Just Make a Mark.

Find something you do poorly and do it anyway. Who cares? It's the doing that matters.

A defeated Vashti, in Reynold's, "The Dot", draws a black dot in frustration.

Jump in! Go for it! Give it a try, I encouraged them.

I ached almost, whole-heartedly wishing my students would just throw their inhibitions to the wind and dive in to whatever new challenge greeted them. When I saw hints of their fears and insecurities rising up, I would put everything I had into encouraging them, in hopes of steering them back on track.

Don't be discouraged, I'd repeat.

You can do this. You are so capable.

When I witness a student taking a leap, trying something new or persevering when they're not succeeding, my heart simply overflows. Their determined eyes, their deep concentration and the occasional smile that stretches across their faces during moments of success, put it all into perspective for me. This is where talents and passions begin.

So, it's curious that when I'm advising myself to 'do it anyway', I sometimes find it really difficult to take my own advice. My approach is to throw myself into a new situation after I've tested the waters, privately. I do this to ensure that I will not be a complete failure. I won't be in a position where I might hold those around me back, and hopefully, I will be able to somewhat enjoy myself while doing the activity. Because honestly, thinking you suck at something feels pretty damn awful.

One of my favourite children's book characters, Vashti, in Peter Reynold's, The Dot, is deflated and believes she can't draw. Her school teacher encourages her to put a mark on the paper and sign it. She stabs the paper with her pencil. The next day this dot is in a gold frame and on display. Seeing this Vashti knows she can do better. Her days become filled with drawing endless dots of different colours and sizes.

Vashti is no longer stuck.

Vashti's Dot Art Gallery Display

Like Vashti, I am finding ways to make my mark. I am learning through the moments of frustration and hopelessness, that it has to start somewhere. And, even if I end up going in directions that don't suit me, there are an endless number of paths. I just need to muster up the courage to follow a few of them.

Where do you gather your strength

to test the waters in new terrain

or to continue when you think you can't?

How do you 'do it anyway'?

...

If you would like to join me in this project and receive random writing prompts or simply prompts to get you thinking visit http://gimmepresence.com/ or follow @gimmepresence or @kstancik on twitter.

If you haven't read The Dot (or Ish, for that matter) go out and read these incredible picture books. Read them for yourself or to the young ones in your life. They're worth it.