Yesterday, I did something that I truly love: gave a workshop about blogging*. Offering it at my local library made it all the more yummy for me because I believe public libraries are one of the greatest inventions ever.
But Mother Nature almost spoiled it – it’s March in Atlanta and IT SNOWED. It’s supposed to be spring! The signs are here: warmer light, daffodil tips, hopeful buds.
All day, I wondered if the library would close early and cancel the program. And part of me wished it would: snow, sleet, panic!
As a native Southerner, I am terrified of driving in winter weather. I have an over-the-top fear of the dreaded Black Ice. My Inner PowerPoint flashed images of me skidding off in a ditch and hiking out with my laptop and my projector bag.
And then I had a thought: I am going to be a freakin’ mailman**.
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
I had an appointed round and I was determined to be that courier. The Black Ice Fear wasn’t gone but I asked it nicely to, well, chill. I was willing. I was open. I wanted to deliver the goods much, much more than I wanted to be scared of ice that might not even be there.
About a dozen wonderful people summoned their mettle and made it to the presentation. I learned a huge thing from them: wise, older women are about to BUST OUT as bloggers. They had great questions and inspiring topics. The energy of the group left me buzzing. If I had choked and canceled early, well, that would have been tragic. Not über-evening-news-tragic, just tragic that our sparks would have missed each other.
This pattern of dreaming about doing something truly sparky and then hitting the crazy Black Ice Fear at the moment of fruition is totally predictable. And, yet, it’s so easy to consistently be shocked when it happens.
Here’s my confession: deep down, I had a fear of something worse than Black Ice. I was afraid of the sparks, especially mine.
Talking to people about their big dreams, I’ve learned that we all have a Black Ice Fear that can be a very convenient cover for a deeper fear of something truly meaningful. The Black Ice is not your imagination. Physical challenges DO come with the territory of creating things and making them real. Things go wrong at the last minute. But that doesn’t mean that your egg isn’t supposed to hatch.
It’s worth peeking under the Black Ice to see what’s really there – fear of failure? Fear of success? Fear of realizing your dream? Fear of letting go of your story about why things are still hard? Go ahead and spill it. I’ll listen.
And then after you’ve taken a deep breath because you are not alone…
Be a freakin’ mailman.
Lord knows, the world needs all the wild, creative sparks it can get – my funky presentation, those new, wise bloggers, and, yes, your next thing, too. Please deliver it.
*Here are the notes and links from the blogging workshop.
**I understand that the proper term is “mail carrier” but my thoughts aren’t always proper.
image credit: nainil
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
LOVE IT !!!
Great post Laurie! Thanks so much for sharing!
And big kudos to you for choosing ‘fearless over fearFULL’
HeatherO´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
Love this and good for you for going despite the forces of nature that could have kept you away, had you let them!
I listened to your replay about writing tight which inspired me to follow the blog link you shared on Wendy Y’s call. One thing you made clear in this post is your passion for sharing about blogging. A great example of how your passion will fuel your motivation. Even more than that you took action.
Passion without action is useless passion. ~ Michael and Robin Tramble
Robin Tramble´s last blog ..Empowerment Diva speaks: Diva-tude (what’s all the fuss?) "That’s the way I see it"
@HeatherO – I think YOU know a lot about being fearless.
@Jill – Thanks, mwah!
@Robin – Thanks very much for stopping by the blog. You might be inspiring *another* post about action – thank you!
Laurie Foley´s last blog ..Be a Freakin’ Mailman