Jumping and perseverance

I spent most of 2010 outside my comfort zone. For various reasons I was traveling a lot, meeting new people, and figuring out how to navigate through many different (sometimes daunting) situations. It left me feeling mostly adventurous, stimulated, and fulfilled. But when the new year came, I was ready to hibernate. Tired of pushing, I scheduled three solid weeks of not having to be anywhere. I worked in sweat-pants, showered every other day (maybe), and let the pendulum swing back into a the more normal place (for me) which is somewhere between extrovert and introvert, party-animal and hermit. 

And it's this notion of extremes that got me to thinking, maybe I don't have to be dancing on tables one day and hiding under them the next? Maybe there's a vastly less dramatic space in the middle which doesn't require so much pushing. I've taken my share of risks, "leaping by faith". Sometimes it works out, other times I've fallen flat on my ass. Because let's face it, sometimes the net doesn't appear. And I don't mean that in a negative way, because I also believe things have a way of working out after a fall. But sometimes we get so distracted (or addicted) to the drama of leaping, that we forget how important it is to ordinarily plod along. Of course there are moments when leaping is necessary: sometimes the lease is on the table, sometimes money needs to be transferred before you know what the end result will be. There are inevitable moments that require us to let go, hold our breath, and jump. But that's what they are: moments. The rest of our time (lives) is spent doing the less glamorous work of putting one foot in front of the other. Whether you want to be a pilot or a pop star, a writer or photographer, it's this quiet, ordinary perseverance that gets us there. 

Don't you think? What has been your experience? Has the net always appeared for you? We'd love to hear.

Comments

[Lauren]

At different times in our lives, different things mean a leap of faith. Right now, I'm trusting the running and counting calories is going to pay off and lead to a healthier, happier Lauren.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/5382301908/

[Lisa]

I love this post. Hmmmm I personally do believe that the net is always there, even when we don't see it. Sometimes I think that what feels like a fall is actually still just the net, but maybe not helping in the way we thought it would but still leading to the ending it was meant to. Does that make sense? Haha. I've been learning a lot about this whole leaping business lately. It's so funny you're writing about this, because I just thought of this phrase earlier this week. Our lease is up on our apartment at the end of this month and we wanted to move, but didn't have a new place yet. In order to move we had to put in a 30 day notice, so we put it in without having secured a new place to live. As we put in our 30 day notice, I found myself thinking, "Leap, and the net will appear." We leapt. This week, we found the perfect apartment exactly where we wanted to find one and we've already secured it. So this week my lesson is about leaping...but I also believe there are time when you have to learn to take one step at a time as well. So anyway. Long post to say...Thank you for this. :) <3

[Diane]

An excellent post. No wonder I always come here.

You know you've really answered it but we must leap and trust where we'll fall, even if we don't hit the target. If we didn't leap, we'd never make mistakes and we always learn by mistakes -- mistakes are good, not negative.
Also middle of the road, the everyday, is good too; it's really a balance of the two that is necessary for life. And balance doesn't always mean exactly half of one and half of the other. Balance is different for each of us. Go ahead LEAP! :)

[Debbie]

Great post!!! Sometimes you don't know if your giving up on something too soon.... or we think all the little steps don't matter... the progress seems so slow we can't measure it but it really is all those little steps.. that build and build and give us the strength to leap when we need to. Really liked this post!!!

[Michelle]

There is no right or wrong answer - as Diane said balance is different for each of us.
Some people never take leaps - they are most comfortable with ordinarily plodding along - and that is ok. They are the ones that ride the merry-go-round.
But some of us need the adventure, need the drama to fuel our creativity, to keep our spirit alive. We are the ones that ride the roller-coaster.
I'm about to take a major leap myself - going to spend the next year subletting houses in various places for a month or more at a time. All I know right now is that this adventure will start in Kauai in May - where to next is unknown at this point.
My net is my circle of friends. Knowing that net is there gives me the courage to take the leaps, because if I fall, they will always be there to pick me up.

[Maile Wilson]

I'm loving reading through these. Michelle, I agree, there is no right or wrong way to do things. I think we all just walk the balance between how to manage what is certain and what's uncertain about our lives. And I love what you said too Diane, about how balance is not always 50/50. So true. And I see what you guys are saying about how the net is always there. It just doesn't always appear in the way we expect it to. Love that. LOVE all your thoughtful comments. Thank you everyone!

[Kimberly]

Great post! Taking leaps has never been a gift for me. Being raised by an overly cautious mother gave me a complex about not being over confident and always having a back up plan. But I'm working on it. Just venturing into this wonderful land of photography, putting my work out there on my blog, flickr, and facebook accounts and being confident enough in it to take $ from people to take thier pictures has been a huge leap for me. Plodding along in normalcy and having a routine is my comfort zone, we all need to push outside of our comfort zones a little. Otherwise how do we grow? I'm taking a HUGE leap and going to Africa this year. It will be all kinds of outside of my comfort zone. I'm scared and excited!

[Miss Britt]

I feel like my entire life has been about finding that balance. I'm kind of embracing the idea of balance OVERALL, as opposed to moment by moment balance. The overall effect of the extremes is balance, for me, in other words.

I think for most people, the trick is to make sure you have plenty of those moments in life - and that you make the most of them when they do come along.

