On The Starting Line

This week, I met with a couple of people I adore. I looked at them with amazement and thought, Wow, they’ve accomplished so much, and what was I doing?  Where am I now? How did they get to that stage when I was still at the start line?

Are you ever ready to start anything new but find yourself stopped at the starting line? Your heart is racing with anticipation, you diligently prepare and even dare to dream, yet everything seems locked in place. In this post, I’m excited to share some insights and personal inspirations that helped me overcome this very challenge. Join me as I commit to a transformative personal journey—a significant milestone in my life!

Starting line of what?

It’s an interesting thing to think, isn’t it? I find myself reflecting on how often I, too, have put off pursuing brilliant ideas or exciting new beginnings. I start with a burst of enthusiasm, but soon other commitments creep in, and my initial projects are left half-finished. This inevitably leads to a sense of frustration at not advancing as I had hoped. The idea of a “starting line” appears in various aspects of our lives, whether it’s venturing into a new job, fostering a new relationship, shifting careers, or even navigating new chapters in parenthood. More often than not, I realize that I’m standing at several starting lines simultaneously, each beckoning me to take that first step.

Laziness or compassion?

Guilt is a constant companion, isn’t it? I find myself endlessly questioning, “Did I do enough today? Was it good enough?” There’s this nagging feeling that I should be doing more, not wasting precious hours on social media or indulging in extra sleep. Each night, I promise myself that tomorrow will be different, more productive.

But then, I too easily forget the real battles I’ve faced. Raising children, often on my own, striving for financial stability in an unpredictable economy, dealing with life’s sudden mishaps like a broken car or a malfunctioning fridge—these challenges don’t seem to register in my day-to-day reflections.

It’s only when I pause and really look at what I’ve accomplished—perhaps starting a new course, nurturing a garden, or even just fixing an appliance—that I realize I’ve been too hard on myself. These are all significant achievements. I need to remind myself to step back and offer a gentle, “Well done!” to the person in the mirror.

Priorities and timing

So maybe I didn’t get married, or I haven’t yet landed the dream career I always imagined. But what did I do instead? I made other choices, and pursued different paths. It’s important for me to recall those decisions now. Despite setting high expectations for myself and striving to achieve it all, inevitably, some things took precedence over others. Whenever my children needed me, I didn’t hesitate to put everything else aside to support them.

Yes, I had plans to wake up earlier, to tackle those goals I kept setting. Yet sometimes, life had its own agenda, leading me to postpone these plans once again. However, I’ve made progress in other areas, even if it’s something as seemingly mundane as fixing that stubborn dishwasher. Everything happens in its own time, according to its place in my list of priorities. When I complete one crucial task, I move on to the next, gradually working towards what I hope to achieve.

This doesn’t mean I can ease up now—far from it, with a million other things still on my to-do list. What it means is that I need to keep going. Continue planning, keep doing. The journey continues and it’s never too late!

Persistency

This is important to remember. I understand it’s tough, especially when your mind is overflowing with tasks and responsibilities. Place your dreams in plain sight—stick them on your fridge, pin them to your walls. Plan diligently and never surrender your aspirations. Manage your daily tasks and attend to your children’s needs, but remember, your dreams are yours to achieve. Imagine the sense of fulfillment you’ll feel with each small step of progress. How uplifting would that be? Keep that vision close to motivate you along the way.

Conclusion

In everything we do, finding balance is key. It can indeed be frustrating to feel stuck at the starting line or to move slower than we’d like. Yet, it’s important to recognize that life is full of starting lines, many of which we may not immediately notice. We are making progress in numerous areas, and it’s crucial to be kind to ourselves in these moments. Despite the challenges, we must keep striving towards our goals and never lose sight of our dreams. Let’s continue to work hard and persist—our efforts will pay off in time.

Yours,

Vered