Just Do It!

Alright, so this post is less about my lack of beliefs and more about my changing attitude toward life.  I (and my husband, although we didn't plan it) have lately undertaken the attitude of "Just do it" in our lives. For me, this started about a month or so ago when I was thinking about how much I would like to read for a living. You only get one life and you might as well do what you enjoy to make a living, if you can and I enjoy reading. Also, I happen to naturally proofread and catch typos and spelling mistakes as I read so I thought, "How awesome would it be if I could proofread for a living? Just read books and fix them as I go, then hand them back all marked up and get a paycheck." Sure, I'd have deadlines, but I could still set my own schedule, and even when I am "working" it's doing something I love to do anyway. (Now you're all going to be watching for any mistakes I make, I know, but keep in mind, I blog like I talk so forgive the slang and run on sentences :) ...and emoticons apparently.)  My husband (we'll call him Daniel) suggested I go to the local newspaper and see if I could proofread there.  I thought that was a good idea.  Now normally, I'd hum and haw about it, and go over and over in my mind what I'm going to say and I'd get all nervous and feel extremely ill-prepared and think about all the ways it could go wrong.  (There's your slang and run on sentence - happy?)  Instead, I just decided to drive there on my way home from work, park the car and go in.  

I don't own this picture or the copyrights and I admit that this
is an ad for Nike.  I don't want any  trouble :) (Please don't
sue me :S)

Now my story is a bit anticlimactic here but bear with me.  I went in that day and asked about proofreading opportunities.  I was told I'd need to speak to the editor and that he was out of the office.  I was given his name and number and I gave the receptionist my information and I left, planning to call on Monday when he was supposed to be back.  I called Monday, after again considering whether to get all freaked out about it or just to call.  I just called.  I got a message saying he was out of the office until next week.  OK. Next week, I was out of the country but I decided I would try calling again when I got back.  And I did.  I got the answering machine and I left a message.  Two weeks later, I hadn't heard anything.  At this point, I'm wondering if he's gotten my message or not, if he just doesn't care or maybe he's really busy.  I don't know so I assume the best - that he's gotten my message but has had a lot to catch up on since he was out of the office for a week or so.   

So that brings us to today.  I drove past the building on my way to work and thought, "I should just drop in again and see if I can get anywhere."  This time, I didn't even think about getting nervous.  Drive in, park, lock the car, open the front door, smile.

"Hi, I'd like to talk to someone about any proofreading opportunities you might have." Calm, cool and collected :)

The receptionist said she didn't think they did that there but she went to see if the editor was in.  He was and I got in to see him.  I basically walked completely unprepared into an interview for a job, I'm not even sure exists.  And I felt pretty good about it.  We talked a bit about proofreading: why I wanted to proofread, how a proofreader (in his words) would be a godsend, how we could work in a proofreader when all the different articles are coming into the office at different times all day, how modern technology would permit me to proofread outside the office, on the go, throughout the day.  He took down my information again and said that when the two other editors got back to the office, he would talk to them to see if they could figure something out and he's supposed to call me in a few days.

If this turns into a job, it will be the first time I've applied for a job that's not only not advertised but at this point, does not exist (at least at this particular office).  I'll have created an opportunity for myself in something that I'm interested in rather than just looking for opportunities to come my way.  I'll have been proactive about my life and not let fear rule my actions.  I'll have bypassed the usual job search routines and gotten hired because I had enough guts to walk into the head honcho's office, say, "I like proofreading and I'm good at it.  Can I have a job?" and make him realize that I'm just what they're missing.

However, I could just end up having a volunteer proofreading position there, which I said I was willing to take. Eventually, all those things could still be true because I can make myself irreplaceable and eventually turn this into a job.

Worst case scenario?  They decide not to bother and I don't get either. That's ok.  I'll have gained an experience of being fearless and knowing what I want and going  after it.  Not in an obnoxious way but in a I-only-get-to-do-this-once-better-not-waste-it-just-wishing-I-was-happy kind of way.  And I'll have gained experience in the "Just do it" way of doing life.

I mentioned that Daniel has had the same epiphany recently.  Just in case anyone is curious, the circumstances he mentioned to me that exemplified his new "Just do it" attitude toward life were a) we were already having company at our house when my sister asked if my nephew could stay the weekend with us.  That meant one more person to host on an already busy, crowded weekend.  I was OK with it but at first when I talked to Daniel about it, he wasn't so sure we could take it all on.  As he thought about it for the next few minutes, this new attitude won out and he suddenly declared, "Let's do it!  We'll make it work." and b) today, we were talking about donating money to charities just as a general topic when it reminded him about donating blood and right then and there, he made an appointment to do it this week.  "I gotta just stop thinking about it and just do it."

On that note, I am afraid of needles and I have never donated blood but I do think it's a good cause.  Daniel has inspired me to just do it and I'm going to make my own appointment....Done! I am booked to be poked and prodded and eventually semi-drained tomorrow at 5:15pm.  

I feel like this is an extremely healthy way to go through life and a very helpful way to stave off my fears of being old and having regrets.  I think the more I realize how short and quick my life is, the less afraid I will be of trying new things and risking rejection.

"One of the greatest discoveries a (wo)man makes, one of his/her great surprises, is to find (s)he can do what (s)he was afraid (s)he couldn't do."  

~Henry Ford

Just Do It!