Oh Ye of Little Faith

“The things that are most worth doing take a little effort.”

That simple statement came from Abby Sunderland, the California girl attempting to become the youngest person to sail around the world. She’s just been rescued in the Indian Ocean, having lost her mast in heavy seas. Just a minor setback.

Wow. Wise, competent, courageous and more. All at sixteen. Who was I at sixteen? No one near who she is. And at fifty? Sometimes I wonder…

At that age - and truthfully, probably the better part of my life - self doubt's been a pretty constant companion. Any big endeavor was painfully overwhelming. Was I good enough? Smart enough? Talented enough? (Forget about pretty enough - that one always put me under.) And then I’d compare myself to peers - or worse, to the Abby’s of the world for whom it seems there are no bounds. Yikes. It’s amazing I’ve accomplished anything.

But I have. And though sadly it’s taken me a lot longer than Abby to pick up on it, I’ve learned pretty much to ignore those fears. They really do mean nothing as long as you’re willing to get in there, shake things up, and accept that the challenges. Like Abby, who I’m sure isn’t immune to self-doubt either. But at 16, she already knows that anything worth going for is worth the effort and courage to get it done. And she will.

So now, this old lady is going to follow Abby’s inspiration. Get focused on getting this blog puppy up and thriving - technology disorder not withstanding. Nothing in comparison to losing a mast, but hey. We've all got our passions.


SPARK YOUR WISDOM!
What's your take on self-doubt? Has it played any role in your life? Tell us about it. Share your insights!