8 January 2008
Beginnings
Posted by Robin Easton under: Hobnobbin' with Robin .
GREETINGS EARTHLINGS,
Today I enter the world of BLOGDOM. Millions already have entered blogdom long before me, and have successfully blogged for some time. Nonetheless I enter this new world with some trepidation. I’m like the kid who wants to swim but doesn’t want to take swimming lessons at the crack of dawn on a cool summer’s morning in Maine (childhood memories). While everyone around me jumps in, squealing and laughing, arms and legs gleefully flailing, I stand on the lake-shore shivering. My arms are crossed over my chest and my knobby knees knock from cold and fear. I stall for time……
So it has gone with my blog. Here it is January 14, 2008 and my blog has been ready to roll since the beginning of the new year (thank you Toby). And I’ve stalled, pondered and debated. What would be the perfect first post? All the while I remain blog-thoughtless. I cannot come up with anything profound, something fresh and regal befitting the new year. I cannot come up with any sage thoughts or some witty humor. But wait. Hold that thought!!!
The other day I badly needed time alone, time without human voices, computers, ringing phones, email and other demands. I needed to be alone with the snow and blue sky, the wind and desert sun on my face. Firmly closing the door on all demands I went for a hike along a small partially frozen creek. It wound through rough rocky mountainsides and small snow covered meadows. I took my camera with me to photograph everything that spoke to me. I was dressed in warm thinsulate pants, gortex over-pants and gotex raincoat, gators and insulated rubber boots. In this way I could sit in the freezing creek and photograph water and ice. It was exhilarating! I photographed the detail of nature until I merged with it. I lost myself so completely I forgot about the cold and wet. I forgot to eat, drink and pee.
At one point on my hike I met Ross Hamlin, a fellow ice and water photographer, and kindred spirit. We chatted a few minutes and compared notes. He is extremely creative with sculpture, art, photography and music…oozing talent. You can see his fascinating website at http://www.rosshamlin.com. We both confessed that we didn’t really know a lot about our cameras and how they worked. But we loved photography. I was intrigued when he said he often liked to “just jump in and do it” (anything from music to photography). As I continued my hike I pondered his inspiring words and thought about my blog. I realized that I didn’t have to write some profound FIRST post. I could simply write….”just jump in.” I didn’t have to stand on the shore afraid I might not be able to swim, afraid I might make a fool of myself, afraid that I wouldn’t have everything perfect before I began, afraid of …..what?…..death by blogdom. I don’t think so!
I started to look back over my life and I realized that everything I’ve ever done has been self taught. I am (or have been at some point in my life) a self taught glass artisan, a potter, a musician, a writer, a public speaker, an adventurer, a computer literate adult : ), a motorbike rider, etc., and now a photographer. So, “Why stall my blog any longer?” If I were on my deathbed would I say to myself, “Phew, it’s a good thing I never did that blog”? No. I would not say that. I would say, “Robin why didn’t you take the risk and just jump in?” So Earthlings, what dreams have you put off because you think everything has to be perfect before you begin?
From my heart,
Robin
This Site: © Robin Easton
Website: http://www.nakedineden.com
Blog: http://nakedineden.com/nakedinedenblog/
One Comment so far...
emsraido Says:
17 January 2008 at 10:15 am.
Yes, I agree (many, many thanks for the inspiration)–sometimes you’ve got to just jump right in. AND, it always flows from there! No stagnant waters in this lifetime, thank you very much! Blessings, Blessings!
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