Inviting Challenge

Often times I sit down to begin writing without anything specific in my mind to say. Fortunately, I have a profusion of thoughts and words ready to burst forth and so the invitation to state an idea is generally all that is needed for the thoughts to begin to flow from my head into my hands. And this is how the creation of a blog entry is begun... It is something like trust, hoping that the moment I finish one sentence, another will inevitably begin. Amazingly, this is exactly what seems to happen. It is, in some far fetched way, like life. Things don't start to happen until you start writing the first sentence. It seems to me that putting oneself out there is the most essential action a human can make. Otherwise, nothing will ever materialize but always remain mystical and far beyond reach, just as this blog is beginning to sound.
The distinction I am trying to make is that there is a difference between action and putting oneself out there, so to speak. Action implies always moving forward, always taking the next step, never staying in the same place for too long. While this is how the person at my core longs to act, jumping sporadically from one thing to the next so that I won't stay too long in one place, trying to keep myself from too much reflection, the person I am learning to be appreciates the latter, that is, putting myself out there. It does seem to be action based, as it is hard to get out there without acting. However, I hope to define this second attribute as more of a lifestyle rather than a way to avoid growing or being challenged. When one is in constant motion, one is not challenged as there is never enough time spent to get uncomfortable. But, in putting myself out there, I am inviting challenge and discomfort and saying quite plainly that I wish to grow. Putting myself out there includes risk, the risk of exposure, of not being met with the easy way out. This is the way I am learning to live my life, by treating others with ultimate kindness, regardless of my personal feelings or irritations. Rather than jumping noisily from one season of my life to the next, I am learning to live life on the edge, taking emotional risks on people, and putting myself out there for the good of my own growth and for others.