best location and more doing - growing in a Fine location.

I paused in my health and fitness training and signed up to compete in a triathlon next month.

What are you going to accomplish today?

[Update: March 29, 2014:  I did cut down that apple tree last summer, though I won't be planting a replacement.  I planted 20-some other trees instead - some fruit, some deciduous, some evergreen.  I love the way the yard looks and the birds are happier than ever.]

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