There is no one to gain permission from. There is no one to impress. There is only you… now.
The common response when I ask what someone is doing is “well, I’m doing X but I really want to do Z.” to which I reply: “then do Z, now.”
Let’s be perfectly clear. You are exactly what you practice. You are only what you’re doing right now. Not what you dream to be doing, not what you think you will become, you’re this… Right now.
Every platitude and excuse you give, every lie you tell to me about your hopes, dreams and aspirations is a myth you’ve concocted in order to deal with the fact that you’re no closer to obtaining them today than you were the first time you uttered the words to yourself.
That’s ok.
Even then you’re not a failure, you’re just in denial of the truth. The truth being that you’re in complete control of your life.
You can choose to be whom you want and take steps to ensure that the world sees you. Do not wait for permission, do not validate your life until you’re living it. We are obsessed with our own histories. That is a waste of time.
What good is planning how you want your story to be told if you’re not out living enough of a life to merit telling?
Be you now. Whatever that is, whatever that means, stop waiting for someone to let you do anything.
Go out and do it. Now.
So for those looking for someone to help them start, allow me to be the first person you thank in your novel’s liner notes, the first shout out on your hip-hop mix tape, the first name listed in the thank you page of your new web app.
I hereby grant you the permission to start doing whatever you need to do to be the person you claim you want to be. Anyone hating on you, any critics you meet along the way, tell them thanks for stopping by and send them and their negativity packing.
You’re walking the path you’ve always intended to walk and they are scared by the sound cracking their ears, the wind brushing their cheeks, the light flashing before them as you pass them by.
Permission granted.
