I tend to shy away from taking stock or reevaluating where I’ve been and what I’ve done. My motto is to just keep on truckin’. This can be both good and bad. It’s good because there is less time spent wallowing or regretting but it’s bad because there’s no acknowledgement of all the hard work that’s been accomplished. Without regularly checking in and realigning our lives can feel a little adrift, and it becomes easy to lose focus of the bigger picture. In addition to not being one to rehash, I also tend to be an idea person, which is just another way of saying I don’t have much follow-through. A lot of ideas never make it into the light of day. But this blog is different.

Sevenish years ago this blog was born because I decided to write down everything I knew for sure. I was coming up on fifty and thought it would be a good idea to get down on paper all the wisdom I’d gained and insights I’d realized. I have this theory that if you don’t write down what’s living inside your head, you’ll just think the same ten thoughts over and over again. So I began writing and the floodgates opened, ideas solidified, and out it came, including the stuff I never knew I knew.

The truth is reevaluating, taking inventory, and writing it out created more inner spaciousness. From here new ideas were born, other projects realized, and fresh desires began to form. Taking a look back and writing it all down put me on a whole other trajectory that I don’t think would’ve happened had I not followed through on this initial idea of solidifying what I knew. Every time I write it clarifies who I am, what I want, and where I want to go. Keeping this blog has been one of the most amazing full-circle gifts of my life. Coming home to the keyboard has become a part of my daily routine and I’ve loved every moment of it.

And the reality is at any time each of us can harness the power of our words to gain more perspective and shift our lives around. Whether you write a ton or not at all, just getting out on paper what is always floating around in your head helps with the next step, whatever it might be and wherever it might lead. We may dream different dreams but manifesting them begins the same way, with clarity, creativity, and getting it all down.

A few months ago when I finally took a look back, I realized I was coming up on a big anniversary. July 28, 2016 is the date of my first posted blog. And every week for the past six years I’ve been following through and publishing a new piece of writing. All of it comes from an idea that’s grown up inside me, that’s made me think differently, or made me stretch and grow in unexpected directions. This major milestone might have been missed if I hadn’t taken the time to slow it on down and see everything I’ve been up to.

So I wanted to celebrate it and hopefully inspire you to take a look back and see what you’ve accomplished that you love and are proud of and honor it. Looking back ultimately helps us to look forward and take a peek at what might be next. Are there dreams you have that can no longer wait?

Begin writing it out and see where it leads you.

kb