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“Nope. You don’t have an excuse. Just sit your butt down and do it,” and older man told me the other day at work.

We were talking about how in my current employment as a part time receptionist/office assistant at a music studio, I don’t know how to read music or play an instrument. I told him I wanted to learn piano and I have my son’s beginner books, but…

He immediately dismissed my “but.”

I get it; excuses are insidious and seductive and they keep us from doing X because”but” is a safe zone. “But” has less risk attached to it. “But” requires no effort. “But” let’s you sit on your ass

But.

There are Reasons, and telling the difference between the two can be hard.

Mental health can be a legitimate reason. However, go too long on the “mental health” reason and it’s a bit like using crutches for waaaaaay longer than you need them.

And it can be hard to know when you don’t need the crutches anymore, especially if your ankle has a chronic history of being jacked up AT THE WRONG DAMNED TIME since it’s originating injury.

I’ve missed a number of IWSG first Wednesday posts. The crutches have been hard to discard this time–just when I think I’m better, something else comes along and I’m all unbalanced again and need the crutches.

But…

It is to be noted (by myself more than by anyone else) that sometimes even tiny efforts to move in a forward-ish direction are better than none at all.

The word I have selected for 2022 in place of a resolution is “Better.”

Working to be better at getting to things. Working on being better physically and psychologically. Being better at time management. Being better with my efforts generally.

And so, we start again.

Check out the Insecure Writer’s Support Group to see more writers dish about their concerns, their solutions to various problems, or their sure-fire New Years Day hangover cures.