On Shooting for the Moon

On yearbook day of my ninth or tenth grade year, a guy--we'll call him Kevin--scribbled a quote in black Bic along my inner spine:

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll still land among the stars."

I scoffed. 

What a loser. 

This was the late 90s, personal computers were finally making their way into homes, and I could picture Kevin at his desk, waiting patiently for his dial-up to connect (because back in the old days it took like, five whole minutes just to log on to the internet), searching for that perfect quote to enlighten us all--because he did, in fact, sign everyone's yearbook with the same mantra:

Shoot for the moon.

Shoot for the moon.

Shoot for the moon.

*sigh*

See, I wasn't exactly my best self in high school--wasn't sure where I fit in. It was hard being me when I didn't even know who me was. I had serial "best friends"--a new one every year, and struggled with opening up to people. If I'm honest with myself, all I really wanted was for everyone to like me (which, as we all know, is impossible).

I think that's all Kevin wanted, too--to be liked.

And despite four years of complete asshattery, Kevin wrote me a final yearbook message just before graduation. In sum, he didn't know how I managed to give him so much hassle, and still remain "nice."

Because at the end of the day, he still somehow thought I was a nice person. 

I should never have laughed at Kevin's yearbook quote, because fifteen years later I'm taking his advice. I'm shooting for the moon.

And that's what you should be shooting for, too. Because if we want to make an impact we have to stop thinking so small. We have to think big--bigger than we could possibly imagine. Because even if we miss our intended target, we've still taken that risk. Stepped outside our comfort zone. Left planet earth behind.

We're still soaring among the stars.

And it's a beautiful world up here.

So thanks, Kev. You were right all along. ;)

~Katie~

Wishing and Hoping

Kind Sir or Madam,

While you're sitting back wishing and hoping, someone else is stepping up and getting the hard work done.

It's simple, really....

If you want to be a painter, you should be painting.
If you want to be a blogger, you should be blogging.
If you want to launch a new business venture, you should be launching.

And if you drop by this blog every so often because you know me or have read my books and you think it would be cool to write one--that maybe you want to be a writer--you should be writing. 

Painters paint.
Vloggers vlog.
Designers design.
Leaders lead.

WRITERS WRITE.

Period.

Proceed boldly, before this world sucks all of the creative out of you.

No more excuses.

Be Brilliant! :)

~Katie~

On Rejection

Are you a Honda from California or a DeLorean from Texas?

An excellent take on Rejection.

Worth the read.

~Katie~