begin the begin

Ready, set ... wait to start? That's not how it goes.

Life successes almost always begin boring, unremarkable, unnoticed, ordinary. Making a change is like that sometimes. What are you waiting for? What's it gonna take for you to take that tiny step forward?

See, a friend of mine recently announced that she's been sober for more than seven years -- a sensational accomplishment! That's 2,556 days in a row -- WOW.

It got me to wonder ... how would it be if *every day* in that first year, she sent her friends a self-celebratory message: "Hey y'all ... I haven't had a sip of alcohol in FOUR  days!!!" ... "Fifteen days without a drink, go me!!"

Seven years choosing sobriety? That reeks of prolonged, accrued success ... grit ... determination.

Four days, or two weeks of choosing sobriety?? It's a good start, but it's not the same kind of grit as the seven years.

Yet here's the thing: to get to seven years sober, my friend had to get past four days sober. Actually, she had to get past a lot of four days sober.

It illustrates a timeless truth of life: extraordinary feats are quite often ordinary routines followed for an extraordinary swath of time. And starting toward such accomplishments is almost always marked by a ho-hum, yawn-worthy, nobody-paying-much-attention sort of beginning.

Hear me out: in 1995, MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken broke the baseball record for consecutive games played. He ended up playing in 2,632 consecutive games (each regular season is 162 games).

But the start of this record was a May 30, 1982 game in Minnesota. Cal's journey began with few people watching. He couldn't know that his next time off would be ... 15 years later! It was just another day doing the ordinary routine.

Similarly, my friend's first few days of sobriety weren't much different: she went to work, just the same. Brushed her teeth in the morning, just the same. Let the hangover fade away, as she'd done before. Folded her laundry, just the same. Texted with her friends, as usual. There were easier days, and more challenging days. Every day was another day of choosing an ordinary -- but preferable -- alternative to taking a drink.

So ... what are you waiting for?? What's it gonna take for you to take that tiny step forward?

MAYBE you'd like to stop an unhealthy habit, like checking your phone when you're with people.

Sharing gossip about acquaintances and friends. 

Biting your fingernails.

Spending money you don't have.

Choosing familiar pain over unfamiliar hope.

Skipping class.

Going to that website that you know is toxic and debasing.

Reaching out to someone that you should probably let go.

Selling yourself short.

Odds are you have an array of unhealthy habits you'd like to stop. So pick one!

Or, MAYBE you'd like to begin a healthier practice, like taking a walk every day to exercise.

Flossing. 

Putting your clothes away right when they come out of the dryer.

Praying while you walk to class.

Choosing to drink water instead of soda at meals.

Finding new ways to interrupt your anxiety when it tries to take over.

Telling your friends and family that you love them with more regularity.

Binging a bit on the wholesomely funny show from your childhood.

Telling the truth instead of the half-truth.

Going to the gym twice a week.

So ... what are you waiting for?? What's it gonna take for you to take that tiny step forward?

Of course, now's not a good time for a variety of reasons. It's true. But right now is as just as inconvenient as any other future time. Turn and face the light. Yes, you will stumble, and trip, and not do it perfectly. Discipline takes time, a bit of boredom, and some fumbling attempts at patience with yourself. You'll get there.

The start of anything worth doing usually feels ordinary, ho-hum.

Today's just as good of a day as any. Get out of your own way. 

Begin the begin, all over again.