Our Winter Front Porch

A Rustic and Warm Front Porch for the Cold Weather and a couple of Blog Goals to Achieve

A New Year is a time when people take stock of their lives and their goals. Working towards my goals for this blog have always been something I have wanted to do. It all started because I had this idea. This idea that showing how I decorate my home would inspire others to do the same. Reading blogs every day was so inspiring for me. Why not start a blog of my own? I had seen others were doing it, and it seemed like I something I would enjoy. I was already decorating and doing home projects. Why not share it with others? That was five years ago this month that I started my blog. Wow, I can’t believe that it has been that long.

Love what you do and it won’t be work at all

I do really enjoy it. The process of decorating and the DIY/ craft projects are fun for me. I love the sense of accomplishment when completing a project. But sometimes I am not motivated to do the work here on the blog. Lately, I have been wondering why? If it is something that I want, why don’t I put in the work? Where would I be now if I had done more those five years ago?

What is really holding me back?

Fear

A Fear of technology. The Fear of failing. This silly Fear of not fitting in. An even more real Fear of not being seen. I believe that Fear has been holding me back. Why I have let Fear get the best of me?

The only person you should be better than is the person you were yesterday

Well, I will no longer let Fear get the best of me- not anymore. I am going to get the better of Fear.

Last year, I did a few things that scared me. I contacted a “real blogger” about joining a challenge. To my surprise and relief- she was amazing and supportive and that gave me some confidence. Then I did two more challenges. Maybe I could do this blogging thing?

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will”- Karim Seddiki

But I didn’t get enough momentum. And I didn’t do much blogging in between those challenges. Because at some point that Fear crept back in. I turned my back and there it was again. What the thing with Fear is, is how heavy it is. Carrying any Fear around, no matter how small is exhausting. I am tired of the Fear. I don’t want to be burdand by it any more.

“The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step” Lao Tsu

This year I am going to do more of what scares me. The way to get over this Fear is to face it head-on. I made that small start last year, a start towards a new me. But I didn’t let it grow. That first email asking to join a challenge was brave and it should have been the first of many steps. And it was- I just thought that there would be more steps soon after. I got discouraged that it was so small. But I need to change my mindset about that. Yes, it was small, but it was a start. It is time to be grateful for the progress that I have made. No matter how small. Every journey starts with a single step.

We all get the same amount of time in a day. It is what we do with that time that matters

Time. I am going to make more time for this little blog of mine. If it is something that I want to do- then I should do it. I need to stop putting my time into activities that waste my time. Less TV, less social media, less mindless surfing of the web. Be more present with myself and my time. Be more intentional with my time.

To make any real change can take time

It can take more than two months to form a new habit. They say it can take up to 66 days. But 66- what is that? It is only a number. What does that look like for me? How can I put that into a goal? Into a plan? Just do it! Make it a date in the future and hold myself accountable to it.

Here’s the plan- for the months of January and February, I will work here on the blog a little bit every day. I may not publish a new post every day, but I will work on a post. This post, for example, I have been tinkering with it for three days now. That is progress. A small three days worth, but progress still. I have been showing up and doing the work.

Dreams don’t work unless you do

My hope is that by making it a new habit to work here every daysteps soon I will leave the Fear behind. I will put in the work, no matter how small, because it will add up. I will let it grow and we will see how big it can become.

Make yourself proud

This little blog of mine could be something big. Or it could just be a creative outlet for me to share my decorating and DIY projects and post my ramblings on. No matter what it becomes I will need to do the work for myself first. I should get back to getting enjoyment from this learning experience. It should be fun, right?!

“Don’t compare your beginning to someones middle”- Jon Aguff

This is my blogging story. And even though it started 5 years ago it is still just the beginning. 2019 will be the next chapter for Jackie Can’t Blog and for me- Jackie.

Now I think that it may be time to change the name here. I think that what started out as a joke- the Can’t part of the blog name, may have really been holding me back too. Perhaps by putting in more time here a new name will come to me. Any suggestions?

You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do

Can I ask for your help?

Will you help keep me accountable?

Will you come and stop by, and see what I am doing.

Comment below, tell me what you think.

Thanks for the support.

One more thing, what do you think of the Our Winter Front porch?