The Story Economy Blog

If No One Has Thrown Up, You Have to Keep Going

 
Very few things can stop your momentum, screw with your schedule, and halt your progress like . . . vomit. Yes, I said it. Vomit. I’m sorry. It’s totally disgusting, and I apologize if you are in the middle of drinking coffee as you read this.

Here is why I’m writing this week’s newsletter about throwing up. It started last Thursday afternoon. I came home from a meeting, full of ideas for a project proposal, eager to check my email, and totally high on client energy. Just as I started to head up to my office, I heard my husband yell, “Help!” I ran downstairs to find him (and the carpet) covered in vomit from our one-year-old baby girl. There’s no email checking when people are covered in vomit. It always takes precedence.

The baby got better just in time for our three-year-old to get it Monday night. I heard his awful moaning right as I fired up the laptop and mobilized my creative juices. My husband and I walked in his room, and there it was: the stopper. I’ll spare you the horrific description (please don’t unsubscribe because I’m writing about vomit). But let’s just say, nothing else got done that night except for taking care of him.

A quilt covered in throw-up: that’s a deal-breaker. That’s a reason to not start a project. That’s a reason to say, “um, I just can’t do this right now.” We can all agree on that.

But all of the other reasons we invent? Not so much.

Here is the moral of this dreadful story: nothing less than vomit should stop you from moving forward. If it’s not throw-up, you still have to keep writing, keep photographing, keep designing, and keep cultivating the flow.


How Art Saves Us


It’s appropriate, because this week, I was honored to write my “Art Saves” story for the artsy eye candy site Crescendoh (I’m the guest curator for the blog this week). This is exactly what I wrote about (well, not the vomit part). I wrote about how art saves me because it forces me to leave my brain and just create something in the world. Art saves me because it involves doing.

That feeling of doing is tremendous. So, unless your kid, your house, your office, your car, or your person is covered in vomit, just go do it. Start it. Right now.

Comments

  • Family vacation ideas

    Posted by Family vacation ideas on 11/01/11 3:00am

    I’m pretty new at this place and adore the design, could you let me know me where you bought this theme? You can contact me on my e-mail…looking forward to hear from you
    My blog is about Family vacation destinations.

    • admin

      Posted by admin on 11/07/11 2:26pm

      I'm not sure: my designer found the theme and had it customized for me.
      Best,
      Judi

  • Travel Guide

    Posted by Travel Guide on 11/07/11 1:13pm

    Very nice article and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is actually the best place to ask but do you people have any thoughts on where to hire some professional writers? Thx :)
    My website is Business Travel.

    • admin

      Posted by admin on 11/07/11 2:28pm

      Re: hiring writers: Try FreelanceSuccess.com or ASJA.com (both have writer profiles you can search, especially for areas like "travel.")
      Best,
      Judi

  • Elektrische Zahnbuerste

    Posted by Elektrische Zahnbuerste on 11/30/11 8:48pm

    ... [Trackback]...

    [...] Read More: judiketteler.com/if-no-one-has-thrown-up-you-have-to-keep-going [...]...

  • Nate

    Posted by Nate on 12/01/11 10:25am

    Is there any way I can sign up to receive newsletters?

    • admin

      Posted by admin on 12/01/11 2:19pm

      yes, of course! On the main page, I have a sidebar with a free offer (1st chapters of my eBook). Signing up for that signs you up for my newsletter. You can also bypass that if you're not interested in it and just sign up here: http://judiketteler.com/newsletter.
      Warmly,
      Judi

  • Stephine Scobee

    Posted by Stephine Scobee on 12/22/11 10:08am

    Great post!

  • Manie Missler

    Posted by Manie Missler on 01/09/12 6:06pm

    Howdy! Quick question that's totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when browsing from my apple iphone. I'm trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share. Appreciate it!

  • Krystle Godleski

    Posted by Krystle Godleski on 04/06/12 12:13pm

    You can definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

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