[Jade]

There have been times when I thought someone burned the net without telling me. But, like you said, things always have a way of working out. When I feel like all is lost I remember all that I have been through and that I was able to move past all of it.

[Mishka]

This was a great post. Really hit home for me. I spent most of 2010 living outside my comfort zone (but in a bad way), and the end of 2010 in a really horrible place. I am hoping that 2011 will bring me some new insight, peace, and resolution. I don't know if that is asking too much or not. I am trying to focus on myself for the first time in 20 years and do what needs to be done to make my life better than it has been for the last year. I do believe that we live our lives in the middle ground most of the time...and that what mattters most is those we love and those that love us. All the rest of it is just sidebar.

[linnykins]

I can relate to this post. I felt like I was constantly pushing myself last year, always on the go and always moving. I got really exhausted at the end of last year, and spent a lot of time resting and now, moving along at a slower pace for the moment. Feeling much more refreshed now! :)

I agree with you about how things work out.

[Melanie]

Wow, I completely understand the feeling. I have the same personality, and am also in hibernation mode at the moment after overcommiting myself in November and December. I go through phases where I either want to expand my photography business or quit it completely after I get down on myself for not being as good as I want to be. Sometimes the safety net appears but even when it doesn't it serves as a solid reminder to remember what's most important. Sometimes I need to fall to see that life is good regardless of how well I did in a photography session that day. There's so much to gain through these experiences that I have a hard time turning down opportunities. But there's also so much to lose, even if it's just precious time, and that's what I'm never prepared for.

It's comforting to me to see other photographers and women that I look up to are experiencing similar feelings. Sometimes just knowing you're not alone in things is enough to help you deal with it. Thanks for the post - I needed it. :)

[tara]

I too know this feeling of wavering between extremes. I often think of something a professor once told me when I was trying to convince her I had the passion to be successful. She insisted passion wasn't the most important piece, rather, was I willing to do the hard work (the plodding, if you will).

[Lily]

To Lauren: That's about where I am with my life too, but the other day I heard a horrible comment: yes it's about exercising, but it's MORE about the intake. I am counting calories and exercising, yet still gaining weight, help!

[Jennifée]

Such an interesting post, and very relevant for me at the moment - I'm waiting for the net to appear... I took a leap of faith and went to study a small and not at all useful subject in the humanities that I am passionately interested in, went on to do a Ph.D in the same subject - and now I find myself unemployed. In a sense, I have already taken a fall, but I am trusting in the idea that new perspectives and opportunities will arise as I pick myself up from the ground.

[Hannah N.]

This year I'm being called to have total complete faith in the Lord. This picture was an accident, but it's so beautiful to me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58304012@N08/5413832573/

[xanthe]

Wonderful post, thank you for this, I've always found "leaping" hard, scared to take the risk. This year I'm hoping to change that. Net or no net, I'd like to be brave and go for it. X.

[Raemi]

Wow...Todays post really hit home. I am in the early part of my early 40s and last year I experienced a lot of the same. I was pushing the envelope and constantly going out of my comfort zone. Last year while working full time as a Career Advisor and being a mother of an 11 year old and wife, I just reached a point where I wanted or actually needed to throw my limited hours into creating items through my own photographs. I have always advised other students on their career path but I was beginning to feel my other callings that would not be put to rest. Somehow my soul KEPT yelling out to me, that although what I was doing as a Career Advisor/counselor/teacher was awesome, something more was wanted. So last year I started to explore ideas of having my own (part time business). Last year, I learned more about myself and pushed myself probably harder than I ever did. At times the fruits of my labor and having "faith to leap" were good choices and at other times, I questioned and ..why am I doing this?" I have learned however, that even when I work hard and the results don't pan out the way I think they should...I find myself quiety thinking but wow what a ride and look what you are doing, creating and becoming ...just by trying...This year..2011, I'm finding myself continuing the quest but also starting a new job where I work in an online virtual world as a trainer. All contract work. Out of my element..Yes...scared..Heck yes...but at this point..I have to listen to what that girl inside is guiding me to do! We will seeeeeee! LOVED THIS POST..THANKS.

[Alex]

This resonates with the last month I've had so much.
I feel like the Chinese New Year (today, Year Of The Rabbit, yay!!) is the actual universal New Year;
that a lot of people start January with energy and hope but then hibernate til February,
and thus learn the first lesson in our new cycle that, as within all cycles, there are times for acting and times for stillness and reflection.
Doesn't bother me in the least. :)
WONDERFUL photo. I'm in love with all three of them. <3

[Lara]

Considering my word for this year is "leap", I guess I want to believe the net will always appear...but, like you, I realize that there will be times it won't..and that's okay. I like what you said about "plodding along". There will be days/weeks/months when we will just stay the course without any dramatic jumps and it is in those times that we gather courage..or observe other people leaping...or we're considering the consequences of leaping.

I am feeling brave this year, but my leaping always comes when I've done the prep for it. I guess it makes me feel like it's more likely that the net will appear if I do.
Great post!
Lara

[Ma']

Your photograph illustrates your point completely.
Look at Exuberance as she leads the way.
Look at hopeful Trust following her lead.
Look at darling little Yearning thinking it all over on the sideline.

Brilliant.

Absolutely brilliant.