We’ve all met them. That insidious couple that always seems to be standing your way whenever something bright or new comes along. They nag, they pester, they sink their sharp teeth in and overall, they do more to stand in the way of expanding your horizons than possibly anyone or anything else. I’m talking about the Yabuts, happily married to Ifonlys.
I recently had my own run in with the Yabuts and family. I didn’t invite them, and when they showed up, they certainly were not welcome. Nevertheless, like party crashers and pimples they popped in, spreading doubt and indecision like a leaky faucet.
I’m a bookkeeper by trade. I’m used to dealing in numbers and decimals, debits and credits, income and expenses. I’m good at my job and have confidence in my skills and experience. I know where to find answers when answers are not readily apparent. I work from a home office and set my own hours. I love what I do.
Recently however, my content life as a bookkeeper was thrown for a lurch when a client requested my assistance with a new venture. In addition to bookkeeping, he asked that I put pen to paper and produce written content on topics of my choosing. By nature, I’m always up for a challenge, and even though I’ve not done any writing other than that of the business kind, I accepted. I must have let my confident guard slip, because no sooner had my client and I ended our conversation than the Yabuts and Ifonlys decided to make their presence known.
They were dressed to destroy, armed to the teeth with all manner of uncertainties, misgivings, and insecurities. “Yeah, but you’re too old to try something new”. “Yeah, but you’ve never done this before, what if you fail?”, “If only you’d taken some writing classes”, and lastly, “If only you had a better imagination”.
Like an invading army, they were bent on capitulation and surrender. I let them linger for a few hours, and they settled in, becoming quite comfortable - confident of their place in my head. And therein lays the key...I LET THEM.
It took some time for me to come to the realization that in this particular case, I was my own worst enemy. Sure, the Yabuts and Ifonlys aligned against the part of me that wants to explore new opportunities, but I was doing nothing to stop them. That’s when I decided the time had come to mount a defence and exile the little scum suckers.
I hoisted my imaginary rocket launcher and took aim at “Yeah, but you’re too old”. Says who? I don’t feel old, and I certainly still have plenty of living to do. FIRE! HIT!.
“Yeah, but what if you fail?” was next in my sights. So what if I do? I’ve failed at things before and I always recover. It’s not the end of the world. FIRE! HIT!
Next, “If only you’d taken some writing classes” realizing that its time was up, tried to turn tail and run, but I was too quick. FIRE! HIT!
Still lingering around was, “If only you had a better imagination”. I have plenty of imagination. I may have to reach deep, but that’s okay. FIRE! HIT!
Once the metaphorical smoke cleared, the Yabuts and Ifonlys were nowhere to be found. Oh sure, they’re still lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to give them and opening to launch a sneak attack. I’ll give them this, they’re a patient little couple, but I am no longer a sitting duck. This duck has found wings, and is determined to fly.
