Just Show Up

Some days I wake up plain dog-tired.  

I lack the customary zest and zeal that characterizes most mornings, for no

apparent cause or reason.  

If I had my druthers, I’d like nothing better than to roll back over and cozy

up to my favorite pillow. 

Instead, I drag the ol’ carcass into the kitchen to hunt up some comfort

food, to see if I can incite a change of mood.  

Nothing like a cholesterol-laden plate of eggs buttressed by two slabs of

butter-smothered toast to lighten the spirit—and contribute to my general

malaise.  

Now, with a plump, full belly, I can add sluggish to my general state.  

Talk about a winning combination!

Unfortunately, as for most of us, life doesn’t grant me the luxury of lounging

at will.  

Duty calls, as they say—the job, the kids, the deadline—whatever form that

duty takes.  

I have to find some way of banishing that glorious image of a sloth clinging

wistfully to a log into the recesses of my imagination and get a move on.  

Yuck!

Over the years, I’ve figured out a magic formula. 

Trick number one to shifting our brain out of neutral and into gear is

actually quite simple:

Just show up.

Find a way to drag your body to your station and man it.  

Once in place, take one tiny, reluctant step at a time and embark.  

In the absence of inspiration, nothing beats inertia faster than motion.

Much like the sun melts the daybreak dew, motion has a way of lifting the

fog socked around the brain.  

Mental gears begin to engage, creative sockets begrudgingly open, we start

to fire on more than one cylinder.  

As the fog turns to mist and evaporates, clarity takes hold.  

“Hey, I do have a purpose, today. Time to move in that direction.”

Not every day can be a championship day.  

More often than not, most of us take solace at even being on the playing

field.  

Beware of berating yourself. 

Overachievers tend to ignore their humanity and underachievers crack the

whip on their backs.  

Give yourself a break.

Let yourself be human.

If it feels like a Krispy Kreme morning, have an extra cup of coffee to

counteract the sugar. 

When you pull out of your driveway, play your favorite song and play it really

loud.  

Sing along.

See if you can’t extract a hint of a smile from that scowl.

When you get into motion the world moves with you.

Funny how some of my best days start out in a thick haze.  

The transition from “can’t get myself out of bed” to “okay, fine—one more

day at the mill” to “wow, I think I’m liking what’s flowing” doesn’t always happen

easily or painlessly.  

Some days it doesn’t happen at all.

I know that I give myself the best possible chance when I take that one

fundamental requirement:

I show up.