Last weekend, my son started walking! He just pulled his tiny knees up, made some brain connections, and took off. For him, a major breakthrough was as simple as leg control, putting one foot down, and picking the other one up.

The same day I witnessed my son walk across a room, was the day my daughters rode a horse for the first time. When I asked the girls about their experience, they explained how it was scary at first because it wasn’t a balanced ride. There’s a side to side motion that takes some getting used to. Their breakthrough was in finding horses’ rhythm so that they could enjoy the ride!

As I reflect on my children’s recent first experiences and breakthroughs, I can’t help but be inspired by their natural inclination to just do the damn thing.

Look at Karlee bracing herself for the ride. Look at Kaylee enjoying the ride! And look at Jr. take those baby steps…

We can learn a lot from little ones…

How many times have I delayed my just do? …Stalling, making excuses, and being led by my own time. How many times did a life circumstance make me stop being inquisitive? Stop having fun. How often have I worried about tomorrow? Oh, the many times I ran and hid instead of tapping into that child-like resilience; a strength that doesn’t say, “I have no fear.” Rather, “I’m gonna do this afraid!”

I think my three children have figured out how to break through fear and self-doubt: In life, we have to follow our natural inclination to just do a thing.

Thank you, my babies. You really know how to inspire a person who lives to inspire others.

Love,

Mommy ❤

Clinnesha is a writer, wife, mom, meta-artist, and social entrepreneur who feels most accountable to southern, black citizen-artists, elders, children, and families. Her work is at the intersection of arts, culture, innovation, and community.