My First Medium Post is Done, But Not Perfect

Summary

The author has completed their first Medium post, acknowledging the imperfections and the significant personal growth achieved through the process.

Abstract

The author expresses a mix of excitement and trepidation upon completing their inaugural Medium post, recognizing the magnitude of this step in their writing journey. Despite the daunting prospect of publishing, the author has grappled with an abundance of drafts, a whirlwind of inspiration, and the challenges of perfectionism. The process has been fraught with internal conflict and indecision, leading to a realization that writing, much like life, is inherently complex and does not need to be perfect. By embracing imperfections and letting go of the need for a flawless debut, the author has taken a significant leap forward, marking substantial progress from the previous day.

Opinions

The author feels both elated and horrified about publishing their first Medium post, indicative of a significant personal challenge.
They have spent excessive time preparing and overthinking the process, suggesting a deep-seated desire for quality and impact.
The author has an abundance of ideas and drafts, reflecting a creative and inspired mindset.
The struggle with perfectionism has been a significant barrier, causing the author to question their approach and the nature of their writing.
By accepting imperfection and the inevitability of mistakes, the author has found a path to move forward and publish.
The author believes that life's complexity should be reflected in their writing, and that this complexity is not a hindrance but a source of joy and drive.

My First Medium Post is Done, But Not Perfect

This is a bigger step than it may appear to be.

I’ve been meaning to do this for longer than I can remember… to hit publish and launch the first of many posts on Medium written by me. I’m elated and horrified all at once, and I’m not sure which holds me back more.

I’ve spent plenty of time, too much time, reading about writing on medium, exploring the website, listening to others talk about their own experiences, and drafting.

So. Much. Drafting.

I have more drafts than I have time in the day and more inspiration coming at every moment, it’s overwhelming and chaotic. It’s exactly where I find my joy and drive.

I’ve hummed and hawed about which prized draft would come first and what impressions I wanted to make. I’ve changed my mind dozens of times and have over-analyzed the entire process into a jumbled mess of anxieties and perfectionism trapped in my brain.

Ultimately, there has been a lot of internal conflict and indecision. I’ve ironically torn myself apart while searching for cohesion. The more I’ve stewed over the exact way that I could or should begin this journey, the more I fight with my own explanations of why and how I will do it, the more I’ve realized that I need to just let the conflict show.

Life is a complicated thing, why would writing about it be simple?

As I’ve forgiven myself for not dedicating my writing voice to a specific niche or pre-planned journey, I’ve also had to learn to let mistakes happen and let it go. I’ve had to learn to get a bit sloppy, even, because I will simply never publish again if I am obsessing over making it perfect.

This is me, showing up as I am and as ready as I could be, taking the first step… and, with it, I’m already lightyears ahead of where I stood yesterday.