Welcome to the One Little Word February blog hop! I’m so thrilled to be part of this group of awesome ladies!
Over the holidays my family and I went to see the movie “We Bought a Zoo.”
(photo courtesy Wikipedia)
If you haven’t seen it, it’s a wonderful movie starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. It’s based on the true story of Benjamin Mee, a young father struggling to keep up after the death of his wife. In an effort to bring healing into the lives of his children (and himself I believe), he moves his family out to the country where he has purchased a working, albeit dilapidated and nearly bankrupt, zoo.
Everyone thinks Ben is crazy for buying the run-down property. Even Kelly, the dedicated zookeeper, gives him a laundry list of reasons why buying the zoo is a bad idea. Then finally in a moment of exasperation Kelly asks him, “Why did you buy this place?” Ben pauses for a moment, then smiles and replies, “Why not.”
Ben’s reply really spoke to me because, at the time, I was toying with the idea of moving my blog to my own, self-hosted website. I liked the ease of the free WordPress.com platform I had been using, but the problem is that I was limited creatively to how my blog looked and operated. I had read a couple of on-line tutorials and the process seemed pretty straightforward – importing and exporting data is pretty much what I do for a living after all. But like the zookeeper, I had also cultivated a pretty good list of reasons excuses why it was a bad idea…
- What if it’s too hard?
- What if it doesn’t work right?
- What if maintaining a website takes up too much time?
- What if people think it’s dumb?
Now I know that you might think buying a zoo and creating a website are two totally different things, but for me, in that moment sitting in the movie theater, it was really all about believing in yourself and living fearlessly.
On the way home from the movie I thought about how all too often I let fear influence my decisions – fear of failure, fear of what others think. And not just in the case of my blog, but my whole life really. At one point in the movie, Ben’s son is struggling with fear and Ben says to him, “All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you that something great will happen.”
When we got home from the movie that night, the first thing I did was go upstairs and print off the instructions I had bookmarked for creating a website. The next day I Go-Daddied, Liquid Web-ed, and c-paneled my brains out. It was scary at first, but the whole process went mostly without a hitch and I was able to import all of my old content into my new blog.
I know it may seem like such a small thing, but for me, summoning up the courage to create this website was the first step towards manifesting my One Little Word into my life. And, just like Ben said would happen, something great came out of it – I felt what it was like to live fearlessly.
Thank you so very much for visiting my blog. Next you should be directed to Cheri at http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com.
Peace, Kelly
P.S. The following is a list of all the blogs participating in the blog hop.
- Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
- Sharyn www.lavieenchic.com
- Jill http://jillconyers.com
- Lynn www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
- Jenn www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
- Carmen http://www.carmenpaulsorthner.com
- Marilee http://rose-brier.blogspot.com
- Kristina http://hrinspirationfromthe403.blogspot.com/
- Cindy C http://www.cynthiacrysdale.com
- Kelly https://mindingmynest.com
- Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
- Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
- Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com
- Brooke www.everysnapshot.com
- Naomi www.poeticaperture.com
- Melissa http://www.smudgetime.com
- Karen http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com
- Melissa S http://blog.mshanhun.com
- Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com
- Donna http://holimess.blogspot.com/
- Dawn sunshineandcreativity.com
- Katrina www.katrinasimeck.com
- Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com
- Monica http://scrapinspired.com
- Kimberlee http://scrapsandsass.blogspot.com
- Missus W http://mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/
- Kaylea http://www.myscrappylife.com
- Nikki Www.inkyart.com.au
- Erin http://erinsparkes.typepad.com/optimstic-fascination/
- Jo www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.com
- Coley http://coleybelle.blogspot.com/2012/01/focus-word-for-2012.html
- Beth www.thesingularlyordinary.blogspot.com
- Veronica www.veronicanorris.typepad.com
- Jamie http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com/
- Monica B http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/
- Lisa http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog
- Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
- Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
- Veronica http://www.veronicanorris.typepad.com
- Cate www.lifebehindthepurpledoor.com
- Stephanie www.scrapworthylives.com
- Orange Gearle http://orangegearle.blogspot.com
- Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/
- Junelle http://yesandamenblog.blogspot.com/
- Ruth http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com
- Becky www.becky-handforth.blogspot.com
“I felt what it was like to live fearlessly.” This is just awesome. I think we all have a tendency to let fear hold us back. How wonderful that you took a chance and tried something new. : )
Try is such a great word ~ hope you have fun with it!
Love your post – great writing – I could feel what you were saying! Thanks for sharing those feelings..not always easy. Look forward to hearing more about your journey with Try this year.
Kelly, I love your post and I love your word. I so understand the blog issues – it is really hard to put yourself out there, especially when you can see what some people are doing out there. You are so authentic, visiting your blog is a real treat. Thank you!
I LOVE your word – and your story! Good for you. And your site is truly beautiful – clean, organzied and so easy to navigate. I hope it brings you all you dreamed it would. Blessings…
Wow, what a great word and a great start to putting it to good use! You have a lovely site!
My family saw that movie on Christmas day and the “20 seconds of insane courage” really stuck with me. I’m glad you summoned your insane courage and made the leap – your blog looks great! And living fearlessly has to be its own reward!
Try is a wonderful word. I am so impressed and amazed that you created a web site. I loved the movie We Bought a Zoo. I was also struck by that “20 seconds of insane courage.” There are times when we all need that. Great post.
Hi Kelly. I love the energy of your word and your blog looks great! I’m looking forward to seeing more in the coming months.
what a GREAT word!!
Love your word and your post. It’s very inspiring. I’ve been holding back on hosting my own site for many of the same reasons.
Great word!! And I totally did the same thing. I started my blog and jumped in with no idea of what I was doing just a few weeks ago for many of the same reasons. Good luck with your word and your blog 🙂
I love your word! So glad you’re on the hop; hope to see you next month, too!
Love the word, and the quote you used. Thank you
Such a simple word with such big impact. So glad you have joined the Blog Hop this year!
I love your post. I’m so glad you took the leap. 😀 That’s inspiring. I totally live life with your last bullet point going through my head… what if people think it is dumb. I need to stop that little mental tape recorder. I’m so glad you didn’t let it stop you! 😀
Great story and good for you. I want to see that movie. Glad to hear it is good. THanks so much for joining in on the blog hop!
Love your story. Glad to hear that movie is good. I’ve been wanting to see it. Thanks for joining in on the blog hop!
I love your word, too. It seems so optimistic and yet forgiving of yourself at the same time. I LOVE your blog and can’t wait to explore it more!
Hi, I loved your blog post. I tried posting earlier today but it never would take. Trying again. Thanks so much for joining the blog hop! 🙂
Great word! It opens up so many possibilities.
Wonderful example of using your word. Congratulations on getting your blog moved, I’ve considered it but…. Sounds like a good movie too.
I love this sentence
I thought about how all too often I let fear influence my decisions – fear of failure, fear of what others think
That is so me….
You’ve given me something to think about today….
Thank you
thank you so much for the kind words kaylea.
great. great story.
so well written, and amazing.
love your challenge to yourself.
you admittance of what was stopping you.
how your word really.really worked for you.
AND your blog looks fab.
hmmm…i have been considering the same…i may have to actually do this myself.
glad you are hopping with us.
thank you so much for what you wrote.
~j
thank you so much for the lovely compliment jamie!
Congratulations on making your word tangible in your life. And thanks for sharing the quote. I know I can have “20 seconds of insane courage,” and if that’s all it takes, it gives me such hope!
Thanks so much for visiting my post,
~Marilee