When I began registering for classes last spring, I did not want to sign up for a public speaking course. I had already had three years of public speaking and I was confident I didn't need it. However, I did need the hours and nothing else worked in my schedule, so I signed up for it with a "whatever" attitude.
So, obviously, it's my favorite class. No really, this isn't sarcasm. Like, I love it. My teacher is the bomb and the class as a whole has bonded over the anxiety-inducing experience that is public speaking. We don't even know each other but we're in it together, so there's a sense of community. It's great.
The first day of class our teacher assigned us to a 30 Day Challenge so that we could write a proposal speech and a results speech on it. For my challenge, I chose writing for at least 15 minutes every day for 30 days. I chose writing because I want to be an author someday, but if I'm not consistently writing every day, I won't develop any of the habits or skills I need to become an author.
As I began my challenge and started working on my speech, I inadvertently started examining my life. I have very lofty goals - I hope one day to attend Concordia University in Chicago (CUC), majoring in theology and minoring in social work, as well as pursuing my goal of becoming an author.
While trying to find time to write every day, I realized that the way I live my life does not resemble what I want my life to be. I work, go to school, do homework and, in my free time, binge watch Netflix while scrolling through Instagram and Facebook. All day every day. A couple of months ago I wrote an article about not being content and feeling like I'm not doing anything with my life. Being assigned a 30 Day Challenge made me understand part of the reason why. I may always be malcontent for various reasons, but this summer I was upset because I'm not yet at CUC and I'm not yet close to publishing. I want theology and writing and community work (social work) to be what my life is about. I kind of had this idea in my head that I had to wait until I was out of Boone to start living.
That's the dumbest thing you ever did hear, isn't it?
This 30 Day Challenge assignment has changed my life. I'm almost half-way done and I've already changed the way I live each day by leaps and bounds. I'm starting to read books about theology and writing, I'm seriously planning my novel out so that I can understand what I need to do next. I've signed up to volunteer at F.A.R.M. Café and am looking for other opportunities in Boone to serve other people.
While looking for quotes for my speech, I found this one: "If you want to be a writer you have to write every day. You don't go to a well once, but daily." - Walter Mosely.
You can exchange the word "writer" with literally whatever you want to do with your life and it still applies. Basically, if you want to do something, you just do it.
I'm fully aware that my inspiration and motivation will dwindle eventually. And when it does it's not going to be fun. That's why I'm doing all this planning - so that when life gives me lemons I can respectfully disagree with life and keep doing what I love.
I'm going to try to do more 30 Day Challenges - I think they will grow me as a person and expand my fairly tiny life experience a great deal. I'd love it if others would join me - it may not be the same magical experience for everybody, but we all need a challenge now and then. Give it a shot, see where it takes you.
This Ted Talk explains why we should do more 30 day challenges. Watch it, get inspired, do something, change the way you're living your life.
