Day One Hundred and Forty - Wise Words From the Co-Founder of Pixar

"Don’t wait for things to be perfect before you share them with others. Show early and show often. It’ll be pretty when we get there, but it won’t be pretty along the way."  

- Ed Catmull – Creativity, Inc.

I've been reading this book lately.  I'm one of those people who reads REALLY slow.  Seriously, when someone says a book is a quick read and should take less than an hour, I know it's a four to five hour read for me.  The reason for this is that when I read, my eyes move faster than my brain processes.  It's a very irritating problem, and made it very hard on me in school.  I didn't even realize what was going on (I thought it was carelessness or just a lack of understanding) until I was in college.  It was hardest on timed tests.  Still, I was able to figure out tricks for test taking (I would fly through the test by associating topics with answers, and then retake the test reading slowly), and I learned that for me to comprehend something I had to read it a minimum of two times.  There are still days when I will be reading a book or article, and halfway through I'll realize I don't remember anything from the last chapter I read.  So when I say I'm a slow reader, I really mean it.  

I'm sure you are now wondering why in the world would I tell you about my struggles with reading.  It isn't because I was a "poor Daniel" or for you to be impressed with all I've overcome (if having to train and discipline myself when I read is my biggest struggle, then I know I've lived a privileged life).  I say it to encourage you.  In life there are going to be obstacles along your journey.  Some of the obstacles will only be for part of your life, but some (like my trouble when reading) aren't going anywhere.  I can't wait for everything in my life to be perfect to start living my life.  This quote by Catmull really conveys where I'm at right now.  I could have waited and compiled all of my thoughts with my weight loss journey together after I lost the weight.  That would be easier.  I wouldn't have to be as vulnerable and I wouldn't have to be as honest.  How much easier would it be to write about where I was rather than where I am.  I had to write and upload that first post admitting that I had a problem, otherwise no one would have read it until I'd already completed my journey.  Also, I wouldn't have had the accountability I've received through this blog.  

Catmull is dead on with the quote I posted above.  The end results of my journey are going to be pretty (or as E would said "Handsome daddy!  Girls are pretty and boys are handsome."), but it may not be pretty along the way.  I'm not perfect yet (and perfection isn't my goal, healthy is), but I'll never reach my goal without the accountability I receive from sharing with you along my journey.  I don't know what your goals are, but I challenge you to open up about them.  Tell others and find accountability.  Let them see your journey no matter how imperfect and ugly it is.  Share early, and reap the benefits that will come from doing so.  You may not look polished and neat along the way, but you'll gain what you need to reach your goal.  This is what I've done so far, and what I'll continue to do.  I'm losing my butter half.

I had a great day for calorie intake with delicious meals from Bekah, and I had a full workout this evening.  Tomorrow is a weigh in.  I am a little nervous, but I'm really hoping to be down under 290 lbs.