A Creative Leap

I think I registered my domain name in 2005. It took me four years to eventually get a page posted. Here are my top ten reasons why it I took so long:

10. Nobody I knew could crawl into my brain to see through my eyes. (I love you Charlie Kaufman!)

9.  The strategic plan I developed while in college was REALLY over the top.

8.   I was a victim of paralysis by analysis.

7.   The font choices of ARIAL, HELVETICA, and TIMES NEW ROMAN limited my personal expression.

6.   Pre-fab templates felt like wearing bunched up speedos down a water park speed slide.

5.   Damned red lights in Colorado Springs got me all worked up over the past four years.

4.   I lost my creative mojo in 1981 and it took a while to find it.

3.   Voices in the night told me that if I would build it "they would come." Scared the crap out of me.

2.   Stick figures are uninspiring (at least that is what I thought until I saw a Life is Good t-shirt!)

1.   I was afraid it would look stupid.

For my Masters graduation gift my Dad gave me the gift of jumping out of a plane. It was really cool. The night before I was full of fear and thinking of ways to bail. The morning of the dive, I resolved to do it regardless of my feelings. After watching a video briefing that reiterated several times that "YOU CAN DIE," we drove to the plane. A rickety old thing that probably did this junket 10,000 times.

As the plane ascended with the doors wide open, I watched as the Colorado landscape became smaller and smaller. My fears melted away knowing that there was no turning back. When we fell from the door, I experienced a thrill like I had never before.

My web site sucks. I know it. It won't win any awards as it sits. Then again, that is not my goal. The Internet is like a blank canvas. I never realized how much incredibly cool stuff is out there. Every day I take 20 minutes (if I behave myself) and browse a randomizer for new stuff. I get great ideas on living, laughter, and making my crappy web site better.

Last night I discovered cool little utility that makes a digital character. Even though I used to draw cartoons as teen, I wanted a crisp digital character for my web site. At least I think I do. At this point I can do whatever I want. My creative license is truly universal. I can go anywhere my mind and imagination take me. Despite my frequent and obvious lack of skills.

You just gotta decide to make the leap.