From here, it seems daunting. Like a trail up a mountain, through a burning forest, with tumbling boulders crashing all around you.

Sometimes my goals can feel like this. A giant mountain.

But today I am committing to consistent action. Regardless of the quality of the content I’m producing I am committing to at least getting it done. For the sake of self-esteem, and developing my determination to succeed. And also, inevitably, developing my writing skills.

This challenge is designed to keep me accountable. It is a small, actionable plan that will help me achieve my goals, and keep me in a positive mental space.

I find that most of the work that I can do simply revolves around showing up. Showing up as open-minded as I can.

Have you ever had the experience of…let’s call it procrastination for now. Where there is something you know you should be doing, but you simply can’t get yourself to do it. And then, by some previously untapped will, you get into it and quickly find that it’s not so bad after all. That the most challenging thing was not to do the work, but to get yourself to the start.

And so this challenge is a prompt. It is an accountability contest in which I compete against my lower self.

This has scared me. The commitment to a trial like this. I tell myself, ‘what if I want to quit? It’d be better if I just gave myself that freedom. Why tell anyone about this?’ But I recognize that part of myself as the person who is afraid of failure, of humiliation, of judgment, and I know that if I let that person dictate my doings I’ll never know real fulfillment.

And so while this public declaration scares me more than a little bit, it does seem like an accelerator for my personal growth.

I question the relevance of what I have to offer. But I hope that my commitment to my values will encourage others to commit to their values.

My values are more than single pointed, but one of them is a congruency between word and action. If I say that I will complete a 66 day challenge then I have every intention of doing so. And each day I write I will continue to identify and sink deeper into my value systems.

I hope that this process not only helps me to fulfill artistic goals, but brings some clarity to my core values. So that I can come to know myself better.
I see great value in the ability to continue through difficult trials. And so I expect difficulties, and I, at least from the starting line here, plan to embrace them as opportunities to grow as a human being.

This challenge is intensely personal, but it is also an invitation to anyone who is looking for a push to do something that they’ve always wanted to do but have never found the necessary motivation.

It is in the spirit of service that I offer this to the world.

I believe in myself. I believe that I have the power to create positive change in the world. I believe that my contributions will encourage and support more peace in the world. It’s to that end that I am compelled to share.

I look my insecurities in the face as I make this declaration: that I will share my perspectives and opinions in depth for the next 66 days because I believe that they can and will help – myself and others.

It feels good to face my challenges. It feels like growth. It feels like a conquering. If even only one small step at a time, I am ascending this mountain. And I know greater vistas exist at the top.

I know the value of a good challenge.

Every day that I show up, I am choosing to be victorious. It is an easy feat. It is merely the determination that I am developing. And we can all win in that way.

No matter how complex or simple the challenge is, the act of showing up will serve you throughout your life.

I feel accountable to you all now. I surely do not want to make myself into a liar. And I value you, my friends and community, for that. I think it is important that we continually encourage each other to be our best selves.

We are all here living together and in many ways we succeed and fail together. This is me pushing the limits of my success.

If you feel so inclined, join me. Push yourself to show up for something for 66 days straight. Maybe it’s eating more vegetables, or reading a book, or calling your loved ones and telling them so. Just imagine that, calling one person a day for 66 days to share your gratitude and appreciation for them. How can that be wrong? Just one promise though. If you do dare take that on as your challenge, please do drop me a line one day.

This challenge frightens me and excites me. Often times the two are intricately linked. The chance of victory also means the chance of defeat. But with the name of the game being perseverance itself, I know I’m in control. This is not up to chance. It is sheer discipline and will power, and I am ready to sacrifice the comfort of stagnancy for the thrill of growth.