Did you ever try the “hour-of-power” when you were in college?
The challenge begins with a shot of beer every minute. For the first 15-20 minutes, it’s a breeze. One shot of beer. A drop in the bucket. Then, as I approached minute 40, my bucket began to fill, and doubt crept in. I began to wonder, “How am I going to get to minute 45, let alone minute 60?”
I completed 58 minutes of power. I’ll spare you additional details.
I’ve just signed up for the 30-for-30 writing challenge—write 30 “atomic” essays of 200-250 words in 30 days—one piece per day.
I want to get to essay 30 not only because I want to get my $50 commitment money back (Yep, that’s the deal, if you don’t publish an essay a day, you lose your money), but also because I don’t want to miss the mark like I did as a college freshman. I’ll admit that I never thought the “hour of power” might be a learning opportunity until today.
An essay-a-day for a month makes me wonder:
“You sure you’re up to it?”
“You’re going to write in a tryptophan-induced Thanksgiving coma?”
“You’re birthday falls halfway through the challenge. Will you be motivated to write then?”
Like the hour of power, though, I just have to get started. Action is the best way I know to squelch worry.
At least temporarily.
Then you pour the next minute’s shot.
And the worry begins anew.