How to get started on getting started
“I signed up to volunteer with a tribe in southeast Michigan who need help transcribing archival documents”
“I’m planning to start a monthly (themed?) karaoke night with my pals”
“Working on a multi faceted project around police accountability/reform/ abolition”
“I sent out another round of invitations to our potluck, and I used Elise’s ideas to help create a handout for the potluck for a whole range of commitments people could make.”
In mid-January a bunch of us took an hour to cowork on something, anything, that would jumpstart our next community practice1. This was the whole and only point of the gathering. The quotes above are from what folks used the time to work on – literally everything everyone did was cool and inspiring. In the days leading up to it, I stressed about shortening the time and/or adding more activities to the event, but the time itself was the point.
When getting started on anything involving other people, time might always be the point.
This isn’t about time in the sense of having oodles of it, but time in the sense of dedication. Protection. Devotion. Setting the intention: research your library board, call around to local halls to see about space rental fees for a weird party you want to throw, pressing send on the volunteer form for the grocery delivery org that redistributes donated food.
…And then setting aside the holy time to do this.
I use the word “holy” because it feels that way whenever we devote space, time, and attention to something. I know I’ll usually shove a task like signing up to volunteer between “unload dishwasher” and “stare at sun” but there is something about letting it stand on its own for even 15 minutes that elevates its beauty, importance, and chances of actually getting done.
