Get Off Your Butt
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And chase your dreams.
The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders.
“You can sit around and wish for good things to happen to you, but a dream is something you have to pursue, something you make happen… You’ve got to be responsible for your dreams. You’ve got to take care of them the way you take care of your children, protect them, say no to people who want to remake them their own way.” — Dolly Parton
My father was a sergeant in the US Army. A veteran of two wars, he saw a lot of things and did a lot of stuff — and he wasn’t recommending experiencing any of that drama to his only son.
He used to claim for every hundred people who claim they want success, only one of them rolls up their sleeves, gets their hands dirty, and tries to make it happen.
The spirit of his quote was valid, but I think his statistics were off. It feels more like one in a thousand. Or maybe even ten thousand.
But let’s just say my dad was right. Dig into it more and you’ll discover the other 99 folks want to avoid getting their feelings hurt or asses kicked — which are both common side effects for anyone seeking success.
So if you have lofty ambitions — to earn a promotion, learn how to code, drop ten pounds, read 100 books in a year, write a novel in a month, finish your degree, etc. — it is time to get off your butt and work.
Now I do not want this piece to devolve into the corny “rise and grind” hustle culture gibberish that gets spouted out by everyone. Those memes and articles are junk food — they taste great at the time but turn out to be empty calories in the long run.
But I do want to inspire you to push past your boundaries and get started, to transform negative feelings and hesitation into constructive motivation and action.
Starting something new can feel daunting. Maybe you don’t know how to begin, or maybe you’re terrified of failure. But the only way you will ever make progress is if you get up and at least try.
