Dear Meadow Mae —
I see you. Dreaming big and worrying small. Wading through ideas, plans, and a thousand reasons to wait just a little longer. I’ve been there — standing at the edge of something new with shaky hands and a racing heart. And if I could sit across from you right now, I’d tell you this: you don’t have to have it all figured out before you begin. The only way to build something beautiful is to start. Even if it’s messy. Especially if it’s messy.
You’re Not Behind. You’re Just Beginning.
I waited YEARS for this. Literal years. I held myself back for sooooo long because I wanted everything to be perfect. Nothing is ever perfect. Timing won’t be right. Things won’t line up. It literally is what it is. Which is why you just have to start in the messy middle. And I promise, the moment you start is the moment you begin and the “start” will feel like a distant memory once you’re in the thick of it.
What Happened When I Started Without a Perfect Plan
Can I let you in on a little secret? I have no idea what I’m doing. I haven’t gardened since 2007ish. I’ve never grown flowers. I’ve never seed started anything in seed trays. I’ve never built a house. I’ve never used a tractor. There are a lot of “I haven’ts” in that list but I’m doing them anyway. YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok & Pinterest have become my best friends. I leaning on others, virtually of course, for their knowledge. The people who’ve already been there – that’s who I’m watching & following.
The Real Magic? It’s in the Mess.
We only have form boards up for our house. With a concrete pier truck waiting for the ground to dry out and the rain to hold off. My garden is thriving, even though I’ve got a bajillion tiny grasshoppers feasting on my broccoli & sunflower leaves. I’m sure I have other pests I’m unaware of – so I go armed with Neem oil & most like BT just as soon as I track some down. But it’s thriving. And I grew it all from seed in my warehouse, under grow lights. What a trip to see everything with life. Talk about a total confidence boost that maybe, just maybe, this fake it till you make thing actually works.
Here’s What I Hope You Know
Perfection is the thief of joy. I think I read that somewhere once. Joy and happiness are not the same thing. Joy is deep seeded. It’s something that can drive you forward, even in the messy parts of life. Happiness is a surface feeling. But joy — man, it’s there rooting for you to find it. So just start. You’re more than capable. You’re allowed to mess up to figure things out. Life is just one gigantic experiment without any instructions. We’re all just trying to do the very best we can. Don’t let fear or imposter syndrome hold you back from starting. I did – and it’s something I regret. Don’t be me. Just start.
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