More on walking:
(Clearly, I’m not the first person to talk about this. *smile*)

“The longest journey begins with a single step.”
— Lao Tzu

“We must walk before we run.”
— George Borrow

“Our way is not soft grass, it’s a mountain path with lots of rocks. But it goes upward, forward, toward the sun.”
— Ruth Westheimer (Yep, Dr. Ruth)

“Meandering leads to perfection.”
— Lao Tzu

“It is not talking but walking that will bring us to heaven.”
— Matthew Henry

I heard from a lot of you about passions you proclaimed, conversations you started and projects you’re pursuing. (Yeah, you!) Talking about your ideas and plans is exciting and stimulating. Meeting with mentors and asking experts for help are important steps in pursuing your passions.

One word of caution (from someone who knows *smile*); Sometimes you I can talk too much. I get too much input and I think I need to agree with and use it all. (In other words, I get stuck.)

Or, I fall into the trap of thinking I need to talk to just one more expert, find one more resource, have one more important conversation. (In other words, I procrastinate.)

…

What I’ve learned from improv (and from growing the Songtaneous community) is that a lot of time there is no expert, no existing methodology, no one person with THE answer. You have to figure it out as you go. To make things happen, you have take action. Not only do you have to talk, you have to walk. You’re the one who knows where you’re going.

Sometimes you’re the only one who knows.

And that can be hard and challenging.

…

I’ve got two words for you.

Rest stops.

…

As I’ve transitioned from working full-time as an ad director to working all the time to be a musician (smile), I’ve reveled in how exhilarating the passionate path can be.

But sometimes I failed to acknowledge how exhausting it can be. I had to learn that cogitating and creating take their toll and that I had to take time to rest, recover and rejuvenate.

…

Having conversations about your passion is a lot like standing in sudden summer rainstorm. You’re flooded with input, ideas and advice. It’s invigorating and bracing. But the downpour can blur your vision (pun intended). Suddenly, you’re bombarded with the thoughts and suggestions of others.

As you walk your path, let this input encourage and support you, but don’t let it confuse you. Everyone will have ideas and suggestions for how and where (and with whom!) you should travel.

Remember, you’re the one who knows where you’re going.

More on talking:

“Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud.”
— Hermann Hesse

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”
— Anne Morrow Lindbergh

…

I initiated some great conversations this week on topics from recordings to concerts to workshops and more. (And I had some late nights turning them over in my mind. *smile*)

How about you? What did you talk up this week?