"When we're children, we tend to believe we can do anything. Never built a treehouse? So what? Lit the toaster on fire? Close call! We seem to be born with a type of fearless creativity--we have ideas, and we aren't afraid to take a chance or two to bring them to life. And if we make mistakes and mess things up, that's okay, because that's how we learn what works and what doesn't.

But as we grow older, we tend to shut this fearlessness off. We are taught that being skeptical is smart, and we become our own worst critic. We allow our fear of not succeeding, of not being good, of being embarrassed or feeling lost, to stop us from even trying in the first place.

And that's the real mistake.

Our smart, skeptical adult selves shut down ideas for something new. Even good ideas. Especially good ideas, because those are the ones that feel more real, more tempting, more frightening. We do this because we forget what we once took for granted as children--that we probably won't be any good the first time we try it.

We forget that we don't have to be good to get started. We just have to get started." ~ Joy Mangano, Inventing Joy

I'm guilty, two-hands-up of judging just about everything by its cover. It was no different with this book, Inventing Joy by Joy Mangano. I gave it away before even reading it. Then the P.I.C. (partner in crime) pointed out the movie, at the library of all places! We had no idea what it was about or that it told the story of the same woman, we only recognized the actors. We rented it, and the very next day when my mom picked me up to do lunch, the book was laying in the passenger seat! (I passed it on to her for donation and she hadn't gotten around to it yet. How 'bout that for serendipity?)

"Can I have this back?!" I asked excitedly, and a bit stunned.

I watched the movie twice and absolutely devoured the book. It felt like a convo between me and Joy, sitting across the dinner table from one another. I'm so thankful it circled back to me and I had the honor of learning from Joy's inventiveness, spark and light-bulb insights. At a time when I continue to build confidence in my own creative work, Joy's stories gave me that extra ummmppphh to keep Doing Me with power and grace.

The book and movie are different and unique perspectives of Joy's life - both massively inspiring and encouraging for anyone with a dream, passion, idea or calling that could use a nudge to take the first step, and keep on going.