Growing Pains: Rise Up!

Growing up is scary. That's the truth of it - growing is painful. You know how teen boys get growing pains from growing so tall so fast? Or how mothers get stretch marks from growing big enough to hold new life?

Growing pains are a thing for physical and emotional life. 

Growing emotionally can be painful. Sometimes, like a snake, it means shedding your past and baggage. Sometimes, growing into an opportunity can be a challenge of quick growth and movement. Often, it's not going to be without risk. When you are facing a big life decision, the option that allows you to grow isn't going to be painless.

Right now I'm caught up in many painful choices. Oh! Thinking about them makes my head an my heart hurt.

• What will I do when I graduate? Work? Graduate School?

• Where will I live? Close to college friends? Go back home?

• Will I engage with my past? How much?

All of these are big scary questions. And really, they're all question about growth - personal, financial, emotional. Here's the good thing about growth - you don't really go backwards. I got a call from a high school student from my hometown. It was very brief, small talk. I'd be recommended for a small summer job - one that I couldn't take because I'm in Boston rather than Virginia. Brief as it was, I realized something from it. Little things were thrown in stark relief; all the big changes I take for granted were surprising to her. 

When I was considering these changes that are now so small, back then they were big and scary. Thinking about them caused me a lot of worry and confusion. Ultimately, they were opportunities I grew into. Now that growth I take for granted - it's just how big I am.

When you do commit to a growth, it becomes easier. Yes, it's hard at first but at the end, you're standing tall with a whole new view of the world. Grow up! You can do it!

Creativity as Practice

I am coming to understand that the most important practice is to create. And I mean that as both an individual and as a professional. It is the act of creating that gives an inspiration for further creating. So it is necessary to be in constant motion and thought about motion in rudder to maintain a spark. The motion must be forward and the reflection must be on the past. I must constantly remember what I have learned and how - my past and my identity inform my present product as do the lessons learned in that context. But the motion must always be forward.

(via here and here)

Life Lessons: Learning the hard way

See, as a kid I was always being told

Oh, you just have to learn the hard way, don't you? Hard headed chile!

And I think it's time I remember that. I really learn the hard way best.

Read more for learning the hard way.

Moving Forward From Failure: Get Started!

I find failure to be the most difficult thing to overcome. Maybe it's the fact that failure had such a high cost in my youth. Maybe it's just that failure represents the effort put into the attempt not being quite enough.

via: Left handed toons People don't actually laugh at our failures

But here's what I do to get over my fear of failure and get started on a project.