Chip

I like to do things in a big burst. Like a sprinter. Get it all done in that excited jolt of when the spirit moves you.

Or rather finish before your mind wanders.

Or really get it done before the pangs of doubt get to you.

So I’ve always feared the other way of working. Slowly and methodical.

The doubt is scary, and got me before. So like Indiana Jones I run from that boulder chasing him down.

But I have to admit that chipping away works well. And a lot of times better.

And paradoxically less scary sometimes.

I use a habit tracker on my phone. It tracks the obvious thing like exercise. People do that all the time.

But I also track if I produced art this week. And daily journaling. And reading. And going outside (in my soul, I’m a hermit.)

Reading is a good example. Two years ago, I hadn’t read a book in years. I was afraid I forgot how. I was only skimming articles, and got really good at parsing a few words before moving on.

A book seemed daunting.

So I started with easy small books that were in my wheel house. Design books. Web design, typography, layout, whatever. Less intimidating.

Two years later, I just wrapped up a book already for the new year. I was reading this Chinese history book about three sisters who had great influence on China at the last turn of the century.

In 2019, I finished 40 books which is crazy. Considering all I did was read a bit each morning, and then tapped on my habit tracker app.

Chipping away while still blurry-eyed from waking up. And here we are, 40.