What Are You Waiting For?
Telephone by Esparta on Flickr (CC license)
What’s that? The phone ringing? The call that’s going to change your life?!
Eh. Probably not.
Don’t get me wrong: you may actually receive a life-changing phone call (or its symbolic equivalent), but I love what comedian and actor Jay Mohr had to say about when that phone call arrives on a recent Mohr Stories podcast.
He said you don’t want to be sitting there just waiting for that phone to ring —
You want to have to reach behind you to answer it.
That is, you need to keep moving forward, keep yourself busy, keep pursuing whatever it is you’re striving to achieve so that when that opportunity arrives, when that literal or figurative call comes, you’re so wrapped up in whatever you’ve been doing to push ahead that you actually have to stop and reach back to grab that phone.
I just love that image, don’t you?
It’s been plastered in the forefront of my mind ever since I listened to that podcast a couple weeks ago, thinking of it whenever my motivation sags, which it does with some frequency.
And that image is also why I’m ending this post right here. Of course I have a lot more to say on this; in fact, a whole bunch of it is in another draft. But you know what? You don’t need to read it.
You already know what you have to do.
What are you waiting for?
36 Beans of Wisdom to “What Are You Waiting For?”
Recipes
I hear what you are saying Michelle. It is so true. Sometimes though it is hard to stay motivated and focused on what you need to do. But I do know what I need to do! Great post.
michelle Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
I’m with you Cathy — staying motivated can be *very* challenging indeed. Inspirational books, music, films, podcasts, people…these are all a big help 🙂
Cathy Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Yes Michelle, and infact all of your suggestions are things that I use to keep my spirits up 🙂
michelle Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Lovely to know, Cathy, thank you!
I will have to listen to that podcast. I went to school with Jay’s sister. Jersey represent!!
I agree. Sitting around waiting for “the call” is not the way to go.
michelle Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Haha, small world! I’m a huge stand-up fan from way back, so I love his podcast — but it goes so beyond that, and I think any kind of creative people/artists can get a lot from it (including laughs) 🙂
Great post! I do agree with what you have written! And it’s what I have been doing in the last five years. When I just stop and think for a moment what I have accomplished in the last five years…I just think: Did I do all this stuff? And then…I’ll keep moving forward! Thank you, Michelle for sharing this post!
Antonio
michelle Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Keep moving, Antonio! Thanks for reading 🙂
Love this! You’re so right about the wonderful image that this puts in my mind. Good advice, once again, Michelle. Thanks.
michelle Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
For us visual people, Ally, I do think this is a great one indeed 🙂
As always Michelle, bang on! 🙂
michelle Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Thx LLM 😉
Waiting makes us dependent on other people for our own (insert descriptive noun here, start with happiness). Nothing pro-active about waiting. Getting active shifts the energy and takes the weight of importance away from what we’re waiting for to what we’re doing.
love this short and snappy post, ms. fabio.
michelle Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Exactly. What you said 😛
i just stumbled on your blog by accident after just returning from a visit to my husband’s hometown of SantaCaterina dellonio (your next door neighbors) and attending a family wedding on 4/25/12. i wish i saw your blogs earlier i would have loved to have met you. it is fascinating to my how someone adjusts so readily living in a foreign country and adapting to the simple life. I was born in London,England and lived in Sydney,Australia and now in America since i was nine. i know how one makes the transition as a child but it is so interesting seeing and hearing about it from the adult perspective.
michelle Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Sonia; I wouldn’t say I adjusted “so readily” necessarily…I’ve been here for nearly nine years now 😉 But it’s always been an adventure, that’s for sure!
i just stumbled on your blog by accident after just returning from a visit to my husband’s hometown of SantaCaterina dellonio (your next door neighbors) and attending a family wedding on 4/25/12. i wish i saw your blogs earlier i would have loved to have met you. it is fascinating to my how someone adjusts so readily living in a foreign country and adapting to the simple life. I was born in London,England and lived in Sydney,Australia and now in America since i was nine. i know how one makes the transition as a child but it is so interesting seeing and hearing about it from the adult perspective. thank you for sharing your stories, recipes and pictures.
{{ unless They have my cell number
They will never find me…
especially
~~Sitting there waiting~~
for
much of Anything
to
happen…
as we say in the South,
” i have other fish to fry.” }}
michelle Reply:
April 16th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Hee hee…mmmm fried fish…. 😉
Good morning! I agree w/you here, though some of us are often too frightened to do what we know we should (I raise my hand here.) Many of us wait for a “sign” before taking action. I have found that often, an opportunity IS the sign! We just need to be brave enough to see it & run with it! I did just that a few years ago and am happier for it!
michelle Reply:
April 16th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Oh I believe in signs too, Rita — but yes, you do have to be able to recognize it and then capitalize! Thx for coming by 🙂
I keep one those old pulse phones in the closet for when we loose electrical service. It is one of the first push button AT&T phones. Also, have a 50s era dial phone lost in the basement by my darling son.
michelle Reply:
April 16th, 2012 at 10:42 am
Love it, Gil! We have an ancient phone around here somewhere too…must take photos one day!
NIce Michelle! I am so happy we are on the same team…love this “snappy” post…I truly believe you have to create your own path…I just hope I can instill this in my kids!
michelle Reply:
April 16th, 2012 at 10:42 am
I’m sure you are, Kari — leading by example is always the best way IMHO 🙂
Another great post Michelle. Very motivational! I love it 🙂
Great words..now i must put this into action and get my moving plan together..
I love the punch of this post Michelle. Waiting for someone else to set your life ablaze is never a good look. Just start something and work it out as you go, isn’t that it? Jxx
Nice reading Michelle.
I’m trying everyday to find the motivation to kick alive my dream of having a passive income from homepages (google etc). These kind of posts really helps. Thanks 🙂
michelle Reply:
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:56 am
Best of luck, Tommy!
I just discovered your site and I really enjoy your thoughtful posts. I recently made a pitch for something that has been brewing in my mind for a few months. I don’t know what the response will be and it’s nerve-wracking. But I’m happy that I did something instead of just waiting for something to happen.
michelle Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 10:07 am
Best of luck, leaf! I hope your pitch is accepted — and sooner rather than later 🙂
Michelle, You’re right, I know what I have to do and I am going to keep on doing it. Thanks for reminding me to stay on track! Toni
michelle Reply:
June 10th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Woohoo! Go go go!
Yes Michelle you are right, but sometime is so difficult to do what you really want to do, even if you know that it is the best thing, but we have to have courage and self confidence and everything will be easier
michelle Reply:
June 10th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
I would say it’s even *often* difficult to do what you really want to do…but how bad do you want it? That, to me, determines whether you’ll go ahead and just do it 🙂