‘My Best Advice: Don’t Hold Back.’

Makarska, Croatia

Recently, a dear friend shared some constructive feedback about my posts.

I admire her ability to convey her point; she does not mince words.

I admire how she asks the questions I sometimes forget to ask/don’t think to ask/am afraid to ask. 

Sometimes I channel her when I know I need to get to the point and ask all the questions.

Sometimes. But not enough times. 

So when she offered up the feedback, I said yes.

And I squirmed a little. 

Why?

Because feedback usually means an opportunity to improve.

And some days, I get caught up in a comfortable routine and don’t want to motivate myself to improve/try something new. 

Some days, I don’t want to rock the comfortable routine boat because that could involve taking risks, overcoming challenges, experiencing failures, and maybe even starting all over.

And some days, none of those things are in my wheelhouse.

But on that day, I was willing to receive her feedback.

This is what she said:

‘I want to learn about the places you visit through your eyes and try to feel what you felt during your visits…

My best advice. Don’t hold back.’

It’s the last part that struck a chord.

Don’t hold back.

I started this blog for several reasons: to improve my writing skills, to document my Adriatic Adventure, to share my joy, and to do all those things from a place of vulnerability.

Sometimes I hold back (not only in writing but also in other aspects of my life) because it seems more comfortable; it involves less risk.

And then, fortunately (!!), when I get too comfortable, I am reminded by good souls like this friend to kick it up a notch, go a bit further, and not hold back.

Will I listen?

I hope so.

Writing about it helps. And the feedback is a big help.

So please continue with the feedback. I appreciate all the comments, emails, and texts about my posts. 

Let's accept constructive feedback, take the risk, and kick it up a notch, more often than not.

Even if it means we might have to start all over.

Because…what if starting over is so much more delicious?

Now I’m hungry…

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